My job at Higher Logic is 100% remote. My co-workers are far away, with only one other colleague in the entire state of California. For a long time, my home office faced the backyard. It was quiet and peaceful, with fountain sounds and a view of trees and a bird feeder. On paper, it was an ideal work environment.
Recently, I moved my office to the front of the house. Now my desk faces the street, where I see people walking by on their way to the park, dog-walkers, commuters heading to CalTrain, neighbors, chitchat.
Immediately, the time at my desk and my job felt different. Wowsa! Seeing other people infuses my work with the energy of human connection. When I work in total isolation for too long, the vibe feels off. The words I’m typing lose weight. It's output instead of communication. But seeing other people—even briefly, even without interaction—reminds me that what I’m working on is meant to land with someone. It reconnects my work to real people living real lives.
What surprised me most is that this shift didn’t require interaction. There are no conversations, no collaboration, no interruptions. Human energy doesn’t require interaction. Just knowing other people are nearby adds a quiet grounding energy for me. It subtly changes how I think, how I write, and how much care I bring. This kind of presence is an ambient community.
Ambient community shapes how we think. It doesn’t demand attention or participation. It exists in the background, reminding us that our work lives in a shared world. After all, people connections are our mission.
Call to action:
Be curious about your ambient community. If your work depends on understanding people, take a fresh look at where you work. Maybe move your desk to face a window. Once a week, work from a coffeeshop or from your car with a view. Choose a space that puts you closer to everyday human activity. You don’t need a dramatic change to create new energy—sometimes, changing the view is enough.
