This only works with the same select few people who speak up or share things in every call. They’re typically very outspoken, willing to go to after work, work related gatherings and such. That’s fine.

No thank you. I value work life balance very much and this violates it. I keep my personal life separate, unless I want to share. I’m very good at what I do and value my ability to do so. The people I need to get along with, I already do. These kind of details get shared organically and should not be forced.

I also do not come from a healthy family background to put it softly. When these positive sounding ideas to share come up, I come up blank, because I do not have them to share.

So go on and talk about your happy vacation to Disneyworld for the nth time, or your trip to Istanbul, or your huge extended family and their third grandchild. Talk about your hobbies and your farm animals. Don’t force me to enroll into playing games over Teams meetings. It’s fine for you to share or participate as long as you want to. I’m happy for you. Just don’t make me have to make shit up on the spot. I’m not creative that way.

If you want to know more about me, then show me that you are a good worker that I’ll get along with. Become someone I might speak positively about. Then I may offer a part of me that’s outside work. These forced team building techniques don’t work. They never have other than build resentment.

This makes me sound quite bitter but I’m just a chill guy that values privacy.