We-experiences and the maintenance of workplace friendships: Being workplace friends together

Abstract

In this article, we are interested in how togetherness in workplace friendships is experienced in the absence of physical co-presence. We explore practices through which we-experiences, that is, shared experiences that produce feelings of togetherness, are realized and maintained across time and space and how different we-experiences constitute different modes of togetherness. Findings from our autoethnographic phenomenological study suggest four modes. Transactive togetherness as vivid and intense we-experiences in the face of tight deadlines but little genuine we-experiences at other times. Retrospective togetherness as re-lived we-experiences when shared memories or stories are retold, recalled, and ‘brought back to life’. Associative togetherness as we-experiences that emerge in the light of immediate emotional and personal challenges that are addressed collectively. Projective togetherness as anticipated we-experiences that emerge from a compelling vision of each other in our work and personal life. We add to the current conversations on the continuous entanglement and interlocking nature of we-experiences, the temporality of togetherness at work, and how friendships are actively accomplished through individuals.

A collaborative autoethnographic journey of collective storying: Transitioning between the ‘I’, the ‘We’ and the ‘They’

“…From a pragmatic perspective, another contribution of our work is support for Korber et al (2023) finding that ‘we-experiences can emerge from enlisting and revisiting shared timely moments even without sharing a physical space’ (p. 22). Using CAE as our methodology enabled us to examine our enacted temporality of connection and ‘we-sustaining practices’ in an online environment (Korber et al, 2023: 22). Our findings not only point to the efficacy of generating connectedness without physical togetherness but also raise questions for future research regarding contexts within which collaborative ‘we’ focussed storying processes may be better suited to online environments than traditional face-to-face settings.…”

“…We find that the loss of authentic stories is a potential limitation of collaborative storytelling that is worthy of further exploration and attention. From a pragmatic perspective, another contribution of our work is support for Korber et al (2023) finding that 'we-experiences can emerge from enlisting and revisiting shared timely moments even without sharing a physical space' (p. 22). Using CAE as our methodology enabled us to examine our enacted temporality of connection and 'we-sustaining practices' in an online environment (Korber et al, 2023: 22).…”

“…In this sense, we contribute to an understanding of collaborative ‘we-experiences’ (Korber et al, 2023) and respond to recent calls for more focus on the role of informal academic collectives (Callagher et al, 2021) for crafting safe shared holding environments (Petriglieri et al, 2019). Extending a discussion of protection throughout our waffling, members expressed gratitude for a focus on care as part of the process of nurturing relationship development.…”