Last week I was in a video call with colleague Meha Bola, Senior Advisor who specializes in organizational effectiveness and holds an MS in Organizational and Social Psychology from the London School of Economics. “Companies have been ready to work remotely for some time,” Meha said. “But I don’t know whether they’ve all been ready to connect remotely.”
Meha voiced a powerful idea here about the difference between mere functioning and fully thriving as situations change. How do we maintain human connection in virtual environments?
1) Turn your camera on.
It’s hard to overestimate the importance of visuals in communication. With increasing numbers of workers now in lockdown or quarantine, establishing non-physical forms of connection is more important than ever. Don’t worry about your bad hair day, the mess on the counter behind you, or the kids running down the hallway – you’re human and the realities of life shouldn’t be forced to stand at the periphery. Right now, little reminders of our shared humanity go a long way.
2) End your calls 5 minutes early.
Meetings, random catch-ups in the hallway, decision-making conversations – now these moments are all found within virtual meetings, and we tend to tap those for 30 minute increments. It only takes a few of those back to back to wear you down! Try to be conscious of your audience and end calls five minutes early, allowing coworkers a quick break between meetings.
3) Take your coffee breaks – with coworkers!
A key part of connecting – essential in environments requiring collaboration at a distance – is building and maintaining trust. Laying that foundation is an organic process, the result of small investments in a relationship such as chatting over a coffee break or sharing weekend plans. Put that bonding time on your calendar in whatever way works for you and your social group – it will help keep you emotionally engaged! And remember the new folks in your organization – their integration into the group’s social circle will be a little more challenging than normal.
6) Keep an eye on shifting team dynamics.
You may notice that the virtual environment brings new things out of your coworkers. Those who were shy in the office may now be more ‘present’, supercharged by being in the comfort of their own home. More gregarious or physically active colleagues may be struggling in their new environment, and not showing up the way they were before. Look out for signs of shifting behaviors on your team – they may clue you in to latent talents you might have missed in team members, or inform you that one of your colleagues could use additional support to adapt.
7) Don’t be afraid to put blocks in your calendar.
Turns out, burn-out from virtual meetings is a real thing. And when calls are coming in back to back, it can feel like your productivity takes the hit. Exercise autonomy over your schedule: proactively block time to work on that presentation, to tidy up that report, to catch up on your inbox. But also take some time away from your screen – it will greatly improve your ability to connect with your coworkers if you are taking the time away that you need to refresh.
8) Express gratitude daily.
Gratitude is the pinnacle of human emotion. Finding ways to recognize the good around you can be challenging, but will encourage you to reframe your experience in ways that uplift you and help you to feel powerful again. Chaos and panic is contagious, but so is calm; when we lean into recognizing the positive, we regain our sense of control and find ‘calm’ an easier state to enter.
Meha Bola
Senior Advisor
Infrastructure, Investment, Economics
meha.bola@ghd.com
T +1 213 476 6253
