Remote Working – Keeping in Touch with Colleagues

In recent years, remote working has increased in the workplace. It offers flexibility, can improve work-life balance, and has been shown to increase productivity in the working day. But remote working also has its drawbacks, such as making lines of communication more challenging. Without face-to-face conversations and small interactions based in the workplace, you can feel isolated from your team. Humans are social by nature, so having connections with others is vital to your well-being.

So what can you do to keep in touch with your colleagues?

Make phone calls and use video chat

Instead of sending an email or a text give your colleagues a call, especially when something takes more than a few messages to explain. Hearing someone’s voice or seeing their face can make us feel more connected than words on a screen, and can lead to more meaningful conversations.

Scheduling short ‘virtual coffee breaks’ with colleagues can also be beneficial. Setting aside a few minutes each day to chat and catch up with others about things outside of work can help with mental well-being.

Collaborate on projects in real-time

Working together with colleagues fosters positive work relationships. There are many websites that support real-time collaboration, such as Google Docs, Trello and Mural. Seeing your colleagues edit documents in real time will also reduce misunderstandings and improve communication skills.

Take part in an online community

Work-based platforms such as Yammer and Slack can host online communities. Colleagues can share snippets of their life, e.g. photos, personal milestones, etc. and interact with each other. Something as simple as a Messenger or WhatsApp group can also work. This is a great way to know more about the people you work with, and you may discover that you share hobbies and interests with some of your colleagues.

Attend work social events

Social events can help you make positive connections and build trust with others in your company that you may not work with often. Having dinner at the pub or bowling together can encourage you to open up and initiate conversations with your colleagues. Team building activities such as escape rooms and pub quizzes can also help strengthen workplace bonds and improve teamwork skills.

Play online games out of work

If you aren’t able to attend in-person social events, another option is to host online game sessions. Party games like Jackbox and skribbl.io can bring people together in a casual and relaxed environment.

Colleagues do not have to be friends, but if there are opportunities for collaboration by organising team-building activities and encouraging social events, then people can make meaningful connections with others in your company that they may not get to work with as often in person. Creating interactions that go beyond pleasantries can also help to increase the quality of interactions between teams and colleagues and can open up conversations around mental health and encourage employees to seek help sooner if they are feeling isolated.