Initially, swapping the bustling corporate hub for the solitude of your home workspace might seem thrilling. Now, there are no more dress codes to be followed, no more travels to and fro work, and no office politics. But, when novelty starts to fade away, you are likely struck by a familiar feeling – solitude. As your daily interactions with your coworkers are less in a remote setup, it can provoke a feeling of isolation, making you lose away your sense of belonging.
What is the solution? How can we build community and belonging in the virtual world?
Here, we have compiled a list of smart tips to bridge these physical distances and develop meaningful connections.
Connect Proactively, Even Virtually
- Try Virtual Collaboration Apps: Have you heard about those cool project management apps that facilitate work, such as Slack or Asana? They offer casual channels for chatting with teammates, cracking jokes, sharing memes, etc. To bring people together as one unified team, turn these sites into a virtual hangout spot for you and your colleagues.
- Join Virtual Interest Groups: Explore a range of remote-friendly activities, from intellectual book clubs to healing meditation sessions to healthy online fitness challenges, offered by many companies through virtual interest groups. Choose something that matches your interests and connect with like-minded coworkers.
Be Deliberate about Social Interaction
- Shed that skin of a Hermit: Don’t let your busy schedule make you feel left out. Nothing can substitute the magic of real-world interaction. So, carve out time for joining co-working spaces, be up for local meetups, and attend industry events. It offers scope for connecting with other remote workers and forming a sense of belonging.
- Reach Out, Don’t Wait: Don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation with colleagues and build bonds outside of work. To foster a sense of belonging, schedule virtual coffee meets, after-work drinks, and share stories or weekend movie nights. It also helps everyone release professional stress.
Embrace Your Local Community: Join the local community. Enroll in a yoga class, volunteer at a local cause, or start a fun activity. Building local networks can beat the isolation and bring a sense of belonging that screen time can’t match.
