Working remotely – by now, it feels quite normal. And yet, at the same time, it doesn’t. Seeing the people you work with daily only through a screen is, of course, quite strange. I notice that I sometimes really miss that sense of connection, and ultimately, that does not benefit collaboration or results. Moreover, you are increasingly working with people you have never seen in real life. I jokingly say that you have to have “smelled” the other person to create a bond—just sniffing each other out, so to speak.
Unfortunately, this is not possible at the moment, and it is a matter of making do with what we have. In the past period, I have received several requests to provide team training. Now that it is advised against doing this on location, I often get the response: “Then we will postpone it.” Very understandable, but on the other hand, it is precisely in these times that it is so important to engage in conversation with one another! That is why I often advise holding the training via Zoom or Teams instead. Of course, it is harder to achieve a certain depth, but on the other hand, quite a lot is possible! Over the past few weeks, I have facilitated several online training sessions, and the reactions have been very positive. Participants are often surprised by what is possible online, and great conversations are held and insights gained. The responses are often positive; here are a few examples:
– It is very good to take the time for this as a team; I got to know and understand my colleagues better!
– This training was a very valuable addition to the team and the collaboration
– It is a fun training that offers good insight into the people working together in a team. Time flew by, and through fun exercises, you become familiar with the material.
So my advice is not to wait until you can meet again as a team, especially since we do not know how long this might last!
