There are huge pros to working from home including less time commuting, more time with loved ones, and a better work/life balance overall. Employees are generally happier and more productive when they have the option to work remotely, but of course there can be some challenges with flexible working. Lack of social contact during working hours may not affect some people, but many employees thrive on feeling connected to a team and being part of a busy office dynamic. Lots of companies are now working on ways to ensure their staff feel just as involved in the team and connected to their colleagues now as they did in the pre-pandemic days of solely office-based working.
Lack of social interaction can be damaging
An article published by Forbes listed 4 advantages to having good social connections to colleagues at work. Increased happiness, less stress, increased engagement and loyalty, and a generally healthier life all go hand-in-hand with cultivating solid relationships with those you spend 8 hours a day with. But creating these relationships is now more difficult, with many companies going totally remote, or only expecting staff to come into the office one or two days a week. How are employees expected to feel like part of a team when they’re spending so much time alone?
Employees need a place to thrive
A goal for any company is to have a thriving workforce who are happy in their jobs and producing top quality results. Harvard Business Review notes “happy employees produce more than unhappy ones over the long term. They routinely show up at work, they’re less likely to quit, they go above and beyond the call of duty, and they attract people who are just as committed to the job.” Now that we’re back into the full swing of work, and businesses are moving forward with strategies and goals rather than just surviving the pandemic, employers need more than just ‘content’ people in their teams. “It’s not about contentment, which connotes a degree of complacency” says Harvard Business Review. “We think of a thriving workforce as one in which employees are not just satisfied and productive but also engaged in creating the future—the company’s and their own. Thriving employees have a bit of an edge—they are highly energized—but they know how to avoid burnout.”
There are ways to create an exciting work environment even when your team are not physically in the same place, and communication, growth, and community are key to achieving this. By combining these things, your team will feel supported, valued, and excited to be part of your organisation.
Being part of an exciting community will motivate staff
Being part of an engaged community is one sure-fire way to get your team excited about what they’re doing. But what exactly makes a good community? Common ground, a sense of believing in or working towards the same things, a respectful atmosphere, and a space to share ideas are all big contributors. Thirst knows how important it is to employees to have a sense of community at work, which is why our platform was built with such a strong focus on this social ethos.
By enabling users to share content, make comments and offer opinion on the learning materials they find most relevant and interesting, your employees will become part of a peer-based learning community driven by their desire to develop and grow. Empower your team to embed their own culture of learning and development by sharing their own knowledge and collaborating with each other. Your community and your team will thrive on their ability to learn about topics that interest them, and to and see their colleagues doing the same.
How to build a solid community remotely
By choosing Thirst, you’ll be able to invite your team to become part of an exciting and motivating community right away. When you sign up for our 14 day free trial, you’ll have access to all features of Thirst, and will see the benefits of our services from the word go. We are so confident that you’ll love our platform that we won’t take any payment details ahead of your free trial, and we won’t bother you with any sales calls after. We let our platform do the talking, and it always says great things.
Get started today with a 2 week trial and begin building a place for your staff to flourish, individually and as a community.
