Reach out and touch someone! That has been the slogan for AT&T and phone companies many years ago.
It is even more important now.
Now that so many are working out of our homes, staying in touch is so terribly important.
As a survivor (and thriving) of remote work for over a decade, I am keenly aware that isolation can happen very easily.
For you extroverts, this is separation is very painful. I am an introvert so I don’t truly understand the extrovert’s pain.
However, having a number of friends who are extroverts, I try my best to understand their pain. While introverts need to get away from people to refresh, extroverts need to be with others to refresh their spirits. I like to be with people but I do need to get away at times to reset!
The same goes for work. I do better when you leave me alone and I can focus on my work. Being in a large room with a bunch of other people activates my Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and I am distracted.
Clearly, businesses must build the environment that works for each person. The days of one set environment for everyone is not going to work going forward for businesses. Right now, we cannot work in offices so we are forced to figure out new ways of doing things.
Supporting the Introvert
For the introverts on your team, you need to make sure they have your support.
If I am not around them in person, I try to make phone calls to each team I am responsible for every couple of days to check and see how they are doing.
This does two things: 1) I get to support them and let them know they are not alone, and 2) it helps me to be able to talk with another team member. We humans need to be in touch with others – just at different levels.
Even if a person is an introvert, human contact is good…we just don’t need it as much as the extrovert.
I live in Washington state where right now we are under tight controls of staying in our homes unless we are an exempt employee (e.g., food distribution, emergency services, infrastructure services, telecom, etc.). This leaves most people working from home.
While I enjoy working from home (read other posts I have written about the benefits of working remote), this is weird as I am forced to work from home rather than making a choice.
One benefit of working remote, productivity goes up as we are not bothered as much as being in an office and we don’t have the commute to eat up our time.
I prefer working remote to working in an office because the huge productivity gain (and the fact I don’t need long workdays to get everything done).
Supporting the Extrovert
Simply, these folks need lots more contact and help. Phone calls and emails will help them feel they are in touch.
Reviewing their work and helping them goes a long way.
I have also paired up a couple of extroverts together to work on a project. Having to work together during the day helps the extrovert feel more in touch.
Of course, frequent phone calls need to be figured out with each person how much they want contact. Sitting in a room in your home all day can get lonely for everyone, more so for the extrovert.
I try to get at least an email a day to each person who is an extrovert and needs the contact. For some, a phone call each day is very important.
Also, team meetings on a phone bridge is also a big deal extroverts. They are feeling more like they are connecting to others and will be better at their work.
Helping Each Other
We are living in weird times right now (like the obvious statement!). We need to help each other so don’t expect your boss to do all of the connections. Reach out to your team members and keep the communication up with them.
Here is a controversial idea: Staying in touch with each other is as important and maybe even more important then getting your work done.
By staying in touch with others we actually will get work done faster than if we are left alone in the quiet by ourselves.
Reach out and touch someone! Good slogan and really needed now!