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Whether you have started a new job or you have been working in an organization for some time, the remote work structure has changed the dynamics of coworking. The pandemic forced us to make this major shift but the concept is here to stay.
Experts have predicted that around 51% of the people across the globe would be working remotely by the end of 2021 as compared to that of 27% in 2019. These statistics don’t sound as surprising today as they would have in the pre-pandemic world.
We have successfully approached the era of remote working. But, are we paying equal attention to coworking remotely as we are paying to individual benefits of remote workers?
While remote working brings the freedom of place and time to work, it has affected the norms and ethics of coworking. It has also reduced the depth with which coworking went beyond work. Informal office chats, after meetings break, sipping coffee together at the workplace, after-work get-togethers and pirates, all of it has been frozen under the rigid layer of distance.
But don’t you think checking up on your coworker is more than a work obligation? Teleworking is taking us towards less human interaction, not to mention it is pretty low these days. Thanks to social media. Hence, it becomes significant to check up on your colleagues and be empathetic towards people that are an indirect part of your life.
Research has found that distance working sprouts mistrust, incompetence, broken commitments and bad decision-making with distant colleagues as compared to those who are colocated. And, it takes them almost 10 times longer to address their concerns which often leads to miscommunication. Therefore, it is of prime importance to stay connected with your colleagues as remote workers.
Being a remote worker, I love the freedom and space I get. But, having my co-workers check up on me and vice versa won’t hurt any of us. It will simply strengthen our interactions and not make us feel awkward during those virtual meetings.
Having a completely remote team, we at 360Wellness, have been significantly interactive with each other as coworkers. Therefore, here are a few tips that we follow frequently to go beyond work and stay connected to each other.
Let’s start talking about building connections with what is most important. Having fun. Just because you are sitting miles away from each other that should not stop you from genuine human-to-human interactions. We, at 360Wellness, have a separate slack channel dedicated to informal conversations and sharing non-business insights from our lives. This helps us to understand each other’s interests and makes it easy for us to look into our daily activities, even from distance.
One of the most beautiful things about remote working is how your geographical location is never a barrier between you and your team. But keeping up with your coworkers globally is, indeed, a challenge. Our different time zones bring difficulty sometimes. But, our mutual respect and understanding make it easier for us to stay on track with each other.
Working remotely or not, mental health is important for all. We understand this and hence, all of our work at our own pace. Yes, we do have goals to accomplish as a team. And we all are doing the best at our positions, but it doesn’t have to come at the cost of any of our mental wellbeing. Thus, we give enough time to each other to complete our tasks and try our best to understand the reason behind not getting things done, as and when they happen.
Honestly, I always look forward to our business meetings. They go beyond the usual work pressure and sincerity. We all are more like friends discussing and planning a common goal. Each of us is transparent to put forward our perspectives. The conversations happen in a very light-hearted manner and most importantly, we do not forget to snatch a moment or two to smile and laugh together.
Yes, we did that too. We received this message and I quote, “Christmas came early for our team at 360Wellness”. Who doesn’t like surprises? We all loved how we received the 360Wellness merchandise to level up our individual fitness journeys. I sincerely believe it was very thoughtful of our founder, Mr. Kevin Serou, to come up with such an idea.
A little gratitude never goes to waste. No matter what aspect of the business building we are at, as a team we always make sure to give due credits and recognition for a job well done. This is not important only for the sake of connections between coworkers but also to build an individual’s confidence and self-esteem. Hence, we practice nurturing a culture of gratitude and recognition for each other’s hard work and dedication.
As a team, all of us are at different stages of our lives. Some people have years of experience while some have started their careers with 360Wellness. We make sure that each of us feels safe and secure to ask for help about anything in need. Because, yes we are here to work together. But we are also here to grow, both together and individually.
This is how 360Wellness has been successfully managing a completely remote team by staying connected to each other. It is not easy. But, considering the progress we have made as a team and as different individuals, it is definitely worth it.
Remote work is the norm of the present and future. And it is here to stay. While it has a downside too, it shapes out our personal choices as coworkers. Whether remote or not, a team is built with genuine efforts from all sides. Hence, make sure you are doing your part right in staying connected with your colleagues.
Authors’ bio: Shweta is a freelance content writer in the Lifestyle and Wellness space. Residing in the beautiful country of India, she is an avid reader. You can easily find her on her couch watching her favorite shows online or learning more about skincare and haircare when not writing.
Follow Shweta: Instagram. LinkedIn. Shweta’s writer website.
By Diksha
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