Comments on: Building Community in a Face-to-Faceless World http://lancehaun.com/building-community-in-a-face-to-faceless-world/ Life between the brackets Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:42:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Respectful Workplace Blog » Blog Archive » The Power of “Hello” http://lancehaun.com/building-community-in-a-face-to-faceless-world/#comment-977 Respectful Workplace Blog » Blog Archive » The Power of “Hello” Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:02:20 +0000 http://www.yourhrguy.com/?p=483#comment-977 [...] recent guest post by Kristen Leal on the HRGuy blog highlights how disconnected some workplaces have become: “I was filling up my [...] [...] recent guest post by Kristen Leal on the HRGuy blog highlights how disconnected some workplaces have become: “I was filling up my [...]

]]> By: Michael Villanueva http://lancehaun.com/building-community-in-a-face-to-faceless-world/#comment-973 Michael Villanueva Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:12:55 +0000 http://www.yourhrguy.com/?p=483#comment-973 QualitySmith has always worked very hard to create a sense of community within its walls. They have done a good job with company events like brown bags, office olympics, fantasy football, etc. They always come up with clever ideas to build community within its walls. QualitySmith has always worked very hard to create a sense of community within its walls. They have done a good job with company events like brown bags, office olympics, fantasy football, etc. They always come up with clever ideas to build community within its walls.

]]> By: Kristen Leal http://lancehaun.com/building-community-in-a-face-to-faceless-world/#comment-976 Kristen Leal Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:37:12 +0000 http://www.yourhrguy.com/?p=483#comment-976 Hi Chris. Thank you for your question. As Lance indicated, the get to work green day was a big success, but we did need to do some gentle nudging to get such a great response. However, I think that QualitySmith employees just know that this is part of our culture. I also think that our culture is part of the reason many of the employees apply at QualitySmith to begin with. Building community takes time. And yes, we don’t always get a great response, but we always need to keep trying. One thing I do see is that we have to try new things. People get burnt-out on doing the same thing. The volunteer work is meaningful, and can be bonding, but we are also mixing it up with some things that are just plain fun. Presently, we are forming teams for the Wii bowling competition in our break room, and I just opened an email that says we have some dress-up days in December - PJ Day, 80s apparel day, and Hideous Holiday Sweater day. Should be a ton of fun. Hi Chris. Thank you for your question.

As Lance indicated, the get to work green day was a big success, but we did need to do some gentle nudging to get such a great response. However, I think that QualitySmith employees just know that this is part of our culture. I also think that our culture is part of the reason many of the employees apply at QualitySmith to begin with.

Building community takes time. And yes, we don’t always get a great response, but we always need to keep trying. One thing I do see is that we have to try new things. People get burnt-out on doing the same thing. The volunteer work is meaningful, and can be bonding, but we are also mixing it up with some things that are just plain fun. Presently, we are forming teams for the Wii bowling competition in our break room, and I just opened an email that says we have some dress-up days in December – PJ Day, 80s apparel day, and Hideous Holiday Sweater day. Should be a ton of fun.

]]> By: Lance Haun http://lancehaun.com/building-community-in-a-face-to-faceless-world/#comment-975 Lance Haun Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:14:18 +0000 http://www.yourhrguy.com/?p=483#comment-975 Chris, I won't speak for Kristen but when I talked to them about the green event, their parking lot at work was empty. It has been my experience that the instant electronic environment can actually drive community forward. I think people want to have face to face relationships at work so when you get the opportunity to do something cool, more people seem willing to participate because it drives that "real" interaction. Chris, I won’t speak for Kristen but when I talked to them about the green event, their parking lot at work was empty.

It has been my experience that the instant electronic environment can actually drive community forward. I think people want to have face to face relationships at work so when you get the opportunity to do something cool, more people seem willing to participate because it drives that “real” interaction.

]]> By: Chris - Manager's Sandbox http://lancehaun.com/building-community-in-a-face-to-faceless-world/#comment-974 Chris - Manager's Sandbox Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:43:07 +0000 http://www.yourhrguy.com/?p=483#comment-974 Kristen - does it work? It may be hard to tell given that you only work two days a week, but my experience has been that it's very hard to get people to participate in events like that, and as you noted, with instant and electronic communication, community can often erode. The Green Commuting event, for example - many companies I've worked with would have a hard time getting employees to participate in that. Was participation high at your organization? I'd love to read some more examples of community building. - Chris Kristen – does it work? It may be hard to tell given that you only work two days a week, but my experience has been that it’s very hard to get people to participate in events like that, and as you noted, with instant and electronic communication, community can often erode.

The Green Commuting event, for example – many companies I’ve worked with would have a hard time getting employees to participate in that. Was participation high at your organization?

I’d love to read some more examples of community building.

- Chris

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