While working from home has many benefits, one of the most frequently heard disadvantages is the lack of contact with colleagues. This can greatly amplify feelings of isolation, so it’s important to make sure you’re actively staying connected with the people in your team.
In this article we share six tips to help you keep in touch with your work colleagues, no matter where they work.
Tip 1: Put together a work-from-home survey
For the managers out there, do you know what your employees are currently facing? What they are struggling with, or what makes them happy? The first step is to put together a short survey to gain insight into the wishes and needs of your employees, so that you can take appropriate action.
You can ask questions like:
- Can you work from home effectively?
- What challenges do you face when working from home?
- How are we as company handling remote working?
- How can we support you better, whether with tools, training, equipment etc?
Make sure your survey takes no longer than five minutes to complete and only keep it open for a couple days, which helps to increase the chance of a response. Based on the feedback you receive; determine which actions your organisation can realistically take. For example, is there extra demand for mental support? Have your employees asked for more team meetings? Do they prefer to start a little later now that they are at home more? Analyse the answers and see how you can support as an organisation, manager or supervisor.
Tip 2: Organise activities outside of work for and by employees
Working from home can alienate employees and make them feel as if they don’t belong. So, give them the opportunity and space to organise activities for and by each other, in which everyone can participate voluntarily. Perhaps an employee is a Zumba star and enjoys providing an online Zumba class for colleagues. Someone else may cook very well and would like to organise an online cooking demonstration, where they share a delicious lunch recipe. The nice thing about this is that you find out what your colleagues’ talents are and get to know a completely different side of them. This way you can enrich each other’s knowledge and have fun together in a way that is completely separate from work.
Tip 3: Think team-based professional development
The next time you’re looking to develop your team further, get them to work together on their professional development. Our WE-LEARNING modules on the SkillsTown platform are made up of hundreds of online training courses that employees complete together, while our c-MBA is aimed at management teams who work through various modules and a research task together. Collaborating while learning is a great way to ensure your employees are continuously developing while keeping in touch with their colleagues.
Tip 4: Virtual coffee breaks
At the office it’s often the coffee machine where the latest gossip is exchanged, but it’s also the place to share good ideas and get inspiration. Keeping this informal conversation going is therefore important, and you can replicate it online. Many companies have interactive internal programmes such as Slack or Yammer that you can use, or set-up virtual coffee dates on Microsoft Teams. Create places here where you can ‘pop in’ with your colleagues for a chat at any time of the day, such as setting up a second chat group over and above the business chat group in which a clear distinction is made between work-related conversations and ‘small talk’.
Tip 5: Start an exercise ‘club’
Exercise is essential for good mental and physical health, so try set up a team session a couple of times a week to do it together. Not everyone enjoys exercising, so this doesn’t have to be anything too strenuous. Set up a walking group which you can do ‘together’, or try a hiking app like Detour. For the more enthusiastic, organise the odd early morning or lunchtime online HIIT class. It’s a great way to encourage your team to keep fit and connect at the same time.
Tip 6: End your working week together
One of the most popular aspects of going into the office is the Friday afternoon get together. And this doesn’t need to change! There are countless online options you can organise instead – from Friday afternoon drinks to a pub quiz (try ArtPub or even use a free pub quiz from Kahoot). To make it even more fun, have gin boxes or specific wines delivered to your colleagues for an informal group wine or gin tasting, from the comfort of their own home!
At SkillsTown we have over 100 online courses to help your employees navigate the challenges of the new working world. From working from home and dealing with stress to improving leadership and communication skills, we have you covered. Get in touch with us today for more information and a free, personalised demo.
