As more and more people work from home in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, feelings of loneliness are increasing, too. Keep reading for some tips on staying connected when working virtually and preventing feelings of isolation from taking over.
Six Ways for Making Human Connections
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Communication
The key to making and maintaining human connections when working virtually is constantly communicating. When you see results or have doubts, when you have feedback and questions, communicate. Make sure everyone around you knows that you are available to connect with when working from home. A communication system like the Microsoft Teams phone system will help to ensure you’re staying connected when working virtually.
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Virtual Lunch Dates
A good idea for making human connections is scheduling time to have a virtual lunch or coffee together with a colleague or friend. Just because you cannot see the individual face to face doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice those essential meetups.
It’s essential to maintain those connections you’ve made, so continue to meet with friends and colleagues wherever possible regularly.
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Maintain an ‘Open Door’ Policy
There’s no better way to connect than to remind everyone that you’re there and willing to connect with them. Often we forget to remind colleagues that we’re willing to help them and that they’re not bothering us by coming in for a chat.
Show that you’re available and always respond when contacted, even if it’s a quick message saying you don’t have time for a complete response but that you’ll get to it as soon as possible.
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Make Use of Social Media and Messaging Platforms
Most social media platforms offer a way of contacting others via video, text messaging, and regular calls. This allows you to make the call – literally – about how you feel comfortable connecting with others at any given time.
You don’t have to be isolated just because you’re alone, so make the most of those available communication platforms.
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Attend Webinars and Work Events
Interacting and engaging with conferences, webinars, and other work events is a great way to make human connections when working virtually. Instead of passively watching the speaker, actively engage with them by asking questions and commenting on what they have to say. You could even follow up with an email after the webinar detailing how much you enjoyed the event and that you’d like to connect with them, and so on.
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Join Professional Networks
You don’t have to limit yourself to only connecting with those in your workplace. Join as many networks as you can, and regularly communicate with those contacts. You’ll be surprised at how many people are in the same position as you and are looking to make more human connections.
To start with, focus on connecting with like-minded professionals who you’ll find authentic connections with, and then broaden your horizons as you get more comfortable.
Now you have some tips on staying connected when working virtually; it’s time to put them into action. With these things in mind, you will be able to ensure that you continue to make human connections, even while working from home.
