Themes from 2021: working from home and podcasting

by Tom Johnson on Jan 12, 2022
categories: technical-writing

I just listened to Ellis Pratt’s latest podcast — Lessons learnt in 2021 — in which Ellis collected feedback from listeners on Linkedin. I was surprised that WFH dominated the feedback about what people learned in 2021. It’s somewhat perplexing because I found that I don’t really like working from home, and I’m not sure why. It seems that, overwhelmingly, most people I meet prefer to WFH. I’m the anomaly, and going to a mostly empty office building the other day reinforced that point. What if WFH is here to stay? What a huge pivot in the working model. If so, I need to figure out how to make it work.

I’m not sure where I’m hung up. It’s not the desk, chair, monitors, internet speed, lightening, temperature, or space. I have a near ideal environment. Neither is it an interruptionless environment, as my environment at home is pretty quiet. My kids are at school all day. I’m not even sure I crave human interaction. I’ve never been one to smalltalk with colleagues for more than 5-10 minutes, nor do I operate best through in-person meetings. I seem to need only some brief exchanges during the day to feel socially fulfilled. And like most people, meetings can wear on me, especially if I can’t escape them with virtual distraction. So what gives? Why don’t I prefer to work from home?

I suspect the stumbling block is a psychological one. It’s hard to flip that context from home to work and back to home again. I think I’ll read up on the topic and experiment with the many tips people give, such as setting time blocks and simulating a short walk as a “commute.” It seems such a trivial challenge to master, but with so many big tech companies allowing permanent WFH, I suspect it’s a trend that will be impossible to fight against in the long term. Recently I learned that when you go into work and it feels like a ghost town, it’s even more demotivating than being isolated at home all day.

The second theme for 2021 worth mentioning is the resurgence of podcasts. Take a minute to look at all the recent new podcasts, such as Inside Tech Comm, The Manuscript, Titans of Tech Comm, Content Components, WinWithContent, Sustain, as well as a continuation of the regulars, such as Cherryleaf, The Content Strategy Experts, 10 Minute Tech Comm, and more. (In contrast, blogs seem to have grown thinner. In fact, I’m not sure that I’m even a blogger as much as an online content creator — a 150+ page online course is hardly a reverse chronological diary.)

For a browsable lists of podcasts, see my page Other tech comm podcasts.

Some years ago, I was really into podcasting, but my efforts fizzled (or rather transitioned into the WTD podcast, which also fizzled). Somehow I lost interest in podcasting. But why did so many people take up podcasting recently? Is it the desire for human connection that comes through hearing others’ voices? For sure, inviting someone into your head space and listening to their thoughts and ideas at length creates a personal connection (one that is described as a “parasocial” relationship).

Podcasts are also sometimes easier to create. You don’t have to obsess about language, structure, and flow. You mostly find someone insightful and pick their brain for an hour — easy content, and you learn what you want to learn. In turn, they get visibility and recognition. But podcasts can still take a long time to set up, schedule, produce, publish, etc.

Paradoxically, I often don’t have time to read a long blog post, but if I’m multitasking (biking, walking, shooting baskets, cleaning), I can listen to an hour-long podcast, if it’s engaging. But I can’t read and multitask, unfortunately, as my neural pathways are too narrow. :)

Here’s some more reading on podcasts:

• Why are Podcasts so Popular in 2021?
• 2021 Podcast Stats & Facts (New Research From Apr 2021)