Work-from-home has its own perks. Flexible working hours, no commute stress, working from the comfort of the couch, and monetary savings. However, it also has downsides—leading to an increased sense of isolation and burnout. Yes, burnout while working from home is possible, and so is the feeling of loneliness and isolation, owing to the lack of social interaction. Working remotely can be more difficult for those who are starting a new job from home. Naturally, the road to nurturing a relationship with your co-workers would be a tough one, given the fact that you have never met or interacted with them before.
Whether you are an old employee or starting a new job from home, your co-workers have a huge influence on your outlook towards your work, productivity, and performance. After all, it’s the impromptu chats, lunch breaks, and informal catch-ups that lay the foundation for healthy work culture.
Clocking tedious hours behind computer screens while trying to meet deadlines is no fun when you don’t have colleagues to physically interact and engage with. This lack of engagement and interactivity can severely impact your job satisfaction and wellbeing. According to research conducted by psychologist Dr Martin Boult, “Relationships with co-workers matter most for wellbeing at work.” In simpler words, what you do in your professional space plays a major role in impacting your wellbeing and satisfaction at work. Another study by LinkedIn reveals that “46 percent of professionals worldwide believe that work friends are important to their overall happiness.”
The pandemic, however, has changed the way we work. Now, most of us work remotely, which leaves little or no room for social interaction and engagement with colleagues. For new employees, connecting with their co-workers is even more difficult. This begs an important question—if you’re new to your job, are impersonal team meetings and emails the only way to foster a sense of personal connection with the team? The answer, fortunately, is a no.
Here are a few fun ways to bond with your co-workers while starting a new job from home.
Participate in team rituals
Although the culture of working from home has existed before the pandemic, it became the new normal overnight. Today, it has been over a year—for many—of working remotely, but it’s safe to say that the memories of working with colleagues-turned-friends under one roof are still fresh. However, the situation is more tricky for those who have started a new job from home, and haven’t met their colleagues even once.
So, how do you go about building that same camaraderie with your new teammates, if you haven’t even met them? One of the best ways to step beyond the scope of formal communication is to know about team rituals and participate in them. They can be as simple as weekly virtual board games, or friendly team competitions to keep the spirits high. This is the time when colleagues turn into friends. And team rituals can be your opportunity to mingle with your new colleagues and know them on a more personal level.
Engage in video calls
At workplaces, bumping into colleagues creates the opportunity for casual interactions. But when you’re at home, spending hours behind your computer alone, maintaining the same camaraderie can become a challenge. So, how do you escape this sense of isolation and loneliness while not letting it affect your wellbeing? The answer can be better explained through a scenario. Imagine you’re sitting next to your colleague, the only difference being they are on the other side of your screen.
Carving out time for video calls is an effective way to build a bond with your colleagues. If you are new to a place, start with a co-worker with whom you interact regularly. With time, once you start interacting with more people, do a video call once in a while, where everyone can see each other and share some laughs.
Working from home can lead to isolation, but there are ways to establish connections. Participating in team rituals, engaging in video calls, staying updated and connected through virtual check-ins, hosting virtual coffee breaks, and connecting on social media platforms are all effective methods to build bonds with co-workers.
Team rituals, such as virtual board games or friendly competitions, provide an opportunity to connect with colleagues on a personal level. Engaging in these activities fosters camaraderie and helps new employees form connections and friendships within the team.
Video calls simulate face-to-face interactions, providing a platform for casual conversations and shared laughs.
In the absence of spontaneous office interactions, hosting virtual coffee breaks offers an opportunity for colleagues to engage in casual conversations.
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