The brain of the smart worker has a very particular cranial structure, which had to adapt following a considerable trauma.
It begins like this in the viral video by Giovanni Scifoni, who was able to summarize with irony how communication in the time of the pandemic and remote work has changed.
A new way of communicating
Three are the crucial factors that have changed the way we interact with others:
- technology, which has replaced physical presence;
- the spaces;
- the timing.
Technology
Let’s start with technology: distance has increased the need to be close to others and to communicate our emotions.
Every single minute of 2020, the following were shared:
- 41.6 million messages on WhatsApp;
- 150 thousand on Facebook;
- 347 thousand stories on Instagram1.
It is a "hunger" to communicate and be together in a simple way that Big Tech knows and is trying to address, from the raised hand in meetings to the hologram of participants.
Remote interactions are more tiring for our brain – just look at the Electroencephalography studied by Microsoft2 – and meeting in person, being able to "listen" to non-verbal communication, which makes up the largest part of a conversation, 97%3, is very important for understanding each other.
Spaces
Another crucial factor is spaces.
How many of you have "entered" your boss's house for the first time?
Maybe during the video meeting, you saw them in a sweater, or petting their dog and asking their child to leave the room.
How many times have we ourselves had the concern to ask what we were transmitting about ourselves, our "background" at home, and how we appeared on video, with the difficulties of avoiding the mess behind us and getting the right framing?
With smart working, the boundary between private and professional no longer exists.
We are prisoners of a continuous present that creates feelings of fatigue and the risk of burnout, even among the youngest.
The workday has extended beyond traditional office hours.
Communication has also become a continuous flow, extending far beyond work meetings and including presence on multiple platforms, even simultaneously.
Timing
How to cope with these new challenges? Here are some practical insights:
- develop a daily routine: clearly define the moments for informal brainstorming – during which our communication will also be more personal, and we can even be seen in the kitchen and be more creative while walking around the house – and those formal moments, where it is advisable to be in a quiet and well connected part of the house, paying more attention to our clothing as well;
- decide and not suffer which tool to use: many people don’t "see themselves" on video and prefer to use audio only to participate in a meeting to avoid being distracted by the anxiety of how others see them. Being aware of this and explicitly stating this difficulty is a gesture of maturity that, once explained, will be well received by other colleagues and will simplify our lives.
- don’t forget the coffee break, even if virtual. It’s important to recreate with colleagues a more informal and immediate communication – as much as possible – that isn’t just work-related but allows us to talk about how we feel.
- knowing how to say “stop” to the flow of communications. Many companies have already adopted policies for the right to disconnect, but even if you don’t have one, knowing how to set limits and clarify expectations regarding response times to the "rain" of company communications is a sign of maturity and responsibility.
When it didn’t exist, we invoked it as the ideal solution to work better and have more time for ourselves. But now that remote work has become a forced reality, the home has turned into a chaotic office, and we can’t wait to return to the office. While waiting for this much-anticipated moment, we can learn to manage time and spaces better, a learning experience that will be useful in the "after."
