We’re learning a new phrase for 2020, social distancing. I’m not sure about you, but that is a word I did not see coming. It’s a massive shift from the socially driven society we are so used to living and working within.
And, social distancing can feel, well, very isolating.
If you are new to working from home, cooking at home, and doing your workout from home [basically, never leaving the house] — you may be feeling a little stir crazy.
Here is one way you can initiate moments of connection with your co-workers and make the most of this time:
At DH, we know there are 3 elements for creating the right culture for employee happiness:
[If you are interested, we wrote an ebook about that.]
Today, we’re focusing on connectedness.
How are you supposed to feel connected to your co-workers when you are all working remotely?
One of the exercises that we recommend with clients is called the PEC [Personal Emotional Connectedness] Walk. Here’s how you can modify it to do remotely…
At your next [virtual] team meeting, assign two people to a pair, and a number from 1-5 [different pairs can have the same number].
Before the next remote meeting, each pair connects over video for a 20-30 min walk or a virtual chat over coffee. Once the connection moment has been scheduled, send them the corresponding question right before [the day before is fine too] the virtual meetup:
Questions to guide the conversation:
1. Who has been the greatest influence in your life?
2. Share a crossroads moment in your life when you had to choose one path.
3. What is an adversity you faced that you are actually grateful for?
4. What is one of the most inspiring moments in your life?
5. What piece of advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
At the next meeting, discuss and reflect together:
1. How did it FEEL to connect on a personal level? Did you want to do it at first?
2. Has anything changed about your approach to work? To team collaboration?
3. List three ideas to encourage more depth of connection at work.
With all the changes happening around us, we need these moments to connect even more, and we can still achieve this even with social distancing happening.
According to Gallup’s 2017 State of the Global Workplace, if 6 in 10 U.S. employees had a best friend at work, organizations could experience 12% higher profit and 7% more engaged customers. So, while we are shifting our teams to remote work and navigating this new level of the norm for the next several weeks, possibly months, let’s not forget the human aspect of our team. Create space during your day or week to allow opportunities for connection, and you will create not only a better experience for your employee but also your customer.
The culture of your organization is the most important strategy you have to adapt to all the changes happening so rapidly. We’re here to help you navigate these unchartered waters with over 15+ years of culture-building experience.
Sending you air hugs right now since we are all in this together but from a distance! How are you going to create moments for virtual connection with your team this week? Are you checking-in to see how they are doing emotionally?
Let me know in the comments below because I would like to connect with you too...