Virtual world, virtual connection
We are all social animals by nature. We strive to have constant communication and connections through various stages of our lives. The recent global pandemic has thrown a wrench in all the norms we had. The hustle of rushing into work, having in-person meetings, or working 9am to 5pm; these have all become things of the past as we move into a world of virtual connection.
There are both pros and cons of working from home. One of the pros is that we save a lot of time on the commute. Another is we avoid the rush hour traffic or crowded buses. However, chuckling at the coffee machine at work or walking nearby to grab tea is something we miss.
How can one maintain connections through the virtual world we all live in now? With technology advancement and the digital age we live in, maintaining connections virtually has never been easier. Here are some ways to maintain virtual connections while “avoiding traffic”:
Social Media
A lot of work friends are now connecting on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms. This allows them to stay connected on a more personal level, something many of us miss when working from home. As a result, this has brought about a different culture to the workforce. While it is not the same thing, this virtual connection allows people to have some form of personal communication.
LinkedIn is part of social media, but it is a more professional platform. Many people are using LinkedIn to share their own work-from-home experiences and the positive impact it has had on them. This sense of sailing in similar boats allows us to relate with each other. Gives us a feeling of unison – “I’m not alone in this.”
Video conferencing
Working from home has mandated some companies to have videos turned on for all meetings. They back this up by explaining that it helps the people feel more connected and present. Zoom and Microsoft Teams are some of the few popular video-conferencing software out there. For the more personal virtual connection, “Did you see her gorgeous background?” conversations, there’s always WhatsApp and FaceTime.
Virtual social activities
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. This popular saying has never stood true with the work from home norm. Many of us working from home feel the pressure to stay on and answer every email that comes our way. This causes unnecessary expectations and stress. Pre-pandemic, we could log off from work and go grab a drink with our teammates. We would have after-work social events such as bowling.
Working from home closed the curtains on these social events. With lockdowns in place and nowhere to go, how can a team unwind but still feel connected? Virtual social activities! There are many virtual game centres, events, tours, and wine nights that could be planned. These can be hosted post-work or even during lunch hour. This not only encourages us to take a break, but it also helps us learn more about our teammates on a personal level.
Above all, mental health
Aside from trying to stay connected, one of the major issues that needs to be addressed is mental health. It is ideal for a workplace to address and speak about the mental health of their employees during these times. Many people have been juggling work, home, kids, and taking on more responsibilities during work-from-home. Using the above methods to stay connected is one thing; but the bigger idea is to maintain that connection and not isolate each other. After all, we need the human interaction to maintain our empathy and humanity.