“I think companies would benefit from giving employees a lot more autonomy and alone time to do their work. And then when they do need to come together, it can be more special and more meaningful.”
That is a quote from Jason Fried of 37 Signals, and it pretty much sums up the way Signal Hill is built.
Coming from a freelancing background, my time was essentially 100% autonomous, and one of the things I was looking for when I signed up for a more regular position was “meaningful” interaction with a team.
Large swaths of my work require contemplation and focused attention, but when I can step back and talk with a team member about the work I am doing, the result is always further clarification about the goal I am working towards.
The process of interacting can have an energizing effect, by promoting passion and drive. Alone time can help to re-focus a mind towards priorities, and remind us why we got into the work we are doing in the first place. The balance between these poles is a worker with both energy and patience, a place I am finding myself more and more.