You couldn’t work from there ... could you?

How many work places and work spaces might you have? 

One? Two? Three?

‘Third place’ is a term from Ray Oldenburg, sociologist and author of ‘The Great Good Place’. 

The third place came about as suburbs grew : ‘if our homes were the “first” place, and our offices the “second” place, then the “third” place was most everything in between - or the more informal places where community gatherings would occur.’

As remote and hybrid work keeps evolving at speed, this third space has the potential to become more mainstream for many of us. 

What makes a good third space? 

Think about the places that ‘encourage repetitive visits and longer stays’. 

Cafes. 
Parks. 
Bank foyers. 
Building lobbies. 
Clubs. 
Co-working spaces. 
Your car. 
A friend’s place. 

Where else would you hang out to work? 

▶️ Read more in this article by Kaley Overstreet on the third place. 

Brighten up your creative mindset

Creativity isn't just for artists, painters, sculptors and creators. It's helpful for problem solving, opportunity making, perspective taking. 

Check out this quick video tip on how to build your creative mindset. 

So smart ... but making silly decisions

As we try to cope with the overwhelm of daily information, our brains work to protect us ... from ‘over-arousal’. 

When it’s all too much, we create oversimplified ways of thinking. It’s easier. But this means we can slip up in our decision making. 

WATCH OUT for ways of thinking that are: 
1. Binary (yes/no)
2. Intuitive (based on the past)
3. Confirmative (aligned to our biases)
4. Primary Effect (we overlook the ripple effect). 

If we can ‘overwrite’ these easy, existing pathways in our brains, we’ll make better choices and smarter decisions. 

How to ‘overwrite’ the brain? 
🏃‍♀️ Exercise. 
💤 Sleep. 

And this has huge implications for when you’re trying to learn new things

Read more in this great article from Worth Media and work on overwriting those simple pathways to progress towards better thinking and decision making. 

Now, when can I take a nap? 💤 

Team Building is Booming

Ropes courses, race around the world games and traditional team building stuff has all but disappeared without the face to face work of the past year. 

But if all of your online gatherings are all work and no play, it’s not bringing the relaxation, connection and laughter potential that a more human, fun experience can bring. 

Many leaders are tapping the creativity that’s come from the online team building boom. 

Whether you run trivia or other games, send a pack of goodies for a themed gathering, make cocktails, learn a fun skill or have a comedy event, there are ideas aplenty. 

Yet these experiences don’t just happen. 

🎯 Here are 5 quick tips: 

1. Schedule it: get the date in the diary so you build towards it. 
2. Shortlist ideas: identify what’s a cultural fit. 
3. Test it out: sample the proposed experiences. 
4. Try it with a team: have a few more people experience it and get their views. 
5. Roll it out wider: press ‘go’. 

You don’t need corny games ... but even those can be fun and break the zoom fatigue of always being online for work.

💡How could you better build team
in virtual times?

▶️ Read more in this Fortune article about booming businesses in team building

Connecting with no watercooler

Many people grieve the spontaneous and serendipitous connections at the watercooler. 

Lots of moments have been lost with remote work: 
interactions in the kitchen, collecting documents from the printer, walking to and from (and in) the bathroom, riding the elevator, walking to the station or car park, strolling to the cafe, walking between meetings...

So many incidental interactions and happy collisions (or avoidance 🥸) that were happening, and now aren’t. 

Alex Howland, Ph.D. suggests 4 ways to spark watercooler moments in Forbes:
1 camera off and avatar on
2 channels for non-work conversations
3 cross functional digital events
4 creative virtual worlds. 


🎯 AND these techniques work well with teams I’ve been working with:
- drop in zoom for coffee or chat, anytime
- shorts: 12 minute check ins and catch ups
- play time: virtual casual play time, reminiscent of school days, no work only play
- commute pairs: hang out with 1 other person as you begin your work, to chat, connect and share 
- cowork: mics off and cameras on for calm companionship. 

Experiments are useful. What will you try? 

It’s the creative challenge of the changing times we’re in.