Remote working? Five tips to ease social isolation
We wrote this blog in April 2020 – as the world was grappling with the start of lockdowns and homeworking. Designed to address the very real risks of social isolation, these five working-from-home tips remain as relevant today as they did two years ago.
As the novel Coronavirus spread swiftly across the globe, panic was on the up, toilet rolls were flying off the shelves, and increasing numbers of people were being advised to keep a safe distance away from others.
Many of us couldn’t have predicted the challenges we suddenly found ourselves grappling with. And it’s had a profound effect on how we went about our personal and professional lives.
But while working away from the office was not a new thing – until now, remote working on such a widespread and prolonged scale has only ever been the stuff of science fiction.
So to have it arrive on your door step completely out of the blue, might have come as a bit of a shock to the system.
Now that working out of the office has become the new norm, you’re probably wondering: what can organisations and employees do to ensure collective engagement, communication, and productivity over the long-term – as well as staving off the negative effects of isolation?
Take a delve into our working from home tips below for some helpful handpicked ideas to keep your engagement and wellbeing on a high…
1. Make the most of video conferencing
Many of us have been using video conferencing to connect with remote workers in our organisations for a good few years now.
But overnight, it’s taken a whole new level of significance.
When we’re in the workplace and can strike up a conversation in-person, using an instant-messenger app such as Yammer, Slack or Microsoft Teams can be a quickfire way to touch base without having to get up from your desk.
But now that our interaction with colleagues is entirely digital, the lack of face-to-face connection that comes with these tools might suddenly feel very isolating. The same goes for catching up over the phone. It’s easy and convenient – but reinforces the disconnect between you, and the folks at the other end.
Unlike these methods of communicating with colleagues, video conferencing breaks down these barriers by being a more true-to-form recreation of an in-person conversation.
Video conferencing is up to 80% as effective at building bonds and creating connections as genuine in-person interaction.
There’s tons of research that reveals why face-to-face interaction is the best way to get messages and ideas to stick.
But its capacity to bring people together on a deeper level also makes it a great way to stave off the effects of extended periods of solitude.
In fact, research suggests video conferencing is up to 80% as effective at building bonds and creating connections as genuine in-person interaction. This is much higher than phone and email conversations.
And face-to-face communication has been proven to spark mirror neurons in the brain, influencing us to reflect and replicate the body language of the person we’re talking to. Therefore strengthening rapport, and deepening emotional engagement.
But in a more personal, conversational context, video conferencing is so effective because it enables us to fully share in the interactive experience.We can read and respond to body language, visual cues and tone in a way which simply isn’t possible through a regular phone call or email.
93% of communication comes from non-verbal cues.
Which means we miss out on the majority of information being transferred when we don’t interact in-person.
So ditch the mobile and the instant-messaging app, and make a habit of firing up the webcam for your catch-ups and meetings instead.
Which leads us nicely onto…
2. Ramp up your virtual engagement activities
Used to regular in-person team lunches or group wellness sessions?
Here at H&H, our weekly Pilates sessions, monthly Lunch and Learns and regular agency gatherings have proved invaluable for strengthening our relationships and spirt as a team.
Now that everyone’s working from home, it might seem that these activities will have to be put on the backburner.
But who said they could only be done offline?
Finding ways to keep up the camaraderie and interaction is essential for maintaining a sense of culture and connectedness.
We like this neat little tool, Kudoboard. It allows you to recognise others with personalised group e-cards so everyone can share in the celebrations – a great way to keep remote teams connected by sharing shout-outs everyone will remember.
Creating a coordinated programme of engagement to balance both the physical and social barriers that come from remote working is a great way to ensure commitment and consistency in maintaining colleague connections.
The experience of work in the office isn’t all work and no play. Why should it be different in the home office?
Why not hold wellness sessions online? H&Hers dial into weekly online Pilates sessions with our instructor. A whole new angle to flexible working!
We’ve also enjoyed virtual quizzes, fikas and even a virtual Christmas party – complete with magicians, cheese and wine tasting and games.
So consider keeping up any social activities you do with your team over webcam.
After all, the experience of work in the office isn’t all work and no play. Why should it be different in the home office?
3. Get creative
We always recommend making all meetings as fun and engaging as possible – whether that’s through incorporating gamification, encouraging group participation, or utilising interesting and inventive materials to bring content to life.
