Excited to Return

Excited to Return

You are looking forward to the impromptu conversations that occur by the coffee pot, in the hallways, elevators, or even the restrooms.  Ease back into small talk.  Many of us are rusty with having an impromptu hallway chat after a long pandemic year. The good news is you can rebuild your small-talk muscle with practice. Here are a few conversation starters. Try them out, tweak them so they feel authentic to you, and use whatever is most helpful.

1. Cooking and baking. Many people discovered their inner chef during the pandemic. You might ask your coworker, “What are your new favorite meals?” or “What’s a simple recipe you discovered recently?”
2. Hobbies. You might be curious about what your colleagues did with their time while not in the office. Try asking, “Did you rediscover any hobbies during quarantine?” or “What was your favorite thing you read/watched/listened to last year?”
3. Vacation plans. With travel restrictions lifting in many parts of the world, lots of us are starting to think about making up for lost vacation time. Ask your work buddies, “What are you looking forward to the most this year?” or “Where’s the first place you’ll travel when you’re able to?”

–HBR Management Tip of the Day, July 14, 2021

In this new world, it doesn’t matter only where people sit. What matters most is how people fit—and connect, whether physically or virtually. And it’s up to us to solve the riddle and create the experience. Consider the following ideas when creating it:

• Three things remain the most important in determining what people experience in the workplace—culture, customers, and connections. If we focus on nothing else, we have to get these “3Cs” right. Culture is all about how work gets done—digitally, flexibly, or physically. It comes down to making connections. After all, experiences can only be created and shared where a real and human connection exists.
• The “future of work” (whatever that means) is not simply about our left brain, technical skills. Given what many have been through, it takes the right brain—our ability to collaborate and connect. And that collaboration needs to be more horizontal and less vertical, bringing together teams and colleagues across the organization. We have to be intentional by tapping our right brains to inspire, influence, and motivate others. After all, it’s not only how we relate, it’s how we resonate.
• Be radically human. What lies ahead? It’s the question on everyone’s mind. More than ever, the future is uncharted territory. We are creating a new normal as we live and experience it.  If we begin with what’s been learned these past months about trust, empathy, transparency, listening, service, connecting, honesty and individuality, we will successfully create a new roadmap for inclusion, personalization, and growth.” Said another way—a radically human workplace.

–Korn-Ferry weekly email, May 30, 2021

Interested in reading the other Tips associated with this special edition of Working Remotely: Tip of the Week?

If you are excited to return, the following thoughts may be helpful.  If you identify with the second group, you are not alone and may benefit from the following information.  And, if you are a manager, read these tips to help your employees have a smooth(er) experience with their return.