Routines are essential for being productive at work. Still, they are also necessary when creating a sense of connection with your coworkers, which will help you feel like you are part of the team even when you’re not physically in the same workplace.
If you’re finding it hard to make friends with coworkers when working remotely, this guide will give you a few ideas to make the process less awkward.
Reach Out
When working remotely, you must be proactive in reaching out to others if you want to make friends with coworkers. Be friendly and approachable. Don’t be shy to ask questions, don’t be afraid to say hello, don’t be afraid to ask for help if it’s needed. There are plenty of benefits to peer coaching!
Schedule Virtual Happy Hours
Virtual happy hours are a great way to get to know your coworkers. They’re also a fantastic way to network and have fun!
As the name implies, virtual happy hours are held online rather than in person. But don’t let that deter you from participating—virtual hangouts can be just as effective at creating connections and fostering relationships between coworkers as regular meetups. You might even find yourself liking them more than in-person meetups!
Take Time To Socialize
Whether you’re working from home or at a coffee shop, it’s easy to let your day slip by with no human contact. That’s why it’s important to make sure that you’re taking time away from your work and using it for more than just checking emails and answering messages; take advantage of this time by talking to your coworkers. Your video chat window can become an extension of the office itself—a place where people can get together outside of normal business hours and talk about their lives outside work, their hobbies and interests, their families (and pets!), their favorite movies and TV shows, books or authors.
Collaboration Tools
Collaboration tools are important for remote workers. They can help you stay connected with your team and get work done more efficiently, helping you stay productive and keep up with the fast-paced business world. Use those same tools to have off-topic conversations in your downtime or start an impromptu coworking space by sending out a call to your work buddies. Slack, Zoom, or Google Hangouts can all be great tools.
You can make friends while working remotely if you follow the tips above. The most important thing is that you need to be open and friendly. If someone approaches you, be sure to say hello and introduce yourself.