Hybrid Working? How to Engage With Your Colleagues Face to Face

After experiencing the flexibility of a location-independent work scheme, many have dreaded the return to a physical office space. But as restaurants, concerts, and flights reopen, you couldn't deny the inevitability of returning to the workplace. 

Whether you're returning fully to the office or initiating yourself to a hybrid scheme, you might just be meeting your colleagues for the first time. Talking to them via Zoom or Teams where you can simply tap the courtesy smile or applause buttons isn’t the same as seeing them in person. It might even be awkward at first. Establishing rapport is key to a smoother working relationship. If you want to take your connection from reel to real, check out our tips below.

Embrace Returning to the Office

Nothing will dull a mood more than you sulking that you're back in the office. Don't be a Negative Nancy! Instead, think of this readjustment from a more positive point of view. It's a sign that the "old" normal has returned. Your meetings won't be hampered by a neighbour's noisy dog and you'll have a clearer line between your work and personal lives.

For many workers, being back in the office can help lighten their load, improve their performance and relationships, and initiate a better connection with the rest of the team. Many benefit from the ease of having co-workers around, which has been proven to lower job stress. A study by Microsoft even highlighted that the most crucial aspect of getting employees to return to the workplace is the opportunity to reconnect with them. Here are three factors on how coming back to the office can help you ease into your work life.

It helps you ease into the culture better.

Think about when you first started your job years ago. Do you remember how you got a better sense of your workplace culture by observing people, watching their interactions and dynamics, and engaging with co-workers in person? Greasing the wheels of your boss is also easier offline.

Remote onboarding can be confusing for fresh graduates who are transitioning from school to a job. They do not have the opportunity or firsthand experience to scrutinise how the role works and learn from observation. Every instruction also has to be explained more explicitly – which may make it challenging for those who are more adept at learning by observation.

More than the actual demands of the role, however, you should also consider workplace dynamics. Trying to gel into a rhythm that everyone else has adapted to earlier can take time and effort. Without access to visual and non-verbal cues, or even the spontaneity of in-person interactions, it can be more challenging for newer team members to pick up those nuances and work with the team culture.

It helps facilitate better working behaviours.

Nothing beats interpersonal interactions in a physical setting when you’re throwing ideas casually from across the room or in sudden bursts of conversation. In a group call, people are less likely to ask questions or share something insightful apart from the occasional applause reaction. After all, according to research, there is a huge chance your online meetings are attended by distracted colleagues, who are probably multi-tasking or doing some shopping. This narrows the opportunity for more ideas to be thrown across the board, or for important questions to be resolved immediately.

While inspiration can strike remotely or in person, working with your colleagues face-to-face can help improve working behaviour and, ultimately, work performance. William Kahn, a professor on organisational behaviour, wrote in the book, Meaningful Connections: Positive Relationships and Attachments at Work, that making meaningful connections at work not only attaches a worker to the workplace, but is central to organisational life and individual's workplace experiences by allowing the employee to personally engage in their work.

When you collaborate freely and work effectively, it paves toward better and more inventive solutions. Also, having great relationships with colleagues makes you more satisfied at work.

It heightens job satisfaction.

It all boils down to the benefits of seeing each other in person again. According to Entrepreneur, face-to-face chats are much more conducive to building personal connections and dealing with delicate problems.

Simply put, when people's connection to the organisation deepens – whether from colleagues or the job itself – it boosts their satisfaction with work. It reinforces the idea that a job is a vocation or calling rather than simply finding a way to earn money.

Simple Ways to Engage With Your Colleagues in the Office

The Microsoft study found that 73 per cent of employees need a more compelling reason to go back to the office other than because the boss said so. So, what reason could be irresistible enough to get them to trade their pyjama pants for khakis? 

As it turns out, they want more time spent with their co-workers. Eighty-five per cent of employees would be motivated to come in the office to rebuild team bonds; 84 per cent said they would be motivated if they could socialise with their colleagues; 74 per cent said they would come in the office more frequently if they knew their work friends were there; while 73 per cent said they would be more likely to come in the office if their direct team members were there.

Workplace friendships can make a lasting impact on your personally and professionally. Follow the tips below to find out how you can connect with your colleagues offline.

Bring your favourite snacks.

Snacks are a good crutch when you are trying to foster or strengthen a relationship with anyone. Food is a universal language, and the communal act of sharing food – even if it means passing a bag of crisps – helps break the ice and even introduce a potential conversation starter. One study found that someone who receives food from a person they are unacquainted with increases their social perception of that individual, suggesting that food sharing is connected to cooperation and trust.

You can bring a crowdpleaser, like Crusty or Irvin's, of course, but choose a personal favourite. It gives you a gateway to talking about yourself and asking about others' preferences.

Pack some stationery.

Stationery is not only functional; it can be cute, too. Having nice-looking stationery pieces can help strike a conversation with your co-workers so you can talk about aesthetically pleasing items. And if your co-workers need stationery pieces? A bonus. 

Don’t discount the power of a tchotchke or trinket.

Tchotchkes or trinkets that you place on your desk provide glimpses of your personality – whether it be a fandom you love or a souvenir from a particular memory you have. Or if you just came from a trip somewhere, you can even bring back souvenirs your co-workers will enjoy, such as snacks for the pantry or knick-knacks they can keep. These personal touches can help break the ice between you and a colleague, and you might just inspire them to bring their trinkets.

Decorate your cubicle with things you like.

As long as your ornaments are work-appropriate and don’t take up too much desk space, then the sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to things you can bring to work. Personalise your desk or cubicle as much as you can to make your space uniquely yours. Hang streamers in your favourite colours. Add bright magnet souvenirs from your travels (like we said, souvenirs can be so effective in creating a connection). Tack a photo of your friends and family. These can be great conversation starters.

Organise lunch dates or post-work hangouts.

Those in-between moments at work, whether you’re going out for lunch together or meeting up for drinks after clocking out, are the most opportune times you can genuinely get to know your colleagues! You don’t have the pressure of tasks looming over your heads and you can just let your hair down. Find a cuisine or restaurant the team can agree on, book a reservation, and let the conversations flow smoothly, as you get to know each other better and talk about how you can help each other out at work.

Ready to #SEEKBetter relationships at work? For more expert advice on creating a great dynamic at work, visit JobStreet’s Career Resources section. Get the app, available on App Store and Google Play, for easier access.