A recent article in a professional journal I read (Communication of ACM) discussed efforts to increase gender equity within the workplace and the discipline. The author’s suggestions included learning about a co-workers ongoing research projects or introducing yourself to a woman in office/campus and then introduce them to your peers.

This got me thinking about the interworking’s of a Staff and how each member brings a different perspective to the Staff, but all are working towards the common unit mission. But sometimes we all get caught in our own specialty that we never reach outside of our own knife fights to see what’s going on with the other members of Staff. However, when we do, it can reap a multitude of benefits, the least of which is better sense of a team and more efficient work by increasing brainpower on a problem. When you know your teammates, it starts to become second-nature to reach out and ask for help or opinions, instead of slogging through by yourself. Then, almost through osmosis, you begin cross-leveling knowledge through a ‘coffee break’ conversation (what I’d call a bit of Productive Procrastination).

What are your methods for getting to know the other people on Staff with you? What benefits – or disadvantages – have you seen as a result? Have you ever taken a chance to include someone more junior or inexperienced than the mission “needed” – how did that turn out? How have you applied skills learned in PL, XO, or CC positions to your time on staff (or vice versa)?