Connection (Debugging work in a remote world, part 3)
This is part three of a series on debugging work in a remote world that I am publishing throughout January and February. You can read them as they are released on the Debugging Work newsletter or later when I post them on LinkedIn. Either way, I suggest reflecting on the topic of each short piece for at least a few days and evaluating how your own organization is succeeding or failing in that area.
Last time, we talked about building trust. From a foundation of trust, we now turn to connection. It’s hard (maybe impossible?) to foster meaningful connection without trust, and trust reinforces connection.
While trust is necessary for remote teams to work effectively, connection is what gives us the sense of belonging that elevates work beyond a transactional exchange of time for money. Without strong connections, we struggle to weather the ups and downs of our professional lives. We get lonely, we get cynical, and we burn out. This is bad for the company and bad for us.
In November 2023, the World Health Organization launched a commission on loneliness and social connection, calling it a pressing health concern. Loneliness at work is a constant risk for remote workers.
When teams go into the same physical location, our biology rewards us. Every friendly nod, handshake, pat on the back, and face-to-face conversation makes our brains light up. We are a social species. We crave togetherness and belonging. Your workmates form one of your most important communities.
Consider this quote from author Octavia Goredema about her own experience transitioning to remote work: “...as time progressed, I started to feel lonely. I was able to laser-focus on my work, but my interactions with others were driven solely by virtual meeting agendas or email. I noticed I was becoming less enthused and more withdrawn. I spent too much time scrolling social media because I was silently craving connection with others. I was slowly but steadily becoming isolated.”
For remote and hybrid work to be successful long-term, we must find analogs to compensate for our physical aloneness. In my experience, this requires three things:
Making time
Being intentional
Being vulnerable
In part four of the series, we will look at making time and being intentional about connection.