Photo by: fizkes via Canva
Though many of us have returned to the in-person workplace, some of us are still (and forevermore) working remotely. This comes with plenty of benefits—working with a cat on your lap is a welcome perk. However, there’s one element those of us who only recently started working from home may miss—camaraderie. Gone are the days of water cooler chats and recaps on last night’s episode of Game of Thrones. How do you incorporate social interaction into a virtual workplace?
First thing’s first—reach out! It can be isolating working remotely. Is there a coworker in your city? Someone stopping in for a quick trip? Take advantage! When you encounter a problem, don’t hesitate to connect with a colleague to try and hash it out. We often forget that we have access to the simple resource of phoning a friend, and that it could help resolve small issues before they blow up. Make it part of your routine to share tips and tricks with coworkers whenever you can, even if they’re across the world.
The onus to connect doesn’t necessarily rest entirely on your shoulders. Suggest a happy hour meet up on Teams (or your preferred video call service). Schedule it close to the end of the workday and ask everyone to bring a beverage of their choice. This is a great way to cover important topics and still engage socially with your coworkers. Not only that, it offers those who don’t drink an opportunity to socialize with colleagues without having to go to a bar. If you have it at the end of the workweek, you can make it a point to check in with your coworkers on their weekend plans. You may even find out that someone you don’t interact with often has the same niche hobby as you!
Remember that water cooler I mentioned earlier? Perhaps the office kitchen has been replaced with Brita filtered water and Nespresso pods in our very own homes, but that doesn’t mean we have to do away with the concept entirely. You can start a department (or even company) wide group chat used for wishing your coworkers a happy birthday or sharing opinions on new Netflix shows or that new pop album that just dropped last night. You might find out that you and your coworkers all went to the same tour on different dates or get into a rousing debate over warring sports teams. By having one place where everyone can access each other at once, it takes the pressure off reaching out to coworkers separately.
Overall, there are plenty of ways to stay connected with colleagues from afar. By adding more socializing into your day-to-day schedule, you’ll find solutions to problems more efficiently. You’ll find common ground with the people you interact with every day. And finally, you’ll add a bit more fun into the workplace!