How to Stay Connected During Lockdown

As some workforces prepare a phased return to the office by implementing safety measures like Perspex screens, shift patterns and social distancing in the office, some are continuing to work from home. And although there are more ways to stay in touch virtually than ever before - staying connected to our colleagues both in and out of the office certainly has its challenges. Keep reading to discover five tips for staying connected to colleagues according to a flexible office specialist.

1. Communicate like you’re in the office.

Talking with your colleagues throughout the day is an important and enjoyable element of office life, which many of us are missing in the current circumstances. While it can be easy to exclusively talk about work when you’re in contact over email or messenger, communicating as you would in person is a great way of staying connected. You could organise a mid-morning or mid-afternoon virtual tea break as a pick me up as you would when in the office, or celebrate team members’ achievements over chat or video call.

2. Set up daily check-ins with your team.

Whether your whole team is working remotely or half of you have returned to the office, it can be difficult to keep up with what everyone’s working on. Daily check-ins are a great way to catch up on specific projects, stay on top of progress and get a sense of team morale. You might consider booking a call in at the same time each day, during which every attendee is given the chance to update the team on their work, and voice any concerns they have.

3. Organise virtual socials.

Staff socials are an integral part of office culture, and even though you can’t head out for after-work drinks, there’s no need to let your team’s Friday rituals slip by the wayside. Hosting virtual socials is a great way of staying connected with your colleagues, wherever they’re based, so why not organise an online get-together every month or fortnight? From virtual boardgames or quizzes to just a regular group lunch date, finding an activity that isn’t work-related to enjoy as a team can do wonders.

4. Call your colleagues with video call.

Emails and messaging services like Microsoft Teams or Google Hangouts have been crucial to maintaining communication during lockdown, but it’s easy to underestimate the impact of speaking on the phone. A simple phone call can make a problem with a project far quicker to resolve; it allows you to chat through an issue just as you would in the office and helps maintain good relationships with colleagues while working apart.

When on a video call, it’s certainly tempting to arrive at your desk in your pyjamas each day if you’re working from home, but speaking to colleagues “face to face” is the closest you can get to being in a room with them at the moment. Even though it’s via a screen, seeing your colleagues in person is sure to help you feel more connected to them, as well as stay focussed during a call, and prevent instructions being misinterpreted. That being said, it’s important to respect your colleague’s boundaries – so if for whatever reason they’re uncomfortable turning their camera on, don’t push the issue.

5. Learn something new with a club.

Starting a virtual club is a great idea to stay connected to your colleagues, both those working from home and those in the office. A Book or Netflix club means each employee will be reading or watching the same book or show, then discussing them to gather each other’s opinions and views.

Or why not start a virtual skill class, such as crafts, drawing or cooking? Have an employee who has a specific skill or passion to share a recipe or instruction sheet around the team, and schedule in a video call where they can explain how to go about it. This is a great way to learn a new skill and more about your colleagues too, all the while helping colleagues feel connected to each other by learning something new.

As the UK Government gradually reveals further lockdown updates, there’s bound to be some uncertainty about exactly how and when we’ll return to work. These tips from Workthere are sure to help you and your team stay in touch, and feel connected, wherever you’re based.