As my workplace moves to a dispersed model, that is, where it's likely you won't be co-located with your manager or teammates, I have been thinking a lot about why this change will take adjustment. There's a lot of angst about this change, and what I hear is that my colleagues are very concerned they won't be able to maintain and build relationships at work -- if we don't sit together and see each other regularly. There's fear that we will become disconnected.

As someone who spends a lot of my work day in front of the computer and on the phone (vs. in in-person meetings), I have been thinking about "what's the difference?" I have a conclusion: it's about the quantity of signals we're used to getting from one another...and about how we'll be receiving them.

In mostly in-person meetings and interactions in the hallways, elevators, and kitchens, we're accustomed to taking in signals from all of our senses. We get to hear if someone has a cold (can't tell this in email), we get to smell their perfume (doesn't it say a lot about a person?), we see the expressions on their face and all the non verbals. We also see what they are wearing, and that data helps us make assessments that they are "artsy," or "conservative," or maybe connected to someone who buys them lots of quirky ties?

In any case, this is data. This is the kind of data on which we build conversations...or at least "small talk." This same data doesn't come through email. It doesn't come through instant messenger, and it might not transmit a conference call.

In a surround-sound and blue ray world, we are worried that our human interactions are going from high def to...could it be...analog?

I can see why this is causing stress. But, the answers lie in the virtual world...We used to receive signals that provided insights into a colleague's personality or interests simply by sharing the same physical space. We can still access this information, but it requires research. We'll need to spend more time leveraging technology, such as IM and webcams. We'll also need to mine the internet. See who is on Yammer, who is blogging, what your colleagues say on LinkedIN. What they post on Facebook. It's all out there...we just need to adjust how we receive the signals.

Conversion Strategies For Moving To A Dispersed Work Environment

Past: Pictures on your desk to show your team that you love to ski, have a dog and two kids, and went to VA Tech
Future: Facebook posts and photos for work and personal friends

Past: Snazzy ties and crisply-ironed shirts with monogrammed cuff links; we know you are a snazzy dresser
Future: Don't worry. The webcam will pick up your sense of style

Past: The cup of tea you'd prepare in the kitchen at 4 PM got you over the afternoon slump and allowed for some quick networking with colleagues
Future: You can still have tea and coffee breaks with colleagues. Find them on IM and ask if they have a minute for a quick call. They will likely welcome the break

I have been thinking a lot about advice lately.

I coordinate workshops, and after each event, I review the participant evaluations. After one event this year, the evaluations were mixed; some participants loved the speakers, while others were notably put off by them. Adjectives like "condescending" appeared on the narrative comments in the evaluations. A colleague of mine participated in the event and was surprised to see the mixed reviews. She asked me why I thought they'd received such feedback, and I think it all came down to one thing: the speakers gave a lot of advice. In doing so, they positioned themselves as people who knew more and who had the answers.   (That's a dangerous position to put yourself in, even if you are leading a workshop on a subject you have done a lot of work in.) In doing so, they positioned the audience as people who needed to receive the advice.

I find that people only want advice in rare occasions. Most of the time, people are looking for a listening ear, for inspiration, or for a nice diversion.  And when they do want advice -- you'll know it. You'll be ASKED to share it.

I can see how advice slips out so much in our conversations at home and work .  In personal relationships, it's hard not to jump in with a solution when you see your friend, partner, or sister taking the wrong path. At work, there's so much pressure to speak like a leader and be assertive. With this said, I think advice is generally pretty useless. Unless you own your own solutions, goals, and time lines, you are not going to make any change.

As for me, I am going on an advice holiday. Want to come?