Is Empathy The Key To Better Wellbeing When Working Remotely?

With 52% of us suffering from loneliness, it's more important than ever to address the critical need for social well-being and connected teams in the workplace. As we continue to spend the majority of our waking hours at work, whether physically or remotely, the connections with our colleagues create a sense of community that is critical to thriving as the pro-social humans that we are.?

The impact of loneliness and segregation in the workplace has become a cause for concern with many employees, particularly as the darker and more isolating winter months arrive.? Suffering from a lack of human interaction and connection can lead to burnout, stress, and decreased job satisfaction as well as negatively impacting creativity levels, performance and even our immunity levels.

Cultivating deeper social connection and well-being, especially when working remotely, takes conscious thought but once it is embedded into weekly thinking these are simple tips to keep us connected and content all winter long:?

1. Create Conversation: Remote teams can miss out on the natural social encounters that we get during our regular workday. Creating virtual conversations or informal 'chat rooms' where team members can chat about anything from how their weekends went to the latest news, can help to recreate that sense of casual social connection. Even five minutes of social interaction can make a difference in team relationships and camaraderie.?
2. Implement team cohesion occasions: Team-building activities are a great way to foster social connections among teams and conducting online virtual games, trivia quizzes, or virtual team lunches can provide opportunities for team building while also acknowledging the reality of remote work. These activities can help to strengthen the social bonds between team members and can make people feel more connected and less alone.
3. Be open and transparent: When working remotely, it can be easy to feel disconnected from what is happening in the company. Regular communication, such as team check-ins, video updates from management, and open forums where employees can share their thoughts and ideas can help to keep everyone centrally connected.

For more insights on how the skillset of empathy can help you at work and home please visit www.empathyeverywhere.co or follow Mimi Nicklin - Empathy Advocate and Empathy Everywhere on LinkedIn, Mimi at @miminicklin on Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok. Tune in to her top storytelling podcast via @mimiyouyoushow on Instagram or wherever you listen to your podcasts to hear the honest and truly inspiring stories of diverse individuals from around the world.