Remote Relationships?

Happy Friday everyone! If you work from home for any length of time, you will inevitably need to build new relationships with people, as well as maintaining those you already had.

It is much harder to build relationships remotely - but it is possible. You just have to put a bit more work into it, and it may take longer without face-to-face contact.

Well, first please don't expect from me to share with you any research or data, just personal feelings. As a Greek, I grew up with the culture of ''filoxenia''. Filoxenia literally translates to: 'friend to a stranger' and it's a Greek value that still lives on today in Greece from ancient times!

I still remember my grandmother inviting people in our house totally strangers and serving them the Greek coffee and always offer a dessert in the end. This is the way she always used to build relationships with people. And people loved her!

Now why I say that? I never imagined in my whole life, coming from that culture, to be able to work and build relationships remotely. From a virtual meeting!? No way! Can you imagine? How is that even possible? Well, I must admit that it doesn't feel the same but it can work too.

I think the question here is '' How can you transfer trust and respect to a stranger when you meet with them first time on a virtual meeting? When you're meeting in person you have more practical tools to use to create that psychologically safe environment to develop an initial conversation. I'll share with you some tools I use remotely to build these new or existing relationships that might be helpful only if you're not already using them!

1. Switch to video
2. Don't be all business, take time for social chat
3. Be aware of pressures on people's time and attention
4. Be laconic and kind
5. Look good, smell good, feel good

Oh hold on a second? Smell good? Does my smell transfers through the video? Hmm.. I'll let you think about that on your own ;)

Have a happy weekend ahead,

Chrys