EP30: Commuting with a Click - An Experiment in Spatial Working... that Worked!

2025-02-25

Can remote teams recreate those spontaneous office moments, the quick chats and casual check-ins, without stepping into a building? Karin Reed sits down with Lisette Sutherland, director of Collaboration Superpowers, to talk about spatial working, a fresh approach to remote work that brings a real sense of presence to virtual teams. Instead of relying on scheduled meetings, these digital office spaces create opportunities for spontaneous interactions. Teams can see who is around, drop in for quick conversations, and feel more connected throughout the ...

Can remote teams recreate those spontaneous office moments, the quick chats and casual check-ins, without stepping into a building?

Karin Reed sits down with Lisette Sutherland, director of Collaboration Superpowers, to talk about spatial working, a fresh approach to remote work that brings a real sense of presence to virtual teams. Instead of relying on scheduled meetings, these digital office spaces create opportunities for spontaneous interactions. Teams can see who is around, drop in for quick conversations, and feel more connected throughout the day.

Lisette shares her own experience testing these tools, including Welo, and explains why they offer something that video calls and Slack messages cannot. She also digs into the biggest hurdles, why teams hesitate to try new tech, what makes adoption tricky, and how to introduce it in a way that actually sticks.

If remote work feels disconnected or overly structured, this episode offers a different way forward. Could spatial working be the key to rebuilding team culture and making virtual collaboration feel effortless?

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction to Spatial Working

01:06 Lisette Sutherland

02:08 Defining Spatial Working

03:55 Benefits of Spatial Working

06:20 Lisette’s Deep Dive into Spatial Working

09:10 Serendipity in Virtual Offices

10:12 Barriers to Adoption

13:13 Ideal Organization Size for Spatial Working

16:14 Solving Connectedness with Spatial Working

18:13 Experimenting with Spatial Working

19:04 Lack of Awareness and Future Trends