GET TO KNOW YOUR COLLEAGUES - Time out from work matters
Our experience: we found great value in spending time together as a team outside of working hours. This was time which was not designated as project discussion time, but ultimately talk turned to the project. We found that such time not only allowed us to get to know each other better as colleagues from different disciplines, but also gave a creative space for wider project discussions. In doing so, we were able to manage the project better, drawing upon different skill sets and appreciating different approaches, rather than dismissing them.
Why?
Trying to find time to meet with colleagues outside of working hours may seem like an added project chore, particularly if you do not know your colleagues very well yet. However, time away from the project is invaluable, and is something mentioned as highly beneficial in many of the interdisciplinary papers.
Spending non-work time with colleagues fosters better relationships, enabling you to get to know a person rather than simply a discipline, as interdisciplinary working often encourages. We found that in doing so, colleague’s other experiences (see also Personality and Experience) – previous work history, different career choices, upbringing, education – all came to the fore to ensure that we understood each other’s perspectives much better. This is something we termed the ‘excess’ of the project – the things which take place around and alongside the main project trajectory (see also Appreciate and account for ‘failures’ and Project timeline). Furthermore, knowing more about a person’s background and skills is incredibly useful to interdisciplinary working. For instance, on our team we had colleagues with work experience in running a business, marketing and recruitment. All of which became essential skills in the project.
In addition non-work time may enable wider, non-pressurised thinking about the project. We often found that many of our more creative ideas took place in these ‘unofficial’ project spaces and times.
How?
Time out does not always have to include the whole team. A coffee between two team members’ maybe the start or a drink at the pub for someone’s birthday.
As we were located disparately across the country we would have regular off site meetings, sometimes including overnight stays. This would mean designated non-work time with our colleagues, such as dinner or drinks. Of course though such activities often require project budget and flexibility (see Funding and Time & Flexibility).