“Respondents told us they miss ‘being able to spontaneously walk to a co-worker’s desk and discuss an issue’ and ‘social gatherings at work.’ It will be critical for companies to recreate this connectivity, regardless of where employees are located.” Forming work relationships remotely “Social connectivity, it turns out, is what enables us to be collaboratively productive,” the report said. Social connectivity is important in managing stress during the pandemic, according BCG. A survey of 12,000 remote workers by Boston Consulting Group in August showed that employees who were satisfied with their social connectivity were two to three times more likely to have maintained or improved productivity during the pandemic. Strong connections can also improve performance. “That’s really important to our own sense of self efficacy, and are an opportunity for these kinds of apps.” “People will have an opportunity to say, ‘Hey nice job on this,’” Johnson said. Social connectivity can also help reduce burnout and give workers needed recognition. And 57% said their ability to brainstorm slipped, too.īonds between colleagues can have a variety of benefits, according to one study, including higher trust among teammates, better information sharing and less isolation - especially for extroverts. A recent PwC survey indicated that, while a majority of workers want to continue working remotely - at least part time - most (87%) see the office as “important for collaborating with team members and building relationships.” A survey of 608 software developers last year found that 66% of respondents reported a decrease in social connectedness with their teammates. That study also found that 51% felt a decrease in “communication ease” with colleagues, with impromptu and scheduled social interactions falling (78% and 65%, respectively). “One of the things that's interesting about working remotely is that a lot of those social cues and experiences are vastly different they have to almost be manufactured,” said David Johnson, a principal analyst at Forrester with a focus on employee experience.įeeling disconnected is common, surveys have shown. A brief chat about a football game or the latest Netflix series requires more effort when it means a video meeting has to be scheduled, for instance. “However, when all or some of the team are remote, those opportunities for brief, informal chats - not just about work, but to help people get to know each other - are inevitably severely impacted.” Better connections, better performance?Įven small barriers can discourage the kinds of low-level interactions that help strengthen bonds. ![]() These interactions usually happen organically, she said. ![]() “It's this connectedness that drives people to contribute more proactively to the business, to be more engaged in collective participation, and to be motivated to go above and beyond in their day-to-day activities,” she said. Informal social connections are vital for a sense of community and to connect workers with both team members and the organization as a whole, said Angela Ashenden, a principal analyst at CCS Insight. “But what the world is seeing now is absolutely you can - you just need the right tools and the right culture.” “Before COVID, a big question was, 'Can people form close relationships in remote work at all?' or should we design a different type of company that doesn't depend on close relationships?” said Rajiv Ayyangar, CEO and co-founder of Tandem, a video app that creates a virtual office. A growing number of start-ups such as Donut and Tandem are now looking to connect remote colleagues more effectively with “watercooler” and “virtual office” style apps to address the disconnection many workers feel. ![]() These seemingly innocuous conversations and connections can benefit both workers and employers, improving wellbeing, sparking innovation and even boosting productivity. For all of the successes of the pandemic-forced shift to remote work, replicating the casual interactions that happen naturally in the office - the impromptu team lunch, informal hallway chat, or a quick strategy session by the coffee machine - has been a lot harder when working from home.
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