Work is what you do, not where you do it
Our teams work in five different states and three countries on three different continents. Through technology and technique, collaboration works across long distances.
Remote working cuts out wasteful commutes, benefitting:
- People: Remote working means more time for friends, family, and fun.
- Planet: Commuting puts tons of carbon into the atmosphere each year.
- Profit: Employees save money on gas and vehicle maintenance. Companies save on rent with a smaller office.
Meetups help build team unity
Remote working helps everyone’s Triple Bottom Line. But that doesn’t mean we have to give up all in-person interactions. At AnswerConnect, we’ve found that meeting up in person now and then enhances our virtual connections the rest of the time. An occasional meetup helpss a remote team work better together. “It was a great way to meet co-workers and capture a little of the old school ‘field trip’ nostalgia,” says Jerry, one of our account executives.
“I observe a special kind of energy that is generated by having our people together in one place, sharing an experience,” says Natalie Fung, our CEO. “We wanted to take the best aspects of the events and get togethers we have done in the past, and turn these into Meetups.”
Meetups offer chance encounters
“Remote work is fantastic, but it can lack those small opportunities through the day to bump into your coworkers and have informal chats. Those informal chats help build connections and trust in team members. If you trust your team members, you are more likely to work more smoothly together.” –Jewel Miller, AnswerConnect director of operations
“One of the reasons remote work is so productive is that distractions are very limited. In a traditional office environment, we were literally bumping into each other multiple times a day and having spontaneous conversations. At home, this does not happen. Meetups allow for unscripted chance encounters, for people to get to know each other outside of their normal job duties, and to have a little fun too!” –Natalie Fung, AnswerConnect CEO
AnswerConnect at OMSI
This month, we decided to take some of our Portland, Oregon-area team members to OMSI, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. The museum’s hands-on science exhibits helped us learn while having fun and getting to know each other a little bit better.
“I loved being able to spend the casual time with other individuals from the office, and had a lot of fun seeing the exhibits as an adult (vs. as a parent). I learned a few new things about LED lights holding solar power longer than incandescent lights. And I thoroughly enjoyed the learning stations about healthy eating when we went upstairs. In all, it was a great day.” –Calista, team leader
“My favorite part is being able to see my team members as whole beings! In a video call, you only ever see the sitting-still-and-focusing-on-a-meeting person. Seeing each other in 3D allows you to see each other’s mannerisms and far more nuanced communication than a 2D screen can portray.” –Jewel
“I have gotten to know so many great people who work here through these experiences! I feel more connected to individuals through shared experiences and I hope they feel like they know me better too.” –Natalie
Have you tried an in-person meetup for a team that normally works remotely? How did it go? Let us know in the comments.
