The benefits of a more asynchronous workplace
Since remote work seems to be the topic this article on async communication spawned I wanted to throw this out there for reactions.<p>First off let me acknowledge that some people prefer remote work and also say up front I do not.<p>I recent YouAreNotSoSmart podcast interviewed Laurie Santos from Yale and if I understood her research basically claims we often both individually and as a society choose things we think will make us happy but actually don&#x27;t. Examples seemed to include anything that takes you away from people. One example was the ATM machine. It&#x27;s more convenient than a bank teller but interacting with the teller adds to your quota of needed interaction for happiness. Things like the fact that you can order a Starbucks coffee on your phone and pick it up with no interaction as another tiny example. I&#x27;m sure those were minor examples but she was basically claiming we&#x27;re often inadvertently choosing things that actually make us less happy.<p>For me I prefer in office work because I want to be around other people. I want them to interrupt me too. Not 100% of the time but I enjoy the camaraderie, the conversations, going over solutions together, etc...<p>So in that context, is it possible the push for remote work fits in that line? We think it will make us happy but it for many people it will have the unintended consequence of isolating them and actually make them less happy.<p>I&#x27;m not saying you shouldn&#x27;t be given the choice. Maybe you are different. Maybe you have special needs (someone you need to take care of for example) or maybe you&#x27;re remote location has family or friends around. But, if Laurie Santos is correct then maybe a large percent of people are actually making a bad choice?<p>PS: I don&#x27;t know if I trust her research. I&#x27;m only passing on my interpretation what I though she said in the interview.