The Power of In-Person Workspaces in a Post-Covid Era
As a socially anxious teenager, COVID provided a safe haven for me by creating virtual workspaces for not only school, but every single social activity imaginable. And, I loved it. I adored not having to get ready an hour early to sit with a stomach ache trying to decide which outfit would make me look better. I enjoyed wearing a mask because it would cover up most of the parts of my face that I hated. I dug up the idea of talking to people through a Zoom call with my camera off.
But, now, post-pandemic, as a college student, I am completely, wholly, utterly sick of fully online work.
The media often states how virtual workplaces are here to stay, and I don’t deny that. In fact, my job here at Kahani is 100% remote, with the exception of travel opportunities through which our team is able to bond on a more personal level. A hybrid version of workspaces is bound to be the result of the pandemic. However, I believe that in the debate between which is the best, in-person workspaces don’t get nearly enough support as they should. So, here’s what you need to know about the benefits of virtual workspaces in a post-COVID era.
By the Numbers
One of my biggest values and needs in a workplace is forming strong relationships with my coworkers- despite my social anxiety and the stress of talking in meetings. Finding the sense of community between coworkers is infinitely harder in fully remote workspaces compared to hybrid or in-person workplaces. In fact, 87% of employees say the office is essential for collaborating and building relationships.
In addition to forming stronger relationships, forming relationships that can also be valuable outside of the workplace is an important part of adulthood. Studies actually show that full-time remote workers have 33% fewer friends at work than office workers. If not at work, where are adults supposed to make friends?
Everyone’s biggest concern at work, rightfully so, is productivity. When you’re spending money (or earning money), you don’t want to waste it on unused labor and time. Studies show that remote work may be more productive in some ways, but working in-person also has its benefits. 42% of employees say that the ability to access information quickly and easily boosts their productivity levels in a physical work environment.
Intangible Benefits of an In-Person Workspace (or at least hybrid)
Social Interaction & Collaboration
In a fully in-person workplace, we have immediate access to everyone’s facial communication, which allows for more effective communication. This allows for employees to understand each other faster and better, problem-solve more efficiently, and reduce errors and misunderstandings. The collaboration levels of an in-person workspace can be much more meaningful and valuable for companies.
Furthermore, being close to the other employees creates a sense of belonging and friendship. Informal conversations that take place in the workplace can promote teamwork and bring your team closer together, in turn leading to improved collaboration and overall increased productivity.
Non-Verbal Communication
Body language is a great way to understand others better- and remote workspaces just don’t allow for effective body language reading. Facial expressions and gestures play a significant role in communication, and these cues provide additional context and help in better understanding and interpreting messages accurately.
Being able to read nonverbal cues have always been helpful for me to gauge others’ emotions and reactions more effectively. In-person, I’ve been able to make more deeper connections, build trust, and contribute to fostering positive relationships.
Company Culture & Team Bonding
Along the thread of forming deeper relationships, in-person workplace also provide a physical environment where employees can experience and embody the company's culture directly. This includes shared values, mission, and vision, which can be reinforced through face-to-face interactions, team activities, and rituals. This creates a more cohesive work culture and team environment, as well as a stronger sense of team identity.
Work-Life Balance
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced with remote workplaces is work-life balance. Not knowing when to stop checking and responding to emails, or when to close my laptop severely hurt my boundaries. On the contrary, in-person workplaces often have set working hours, allowing employees to establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Leaving the office physically can help individuals disconnect from work-related matters, leading to better work-life balance.
Having a separate physical space in an office versus my home where I sit in bed all day working is a huge distinction that also contributes to mental well-being. Though I enjoy being in bed, going to an office physically forces me to switch my mindset and become more dedicated to the task at hand.
Looking Ahead: The Beauty of a Hybrid Workplace
Now take all of the aforementioned benefits, add in a dash of flexibility and a few Zoom calls and you get a hybrid workplace – the best of both worlds. A hybrid workplace allows for employees to take their time at home to work productively alone, and also come in when needed for a more collaborative team-focused work environment.
And, this is where we’re most likely to end up in the future. With technology growing stronger than ever, especially in terms of artificial intelligence development, we can definitely see the growing presence of technology at work, too. However, that doesn’t mean the intangible power of the assets of being in-person will fade.
How you can still make a collaborative space online
Some teams, like us at Kahani, are from all over the country or even the world. Reasonably, we can’t all always be in-person or have an office. However, what makes working at Kahani, or organizations that are fully remote, so enjoyable is forming those team connections on a deeper level and honing in that skill of collaboration over the internet.
I started Kahani barely able to say a word in meetings because I was just so anxious. But the people who work here, the clients we interact with, and most importantly, the opportunities I’ve had to meet others in-person (and the encouragement to do so) create a welcoming space where I feel more open and comfortable in actually speaking up.
So, how do you get a fully remote workspace to that deep level of collaboration? Here are a few tips!
Team Bonding Calls: Don’t skip the team bonding! It’s important to set up and attend these sessions- and actually interact with employees. Organize remote team-building activities to strengthen bonds, such as powerpoint nights! Even during your normal work calls, try to start off with some team bonding/watercooler chat.
Virtual Watercooler: Set up a dedicated channel or platform where employees can gather and have informal conversations, share personal stories, or engage in non-work-related discussions. This is something that I tried out with my nonprofit when we were deep into the COVID era, and it worked beautifully. The animal pictures were my favorite.
Pair or Buddy System: Implement a pairing or buddy system where employees are paired up or assigned a buddy from another team. They can collaborate on specific projects or act as accountability partners for each other. This fosters cross-team collaboration and helps build relationships between employees who may not typically interact. We tried this at a different nonprofit I worked at over the summer last year, and it also was so helpful in checking in with each other. We saw better team wellness overall.
Recognition and Rewards: Implement a recognition program that acknowledges and rewards collaboration efforts. This can include virtual shout-outs during team meetings, digital badges, or even small incentives. One of my favorite parts of working a job as a Campus Day Leader this past year at UofM was the end of year Paper Plate Awards. Sure, they were silly, but they brought us closer together as a group.