Best Practices To Stay Connected To Your Teammates

Our world is changing by the day, forcing us to limit face-to-face contact in the workplace, and our lives. If you’re like me and enjoy going into the office, this change can be challenging to stay connected to your colleagues and continue “business as usual.” Here are some easy tips and tricks to help with staying connected.

Video cameras during meetings

As we continue with work as usual (as well as much as we can considering), have everyone turn on their video cameras during meetings. Everyone will appreciate that face to face contact that we lose while working from home. If you use Zoom Meetings, there’s an option to change the background, or you can upload your favorite photo to use as your background.

Have morning check-ins

Have your team get on a quick call to go over everyone’s goals for the day, what they plan to work on and get done, their struggles that they’re facing while working from home, and what they’ve been able to get accomplished. Discussing our struggles could help someone else if they’re facing the same issues, and everyone can help bring ideas to the table as to how we can work around them. Saying your goals out loud to everyone can help keep you motivated and stay on track.

Take breaks and encourage others to do so

Taking breaks away from the computer can be very beneficial. Let others else know that it is OKAY to leave the work area to refresh and clear the mind for a little. When we are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious, staying connected to colleagues can be challenging. If you notice someone feeling this way, remind them to take a break from work. Getting some fresh air to restart and refresh is vital.

Have a lunch call together

Organize an hour in the afternoon to get on a video call, and everyone eats lunch together. Talk about non-work-related things and topics you usually would talk about during lunchtime.

Take a meeting walk

Next time you have a scheduled call, suggest the idea of everyone going for a walk around the block and use their mobile phone for their meeting. Of course, if there isn’t any screen sharing needed. Even though you’re just on the phone, doing something together has that connected feeling.

Remember, we are all in this together, and digital communication is the only thing we have right now, so we might as well make the best of it!