How to make work friends when your job is virtual

Connecting with people in smaller groups can create more opportunities for one-on-one discussions. Many companies have affiliate groups for people of color, women, or LGBTQ employees. They may have clubs for particular interests (like volunteering) or work-related committees that focus on specific projects or initiatives within the organization. Companies across the United States are delaying their back-to-the-office dates. And a recent McKinsey report says that percent of the workforces in advanced economies could work from home between three and five days a week without a loss of productivity.

• Café-style tables or lounge areas show people that you are open for a chat, but there are also the private offices for when you need to get your head down.
• But if you’re the new guy or gal on staff, a remote workplace might seem challenging at first.
• Hybrid working has completely changed the professional landscape – people aren’t always in the same place at the same time.
• Whether you’re a super busy entrepreneur or feel shy and introverted, social connections and community are crucial to your well-being.

That’s hard to recreate in a video chat, but making those connections isn’t impossible. Set your view to gallery mode, and watch your fellow team members. Dee Ann Pizzica, engineering manager at Atlassian customer BRD has worked mostly remotely since 2009. She always starts her weekly staff meetings with a different icebreaker question.

Make time for activities over the weekend

As a leader, you can aim to have your teams work together in person at least some of the time, if possible. Regular face-to-face meetings are a way to promote collaboration—and foster friendships. As an employee, you may be able to do this yourself, too. When working on a group project, consider getting together in person, even though it means https://remotemode.net/blog/tips-on-how-to-make-friends-when-you-work-from-home/ getting dressed, getting out of the house and getting in your car or on public transportation. That extra effort to be in the same physical space may pay off by helping generate real relationships. If you think that you cannot find enough time with your remote colleagues during work hours, you can think of connecting with them on social media.

Finding that friend and building those bonds doesn’t happen by accident though, particularly in the age of hybrid when we’re not together 100% of the time. It takes planning and a positive culture that encourages and facilitates personal connections. Bosses have an important role to play in creating this space and fostering a sense of camaraderie among their teams. “Repotting,” according to Ryan Hubbard, founder of the Kitestring Project, means varying the settings in which you interact.

Schedule an informal meeting just to chat.

Apps and social media are usually the very antithesis of getting out into the world. But if you use these platforms with deliberate intent, they can provide unbeatable ways to meet new people. Beyond industry-wide events, there may also be times when your company arranges to gather everyone together in person.

Tips to Find Like-Minded People (Who Understand You)

Because co-workers don’t regularly see you in the elevator or the hallway, they might forget you. Preemptively remind them of your name and role when meeting with them. If the answer was “no” to any of the above, we noticed that people only interacted when they were required to for work-related reasons.

Often, you’ll notice that your work Slack is used for non-problematic small talk featuring memes, inside jokes, or gossip vaguely related to the office. Remember the difference between being friendly and being a friend. – be the first, because that’s part of being a good colleague. You want to be warm and open to your co-workers, whether or not you’d like to hang out with them after hours. So don’t feel the pressure to befriend every co-worker who crosses your path. Working for yourself comes with a bunch of great benefits, like setting your own schedule and handpicking projects that fuel your passion.

Spend Time Volunteering

Don’t set your sights higher than a three- or four-person hangout, as that could make others in the office feel excluded, especially if you’re working on a team that rarely goes in-person. Between April 2020 and February 2021, Microsoft’s 2020 Work Trend Index reported that work relationships have shifted in an unfortunate direction. However, as remote work became rote, companies have become quite siloed, and even interactions with close teammates have significantly diminished.