Networking - Human interactions

One of my co-workers opined that meetings and townhalls are waste of time and how returning to offices is equivalent to loss of productive hours. Bombarded with statuses on how return to office will make life hell from many colleagues, it triggered my need to put across my views. 

I too have enjoyed and discovered the benefits of remote work such as reduced commute times and increased flexibility, but in-person interactions provide much more value in terms of building relationships, fostering creativity, and addressing complex issues collaboratively.

Networking  and human connections are indispensable part of work life. Sadly, covid 19 has had a profound impact on human interactions. Networking is often misunderstood as a race to rack up contacts. It's not that. We should think of networking as a practice to cultivate authentic relationships over time. 

Amid the sounds of click-clack of keyboards and chitchat of friends in the office, we could identify the furrowed brow of our colleagues-  a frustrated fresher, a tempered manager, an exhausted team leader. 

 "Not right time to talk to the manager, he seems not in a good mood right now", a colleague to another who wanted to talk about promotion. 

"You seem a bit stuck there. Need any help?", said a team lead noticing the struggle of the new joiner. 

" Hey, you look tired, let's grab a cup of tea". 

We discover shared interests and passions beyond work, from hiking to a love of classic literature. Conversations flow effortlessly, forging a bond that transcends the office walls. During lunch breaks, colleagues gather in the cafeteria, sharing stories, laughter, and homemade dishes from their diverse backgrounds. This friendship extends to helping each other in times of need, whether it is covering for a colleague during a family emergency or offering a listening ear during personal challenges. 

The office should be a tight-knit community where colleagues genuinely care about each other's well-being and success. 

The pandemic forced us to adopt remote work arrangements. This shift reduced in-person interactions at the office and relied heavily on virtual communication tools, which we use only for "required" interactions. The hesitation to reach out for help has increased multifolds. The isolation brought on by remote work and reduced social interactions has taken a toll on mental health. The amount of time spent at work every day is roughly half a day, so you need to have heartful connections with your colleagues without which you cannot remain productive in the long run. There's no escape from the walls you create with isolation. 

So, while some exceptions will always be there, most of the widespread resistance in returning to offices is just because people don't want to leave the "comfort" that they have discovered during the pandemic. This "comfort" believe me is not beneficial in the long run.