J7

Maintaining Real Interactions In A Virtual World

Introduction

We all know that a quality environment is necessary for a successful business. That goes through several variables: the mission, the values, the challenges and the good relations with the people you work with. Now that everybody is working from home, we observe a true lack of interactions which can impact the workers’ minds and hence their motivation. Indeed, before we had coffee breaks, lunch, chit-chat in the kitchen, chilling time in the office, etc. These periods allowed people to relax, to meet each other and learn what everybody is working on. They allowed people to create a true feeling of being part of the company.

As everybody probably realizes, it is not during our Zoom sessions that we learn who the people are and what they are working on. Regarding this issue, you will find in this article 3 ways to improve your team’s cohesion. The main aim is to recreate times to interact, express how you feel and de-stress. Before that, we will explain why is important for a company to insure the well-being of their employees.

Why is it important for a company?

Many people assume that the well-being and the integration of the employees in the company are not issues and do not consider them as relevant. However, many studies shows that they have in fact a lot of influence in the firm’s productivity. Motivated and well feeling employees are creating a positive framework where both enterprises and individuals can thrive.

Many people assume that the well-being and the integration of the employees in the company are not issues and do not consider them as relevant. However, many studies shows that they have in fact a lot of influence in the firm’s productivity. Motivated and well feeling employees are creating a positive framework where both enterprises and individuals can thrive.

Working from home can be hard to handle for many employees. You do not dissociate the place you live in and the place your work at, there is no more interaction, and you miss the fun sides of the work, for example meeting new people. Workers are alone behind their screens all days, only thinking about work. It can be very stressful and negatively impact their performance.

As we all know, productive employees are key for a productive company which is why business’ really need to put in place activities to restore people’s interactions and enhance their well-being. Here are three ways to do so.

Working from home can be hard to handle for many employees. You do not dissociate the place you live in and the place your work at, there is no more interaction, and you miss the fun sides of the work, for example meeting new people. Workers are alone behind their screens all days, only thinking about work. It can be very stressful and negatively impact their performance. As we all know, productive employees are key for a productive company which is why business’ really need to put in place activities to restore people’s interactions and enhance their well-being. Here are three ways to do so.

Online team building: reconnect through fun activities outside

Team-building events are activities that have for main goal to strengthen the ties between the workers from an organization. The focus is put on interactions and fun rather more than on the actual work. Usually, they take place in the flesh but it is totally possible to do it also online. There are many perks to this type of event: it connects the different members, improves the communication, increases collaboration and encourages creativity. There are a few tips of what can be done.

  • E-apero : send apero boxes to your team and enjoy it all together through a video call. It’s important to take the time, relax and unplug, what better solution than a cocktail for that ? It is also the perfect occasion to get to know more deeply your colleagues and maybe even discover the new ones for the first time.
  • Online games : online games are fun ways to discover how people work outside of work while teaming up for a same goal. From scribble which is like a Pictionary to Wolfy where you need to save your neighborhood from the werewolves, you can find on the internet so many possibilities (Words with friends, Two truths and a lie, Mafia, Among Us, Happy Hour and so many more)
  • Connected activities : it is not because you are separated that you cannot do real activities together. For example, you can create a Strava contest in order to promote outside activities. Strava is a free app that monitories all your sport activities. Other possibilities might me cooking session or yoga session. Many things can be a reason to reunite your team !

General/interdepartmental meetings : find out what is going on in the company

Inside a firm, it is important to know what the others are working on. We might be separately working on a specific project, but the company is much more than just that. By only working with the people that are within your team, you can lose the overall goal and miss all the other aspects involved in the business. Before we used to meet all people from different departments in the workplace but now we are mostly only in contact with the direct colleagues.

For that reason, general or interdepartmental meetings are an amazing way to catch up about what is going on the company. Everyone presents briefly a project on which he and his groups are busy with (you can even organize a pitch challenge : 60sec to present a topic). It allows people to get to know everything that is in the pipeline at the moment and find interests in fields that are maybe not theirs initially. Developing all this information in front of everyone shows also transparency.

Recap before any meeting : check how everyone is

Choose one meeting per week where you take 15 minutes or more to check on how everyone is going on. Let each of them explain what they did the during week-end, what they are personally occupied with or anything they wish to discuss. By starting your meeting this way, people will feel more comfortable afterwards to express their ideas, wishes and will be even more focused to work on the important matters.

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In conclusion, while working alone from home we all tend to forget an important aspect our job: interactions with other people. Let’s not let the difficulties we are facing now impeach all the other “fun” parts of our job.

Who are we and what can we do for you ?

The Junior 7 is an organization that reunites 7 Junior Enterprises among the best in Europe. We offer different services in consultancy : marketing, engineering, strategy, IT and CSR. With our youthful, innovative and different mindset, you will find we can provide unique solutions to your challenges.

Don’t hesitate to contact the J7 – Junior Seven for any further questions, we will be happy to help !

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