鈥淎ny plans this weekend?鈥� 鈥淭hat was some game last night!鈥� The concept of 鈥渨ater-cooler talk鈥� serves a beneficial purpose. Of course, I鈥檓 speaking of those friendly, non-job-related conversations that spring up at work. Some of my most-treasured memories have been impromptu talks with co-workers in the hallway鈥攐r in the break room as I waited for my food to come out of the microwave. These types of experiences go a long way toward employee engagement鈥攁n important benchmark for a leader to fulfill.
Like so many others, working from home has emphatically altered the way our team collaborates鈥攏ot just professionally, but as friendly colleagues. To compensate for the loss of in-person interaction, we鈥檝e deliberately instituted a weekly social video call the whole team is expected to attend. Topics vary and bounce all around, covering just about anything鈥攁s long as they鈥檙e not work related. When one of us accidentally talks shop, we throw a virtual yellow flag鈥攊n good fun鈥攖o point out the infraction.
Whether we鈥檙e talking about the quirks of a first car, swapping treasured family recipes, or confessing to parenting challenges, there鈥檚 always a measure of shared laughter, interest, and concern. Because the entire team is on the call, this particular meeting has inspired some camaraderie that maybe didn鈥檛 exist prior to remote work. We鈥檝e learned more about one another. As a leader, this is a good takeaway. Look to create opportunities鈥攊n-person or remotely鈥攖hat encourage similar interactions.
Like the encounter at the water cooler, this online social hour is a chance to pause from work demands and receive a dose of emotional refreshment. And while my preference is to be with the team in person, I鈥檓 grateful for the platforms that allow me to see those smiling faces, to hear those familiar voices. As peculiar as it is to exclusively participate with the team from a computer camera, the priority of engagement is, for now, adequately met.
It鈥檚 amazing to think almost a year has passed since our entire team has been in the same space. The pandemic鈥檚 effects continue to discourage a full return to our collective work environment. So we鈥檒l continue to see and hear each other through the technological means that unite us. It鈥檚 always essential to cultivate employee engagement but even more so in these peculiar times. It lets team members know they鈥檙e not alone. It lets them know they matter.