Interaction with working community- Task-3

How do you interact with your working community? What could you do differently to enhance the spirits of your working place? Is there someone in your working community who brings positive energy to you; why is that? Reflect on the quality of the interaction in the light of where and why is the interaction fruitful to you to lift up your working spirit.

I interacted with my working life community either face to face or via emails or phone calls. I usually preferred face to face and emails as in the prior we had an opportunity to see the tone and expression behind the message. Sometime the emails sent incorrect signals that had to be sorted out in person. We had collaborators from Greece but the mode of communications was only via emails. There was never a chance to meet them in person as there was no requirement. All the requirements and projects and problems got sorted out usually by emails in this case.

Our group consisted of two doctoral students and one masters student. There were exchange students from France every year. We usually had weekend coffee and journal clubs where we constantly met and discussed our progress. During our meetings we sorted out as to what topic or subject each one of us required some learning and planned on a discussion where each of us would read before hand and then discuss. This was like a flipped classroom method but more informal. There was no teacher in this case  as we were self-studying. 

My colleagues were very positive and we supported each other during good and difficult times. We usually took courses together so that we could help each other if required. Most of times we had informal meetings over coffee and lunch and those also helped us to interact on a lighter note to keep things going. I was lucky to have a group of outgoing people during my previous work.

In all my previous experiences I felt that the best way to have a healthy working environment to to be transparent in expressing problems and concerns. If we do not communicate due to any reason, then the problems will only accentuate. So my longer goal would be to try to stay positive and be transparent and connect with my work-mates as much as I can.