Starting out alone... together
There’s no doubt that the way we work has changed for good, but what does that mean for juniors or new starts in remote or semi-remote roles?
I was fortunate enough to join the team at CreateFuture three months before lockdown. Having known a few of my colleagues from previous college placements, didn’t mean I was any less nervous. As a team, we had to figure out how to make our collaborative way of working actually succeed in the remote environment. Although it had its teething problems, I think it has opened up many more opportunities for us.
As a junior starting out with a new team remotely, it was tricky at first and it definitely still has its challenges.
No over the shoulder moments, no water-cooler chats or having a laugh, while being physically together in the office (we’re glad some of that is coming back now!). Learning a skill isn’t the same when you can’t turn to your team members for impromptu feedback or general questions. It can be difficult to ask or send a message when you’re new to the company or just starting out for fear of being ‘anno…persistent’ or having feelings like, ‘I should know this’, ‘Am I being useful?’. Being remote just amplifies these thoughts.
So how did I go from that, to working as part of an international team running workshops, and designing and shaping strategy?
Those feelings don’t go away and are almost built in, and as a junior it's part of our job to ask questions and learn. Working in-person when you’re collaborating is definitely the best. But what has helped in times of needing reassurance is just learning to just pipe up!... and remind myself that it’s absolutely OK to do so.
Getting to know your team is almost as important, if not more important, than a physical skill that you can learn from the millions of online tutorials. In some ways, it's easier to replay a video again and again, than to ask someone to repeat themselves (definitely less awkward anyway). After 2 (long) years of remote working I met some of my team that I had ‘known’ for the first time at Christmas, and it felt like we’d been working together forever. Nothing will replace a strong team connection that will give you the confidence and support to develop.
Our everyday diaries are now scheduled with call after call, each with its own agenda, after which we all hang up and go our separate ways. It’s important to realise the importance of the little things like, ‘What’s for tea?’ – a classic at CreateFuture. Open coffee chats to catch up with no agenda are so important. Although they feel weird at first, you soon realise they aren't so strange – families and friends do it all the time when they’re in different countries. It’s just time set aside to shoot the breeze.
Online collaborative tools play a huge part in development and learning. It is now easier than ever to watch ‘over the shoulder’. Live design and collaboration in our favourite online tools, like Figma and Miro, have been essential in our daily work. Having a call while working to chat through the collaborative process helps the team understand each others’ decisions.
Remote or semi-remote working can sometimes make us feel like we’re slightly lost. This really hit home when I attended a recent BIMA Scotland event, where individuals had a chance to chat to each other and a creative director about their worries for the future of remote working as a junior or new start. It was such a relief, as it came at quite a low point in my confidence, feeling that I was lagging behind the curve of others who had had the opportunity to work face to face with more experienced team members from the start. It soon became apparent: no one’s lagging behind. We’re all at the same point, figuring out how to work together alone while shaping our paths in the industry. Taking the opportunity to speak to people both within or outside of your company, can help us learn, grow and meet some brilliant people.
It was a very reassuring session, and after some encouraging chats with BIMA Scotland, we will be piloting more regular Junior-Senior events, the first being on the 20th of May. We will be chatting to juniors and seniors about their experiences, how they got to where they are and how we can all work together to be our best as a team. This month we will be speaking with Lara Findlay, Director & Co-Founder of Geared App, about how teams can support, build and keep strong relationships.
Spots are limited so please book in here if you’re interested, see you there!