The issue with remote working is that, beyond conversations, it’s pretty hard to physically interact over a video conference.
So, build in interactivity in other ways.
Quiz it up
If you’re sharing an idea you want to generate insightful debate on, why not consider holding a short quiz or survey so attendants can share their opinions and get involved more directly in the discussion?
We created a nifty little tool called Push to help you create quickfire polls to get people engaged – check it out here for free!
Encourage people to get creative
Or you could get people to draw illustrations or mind maps as an alternative to simply asking them what they think. It’s more creatively engaging and great for encouraging people to think outside the box. And it also enables visual and kinaesthetic learners to explore their ideas in a more accessible and unusual way.
Unleash a little storytelling
Looking to inspire innovative thinking and bring fresh perspectives to light? Invite people to articulate their opinions and ideas through the medium of storytelling.
We often turn to storytelling to get the neurons firing and get people to think differently. And our creatively versatile Storytelling Cards are designed to do exactly this.
They’re a visual feast for the eyes and we’ve used them internally and with clients, to add oomph to icebreaker activities, explore a situation or experience through a personal lens, or communicate complex ideas in a unique and relatable way.
4. Fuel the interactions
You’ll know interaction doesn’t just come from organised group get-togethers or team meetings. Small things – such as quick check-ins from line managers or impromptu conversations by the water cooler – are equally impactful.
In the virtual world, these can be replicated through online forums and social networking platforms.
This is key to keeping people connected – and ensuring those who feel isolated and anxious about the current situation feel empowered to talk about their concerns openly.
These tools can provide regular opportunities for ‘pop up’ conversations.
Use hashtags to encourage debate
You could create your own specific to your business. Or you could take inspiration from these making the rounds on Twitter and LinkedIn at the moment:
#WorkingFromHomeLife
#WorkingFromHome
#RemoteWorking
#HomeWorking
Be sure to share upbeat and inspiring stories about people’s remote working experiences
Start a private chat
When you’re in a shared work space, it’s easy for others to spot when you’re feeling unsure, a little stuck or not yourself – and you can do the same for them. Now we’re all in our own home offices, noticing shifts in emotion can be tricky. So start a private chat with a colleague or your line manager to share your concerns – and make sure others know you’re always on the end of a virtual line if they need you.
Use online groups to spark discussion
Creating groups in apps like Slack or Microsoft Teams means the whole team can post messages, share content and invite discussion to generate meaningful conversation and encourage connection.
As well as the business side of things, be sure to share upbeat and inspiring stories about people’s remote working experiences, too. It’ll keep positivity on a high. So why not invite colleagues to share photos of what’s making them smile to spread the positive vibes?
5. Break your state
When you’re living and working in the same place, it’s very easy for the lines to be blurred. And then work and home life to blend into one.
This can make it difficult to focus your mind and get ‘in the zone’. Plus it makes it harder to switch off at the end of the day.
The daily commute acted as a consistent buffer between your professional and personal life.
So try to establish some sort of a buffer when working remotely – whether that’s a scoot around the block before firing up your laptop, a lunchtime walk around the local park or setting some time aside for exercise after you’ve downed tools.
Breaking state is a useful way to stay productive, avoid burnout and establishing clear and healthy boundaries between work and personal life.
Research suggests you’re nearly 100% more likely to think creatively when walking rather than sitting
These simple tips can help you make a habit of taking regular breaks:
Spread out your conversations
Schedule your online meetings so they don’t all come at once. It’ll help break up your desk time – giving you more opportunities to embrace a rejuvenating change of scenery.
Avoid succumbing to presenteeism
Remote working can drive an unhealthy desire to be ‘always on’, to avoid creating the impression that you’re not pulling your weight.
And this is completely counterintuitive to maximising your productivity. It will only work to increase stress, and make you fall prey to burnout faster.
Remember that it’s okay to take regular short breaks – and use this time to kick back with a coffee, enjoy a snack (or two) away from your screen, or spend some quality time with your loved ones.
Good communication is critical too
In our latest research report, we unveil for the very first time the link between internal communication and employee engagement and wellbeing. Download your copy today to see for yourself how good communication can help your team stay happy, healthy and motivated during the time of COVID-19.
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