One third of boomers consider having
kids in the background of video calls
to be a violation of remote work etiquette.
Gen X isn’t far behind with 30% of them
agreeing compared to 22% of millennials
and 11% of Gen Zers. Since more and more of us
are working from home these days,
it's important to recognize that we're all
facing different challenges.
The person who sat next to you in the office
might be facing a completely different at-home
reality than you're facing.
How do we practice empathy in the remote workplace.
It starts with how we react to moments in everyday remote work
life.
We know that younger workers are challenged
with separating their physical work environment from home life
while older workers are struggling
with feeling disconnected.
There's also a gender divide when
it comes to work life balance.
And there are many other factors at play contributing
to your colleagues' different experiences
and adaptation to our remote work circumstances.
Proactively acknowledge that your colleagues
may be facing new challenges.
Genuinely ask people how they're feeling.
Try to understand their perspective
and offer your support. Your recognition helps
to build mutual empathy and create a healthy work
environment.
Even if you didn't have a close rapport with your colleagues
when you worked together in the office,
it isn't too late to start now. Demonstrating
compassion and empathy,
even digitally can go a long way.
One area where you can practice more kindness
is in your emails. With a thoughtful opening
and closing to your emails, your communication
can remain professional while conveying warmth and support.
Whether or not you're a manager, if you can adjust your behavior
to fit your colleagues preferences,
your flexibility will make you
a pleasure to work with.
Ask how a colleague prefers to conduct a meeting. If they
choose a phone call over a video conference
and there's no real need to chat over video, then go with it.
When you do have specific preferences, be consistent.
If you feel it's important to conduct weekly team meetings
as a video conference
so that everyone can connect face-to-face,
keep that structure predictable.
With so many of us needing to adjust
to unfamiliar and erratic circumstances
during these challenging times,
it's best to keep to a stable and consistent pattern
wherever possible. Your empathy promotes trust, respect,
and loyalty with your colleagues. Following these tips
will make you a better co-worker overall
and make you more enjoyable to work with.
Whether you're working remotely now or planning to be
back in a physical office sometime soon.