Connecting with teams while working fully remote
Even if you’re working remotely, it doesn’t have to feel lonely: find ways to connect and turn colleagues into friends, and tricks to meet new people.
Escaping the frequently annoying chit-chats by the coffee machine and that co-worker who steals your preferred cup can seem like bliss. Until one day, you begin to miss even these interactions, and regular team meetings focus only on work matters, leaving you unable to get comfortable with your team. In some cases, you might be working as a freelancer, which establishes a strictly business relationship between you and your clients.
In this article, let’s explore how you can build more meaningful relationships with people at your company while working remotely, living abroad, or taking a much-needed workation. Furthermore, we’ll explore how you can broaden your social circle beyond your job!
Why connections and friendships matter at work
Some people want to treat colleagues as colleagues without crossing the boundary into friendship. In many cases, friendships at work can be tough, especially between managers and their subordinates.
Yet, if done right, even a top-level manager can establish a decent rapport with their co-workers! Hence, having your team relatively friendly and connected has many positive effects:
- People feel more at ease sharing their ideas without fearing judgment.
- They establish a deeper connection to the role, with the team and the people aspect becoming a selling point for staying in it.
- People also cooperate better, understand each other quicker, and are not afraid of being misunderstood.
- If you can rely on your team or other colleagues within the company, you are more likely to appreciate and enjoy your job!
Hence, the benefits are not just personal: the company also gains a lot when its team members establish a deeper connection, even if not friendships.
What if you work alone as a freelancer or a small business owner?
Of course, sometimes life allows you to work alone as a freelancer or to build a business from scratch. In other cases, you might be working remotely for a generally on-site company, meaning it might be much more difficult to establish connections.
After all, the options to earn money online are versatile, with some people combining multiple options, such as freelancing on Upwork and selling digital art on stock image sites.
Additionally, they might use services like JumpTask, which enable people to earn extra income by completing various digital tasks. With all of these options, it might start to get a little lonely, but you can try the following suggestions:
- Look for local events, meetups, conferences, or networking events that could allow you to meet new people.
- If you have some free time, consider volunteering! It is an excellent option for broadening your social circle and also doing some good deeds.
- Consider working from co-working spaces where you'll be among people in the same boat as you. Most of them likely feel slightly lonely, and you could form connections that lead to friendships.
Tips for establishing a connection with your remote team
Regularly, integrate some of these habits and actions to seem more approachable and sniff out people who could become your work buddies. Of course, take it easy at first and see how each person you approach reacts.
Be more open during team meetings
Questions like “How was your weekend?” and “How is your day?” might be just a polite way to get the meeting going, but they could also be quite informative. Without revealing too much, try to share your experiences to show which people are genuinely interested and would like to hear more.
Try to establish rapport via virtual messages
Approaching colleagues can seem intimidating, but start small, which could also relate to generic questions about ongoing projects. However, look for opportunities to ask people who seem nice and friendly about something beyond the usual chit-chat.
The key is finding common interests. Maybe that will involve TV shows, books, video games, or even favourite spots at a destination you have already visited.
Consult your manager on hosting virtual get-togethers
Your manager is your point of contact for these things, and consider approaching them with ideas to strengthen your bond with the team. That could involve playing video games, taking quizzes, or taking a cooking class together. There are quite a few ideas for virtual team building, and at least a few of them will suit your team.
Turn on your camera during meetings
Remote workers enjoy working in their PJs and stick to a no-camera approach during meetings. Yet, having your camera on does make you seem more approachable and less mysterious, especially if you have only met people once or twice. Of course, try to match the vibe of your appearance and look professional without trying too hard.
Conclusion
Remote work can be amazing, but sometimes, it is normal to miss that simple human connection. If that happens, be more open to engaging with your colleagues beyond work-related matters, embark on a journey to find like-minded people through networking and coworking, and consult with your manager about organising some simple virtual team-building events.