Workplace Chatter
It's amazing how much people can chatter away at work. I don't think the following remarks can be stereotyped as "Australian" or even as a "Sydney" thing (as I oft catalogue things I encounter here), and I only have one real workplace to refer back to in the States so that may add to this particular observation. But I do find this peculiar.
People talk an awful lot in my office. In fact, on any normal day, the first thing my department does in the morning is hold a 20-30 minute chatter session. What did you do last night? How about you? Craft comment. Food comment. Lots and lots of food conversation. Boy talk. Girl talk. All and any of the above. Yesterday morning centered on bridesmaid talk, and whether or not a fellow bridesmaid should be booted from the wedding. What did the dresses look like? The bride sounds quite nice. If this girl isn't supportive and this is a friendship ruiner, why would she want her in the wedding anyway? Blah, blah, blah. I came into work 20 minutes late and, due to the morning conversation, still managed to make it to my computer at the normal time. Wednesday morning we caught up on the long Easter weekend and what everyone did, travels, staying at home, etc. Almost every day without fail.
This chit chat also happens a lot if you need to ask something of somebody. I find that people will do a good 5 minutes of catch-up before they get onto the task at hand and actually mention the work that needs to be done. I've noticed that I get much better responses if I have this catch-up when I'm asking someone to do something for me. It boggles my mind a bit because my natural instinct, when I'm at work, is to work. Bizarre, most certainly! But building relationships seems to be a much more important part of the office culture here than it did back home. Which is strange, because I was much closer to the people I worked with in Seattle than I am to people here. Much more was shared in a shorter amount of time.
Another cultural difference. You'd think a person would revel in talking while at work, but I'd rather be working. I'd rather be productive and get stuff done. Can't we chat at lunch? In the kitchen while we're making tea and filling up water bottles? Yes, of course. We chat there, too. And sometimes I feel like I'm a outsider because I prefer to work than to talk a lot. I mean, at least during work hours.
Anyway, could just be the culture of my office. Who knows. But it is another one of those differences that has struck my brain (after almost a year and a half of working here!).
People talk an awful lot in my office. In fact, on any normal day, the first thing my department does in the morning is hold a 20-30 minute chatter session. What did you do last night? How about you? Craft comment. Food comment. Lots and lots of food conversation. Boy talk. Girl talk. All and any of the above. Yesterday morning centered on bridesmaid talk, and whether or not a fellow bridesmaid should be booted from the wedding. What did the dresses look like? The bride sounds quite nice. If this girl isn't supportive and this is a friendship ruiner, why would she want her in the wedding anyway? Blah, blah, blah. I came into work 20 minutes late and, due to the morning conversation, still managed to make it to my computer at the normal time. Wednesday morning we caught up on the long Easter weekend and what everyone did, travels, staying at home, etc. Almost every day without fail.
This chit chat also happens a lot if you need to ask something of somebody. I find that people will do a good 5 minutes of catch-up before they get onto the task at hand and actually mention the work that needs to be done. I've noticed that I get much better responses if I have this catch-up when I'm asking someone to do something for me. It boggles my mind a bit because my natural instinct, when I'm at work, is to work. Bizarre, most certainly! But building relationships seems to be a much more important part of the office culture here than it did back home. Which is strange, because I was much closer to the people I worked with in Seattle than I am to people here. Much more was shared in a shorter amount of time.
Another cultural difference. You'd think a person would revel in talking while at work, but I'd rather be working. I'd rather be productive and get stuff done. Can't we chat at lunch? In the kitchen while we're making tea and filling up water bottles? Yes, of course. We chat there, too. And sometimes I feel like I'm a outsider because I prefer to work than to talk a lot. I mean, at least during work hours.
Anyway, could just be the culture of my office. Who knows. But it is another one of those differences that has struck my brain (after almost a year and a half of working here!).
Comments