Who You Sit Next to Can Have a Huge Effect On How You Work

by Andrew Snow

Learning the processes and approaches of others is something we gradually stop doing as we begin to work full-time. During college and university, we have the freedom to learn directly from our peers in class, workshops, and study groups. However, this type of learning tends to disappear once we start working professionally. We are taught to become competitors instead of collaborators. Commissions and royalties are based on having an advantage over co-workers, so we begin to hoard information and best practices.

However, instead of hiding our processes, we should keep them available for others to witness. Observational learning is one of the most natural ways to learn. Infants as young as 21 days begin learning by observing silly faces made by their parents and attempting to recreate them. Psychology expert Kendra Cherry elaborates:

Observational learning can be a powerful learning tool. When we think about the concept of learning, we often talk about direct instruction or methods that rely on reinforcement and punishment. But a great deal of learning takes place much more subtly and relies on watching the people around us and modeling their actions. This learning method can be applied in a wide range of settings including job training, education, counseling, and psychotherapy.

We can learn so much from co-working. The best environments are where creatives can be working independently, but there is a neighborly atmosphere where people are interested in each other’s’ work. Everyone is striving to create the best work possible. You are open to bounce ideas off of each other and provide helpful advice. In a Global Coworking Survey conducted by Deskmag, 71% of respondents said their creativity had increased since joining a co-working space. By simply working next to someone, you may learn a new technique for painting, or a different way to 3D model a complex shape. Even though we are all taught a basic creative process, there are numerous ways to reach an end result. By learning how someone else achieves it will only strengthen your own process.

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