Proximity tips: Staying close in times of social distancing

There is no need to tell you that our work environment has changed a lot since COVID-19 pushed itself into our (work) lives. For many employers and employees this means we have to adjust. To a new way of working; how not to feel lonely at work and how to still function as a team, even though everyone is working from home. This requires good organisation and innovation. And a good spirit, but that sounds more logical than you would expect.

Problem… Why?

So, why should this proximity thing be a problem? Personally, I love to secretly work in my pyjamas (and some maybe without anything on… but that’s a different story…)! Just hanging loose keeps my mind flowing freely. On top of that, I am way more productive and I much more able to balance my work life and personal life when working at home!

Yes. Remote working does have its pros. But as the famous Dutch footballer Johan Cruijff once said: every advantage has its disadvantages (he actually said it the other way around, but hey, freedom of speech, right?). Because when it comes to being a manager of a team it may be challenging. How on earth do you keep your team together when they are all apart? How to stay close in times of social distancing? How to fight the Zoom fatigue we have all experienced ourselves. Let’s help you with that! We have looked up some great ways to stay together in a playful way. Because playing keeps us young, keeps our spirits up and is essential for functioning as a team.

Stay close while being apart – every day tips

• Our first tip is a tad serious. Set up general communication guidelines. Think about how flexible your remote working hours are, about communication tools and meetings (on-line and off-line; both to be planned ahead). Make sure to communicate your expectations clearly.
• Start the day with online coffee! Host a morning coffee where the team has 15 minutes to 30 minutes on video chat for chitchat. While these meetings are excellent opportunities to say good morning and wish everyone a great day, they can also serve as functional meetings for operations and projects. Encourage coffee participation by all workers. But stay away from long lectures… You want to promote productive, cooperative work!
• Use new technology! In a physical office, on your way to the water cooler or the printer you came across your colleague and you made small talk. Many who work remotely note that they miss these moments of casual conversation. Duh, because I get my water from another tap than my colleague at the other end of the screen… Well, how about a virtual water cooler? With minimal technology (instant messaging software) such as Slack, casual conversation is possible even with co-workers who are halfway around the world from each other. How cool is that? You can even create interest-based channels, such as a #BookClub or #Netflix or #FunnyJokes.
• Make sure no one feels left out and embrace new employees. So let every new employee introduce himself in an introductory hangout or via e-mail. Use your creativity to introduce them or themselves in a fun way; an interview with personal and funny questions, a tour through their house (like MTV’s cribs) or a video of them playing the guitar or singing a song… Well, these are not only fun to introduce new members, but for all team members to get to know each other outside of work. Let the person in the video appoint the next colleague. Please make sure the action does not only have to come from the newbies, but also that the sitting colleagues are being stimulated to approach the new colleagues.

Have fun! - Team building activities

Having fun together is very important to go to work with good feelings and a great vibe. You’ll be astonished about how this affects your team. Therefore, plan fun activities every now and then. Feel free to use below examples:

• Online Escape Rooms

With an online Escape Room they try to simulate the sensation of playing a real Escape Room in-house. Work together, solves crimes and do puzzles; team up with these online Escape rooms! On the web you can find a ton of examples and offerings

• Speed Drawing

The ultimate goal is to sketch the most beautiful picture than everyone else within the timeframe of 1-2 minutes. The amount of participants is unlimited. Simply name a subject or genre and draw! Speed drawing guarantees an adrenaline boost and frequent bursts of hysterical laughter. You can use online whiteboard providers for this, like Miro, Mural or the whiteboard environment inside Microsoft Teams, or Quick Draw from Google (https://quickdraw.withgoogle.com/)

• Online fitness classes
• Actually I am not that much of a sports guy myself, but I have been told that staying at home makes people miss there work-out. Thanks to modern technologies, it is possible to have group training sessions right in your home. Share online fitness programs with colleagues or invite them to participate in a live stream fitness class. Keep your team fit and happy!
• Multiplayer video and online games

Online games are so much more than just games, they are social media. So let your team play together online! Spaceteam and Overcooked are examples of great games to be played with a team. Of course you can also use more ubiquitous games like Fortnite.

Even when working remote, don’t forget to have fun!

And please share; how do you keep your team together? Tell me your favourite team building activity!

Next article, I will dive a litte bit deeper in what you can do more with proximity!

Previous article: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/proximity-despite-distance-jaspar-roos/