The human touch: nurturing social connections in remote working
Photo by Polina Kovaleva from Pexels
This article was originally posted on LinkedIn on 19th Jan 2022.
Have you forgotten the how and why of human and social connection in the rush to stay productive during your home working day? Read on to reignite the way you foster these vital connections and integrate them as second nature into your routine.
Does it feel like another remote working groundhog day? Join the club! Many of us are struggling with the ongoing pandemic restrictions, associated stressors and the toll of home working only, with a lack of mobility, getting ready for yet another day, at the same home workspace, with the same routine. As human beings are social creatures, motivation levels could suffer from that lack of connection, but often and more importantly, we feel less aligned with our peers, network and community.
Check-in on your connection needs - grab a piece of paper and reflect on the following question:
“Are my needs for social connection met during my working day?”
As you contemplate this question above, consider what “connection” means to you. Sometimes our needs are not just satisfied by 1-2-1 human interactions: you may feel the need to be included in social groups, to be surrounded by nature, or to attend cultural or sporting events. Take a few moments to write down what activities you may like to adapt and that resonate with you personally. Start today to shine a light on those very basic of human needs, with our short exercise and top tips outlined below:
Purposeful planning - take a considered look at what you have written for a few moments. Now move to action, planning those various activities proactively into your work calendar for the upcoming days and into the next weeks.
Consider quality over quantity - as we adapt to home and remote working, we also may want to redefine work relationships as well as our overall expectations. Some people find that they have fewer close working relationships which (in general) are of higher quality. Keeping an open mind to this change can also help foster those regular and more open connections in our existing relationships at work.
Ten ways to boost connection opportunities:
Laughter IS the best medicine. When was the last time you really laughed? A belly laugh or a real long giggle? Share that moment in your next social chat and ask others to share theirs, laughing together is a wonderful tonic!
Start with your own workplace, team and existing connections, check out what avenues exist already to foster connections via company intranets, blogs and by asking proactively about groups and clubs that may already exist.
Get out and away from your workspace at home and organise IRL get togethers and meet-ups where possible. Frequency is often key: getting outside at least once a day and making a minimum of 2 "dates" a week is a good starting point.
Try changing work location for a few hours, finding a co-working space or local cafe safely - to feel more connected to your local neighbourhood and community.
Be proactive and start to organise no-work chats with colleagues and connections over video conferencing or audio calls.
Walking meetings or catch ups are also a good way to invite exercise, connection with nature and a more open conversation with colleagues.
Reach out to an old friend or contact. Most of us have someone in the back of their mind that they are overdue a catch-up with.
Find new connections to share things in common with. Use apps such as Meetcafecito to facilitate new connections for virtual chats.
Running a virtual meeting? Break the ice with a 5-min social chat window at the start or at the end of regular team meetings. A simple check in like "how was your weekend?" can add a talking and sharing opportunity for the whole team.
Volunteer to be a connection champion! Why wait for someone else to do it? Reach out and offer to organise a social event at work. It can be as simple as organising a group coffee chat or perhaps an event with a charitable cause, which will help you feel motivated and engaged.
To receive notifications when Remote Work Digest Newsletters are released, subscribe here. For a full immersion into Remote Work best skills, practises and training -check Rowena’s website.
This article was originally posted on LinkedIn on 19th Jan 2022.