Jan 14: Describe the Social Atmosphere

Inside of work, the social environment is a mix of collaboration and isolation. On the one hand, there isn’t much socialization, and everyone tends to be working on something different, and aside from the occasional phone call or meeting, there isn’t much talking. However, when any one of us needs help on a case or on wording something, we can reach out to each other. It’s the attitude of both my mentors that it is better to say that you don’t know something and ask for help than bluff and pretend like you know the answers. In my opinion, this is a very good practice. If you bluff and say that you know something when you don’t, you could make a mistake in that task and create unnecessary complications. If you say upfront that you don’t know something, then you have an opportunity to learn, and you won’t create problems that have to be dealt with by someone else. Sure, you may be teased a little for not knowing, but it’s better to look a little uneducated than like a huge liar later on.

Getting back to the prompt; outside of work, the atmosphere is more social. As I said briefly yesterday, I got invited to lunch on Friday, and my coworkers went out to dinner after work as well (I wasn’t there because I was having dinner with my grandparents, ‘cuz I’m a good granddaughter). My coworkers talk about non-work things, and make jokes about how terrible the Star Wars prequels are, and overall loosen up from the atmosphere of the office. It’s odd to watch, as someone who hasn’t been in a work environment. It’s a little like a switch is flipped when we’re not working, replacing all the formal language and polite queries of the office with terrible meme jokes. Honestly, it’s kind of comforting to know that I’m not the only one who acts differently in a business-like environment, and then has fun joking around outside of work. I’d assumed that behavior went away when you joined the workforce, but hey, it’s kind of comforting to know that I can still be my joking self well into a career. That’s all for today!

(Pictured: Elijah and Daniel working on a case together)