Importance of the Human Connect

I was recently talking to a friend who owns a software development company. Due to the present lock-down scenario, his team is working from home and they are in touch over the phone and video conferencing. He was telling me about the experience of the team in the new work scenario. One sentence stuck with me, "They are missing the water cooler moments."

By this he meant that the team is missing the interactions, the casual chats, the gossip and the environment that an office offers. Anyone who has worked in an office (and that includes almost all of us) would know exactly what he is talking about. We humans are social beings and have evolved to be around each other. We need to meet people especially the ones we are working with. We need to see the person and have face to face interactions. There is no doubt that technology offers us the benefits of working remotely and this speeds up the work doing away with many logistic issues. But the 'human connect' is and will remain an important thing in our work and personal lives.

For all it's benefits, technology cannot (and should not) replace the human connect. So, what exactly do I mean by the human connect that is missing? Consider a few things like these -

1. Face to face interaction offers us a chance to observe the other person, see their body language and feel their vibes. This comes in handy while dealing with a potential client or discussing a sensitive topic.

2. A shake-hand, a pat on the back and an occasional hug work wonders when one needs reassurance. In this case it is literally the human 'touch' that works wonders. Anyone who has had to counsel a colleague / junior in distress will know what this means.

3. A workplace has it's own unique chemistry. We all look forward to going back to our offices after a long break. Sharing stories with our colleagues and catching up on what happened while you were gone has it's own thrill and become our fondest memories. This can be done even over the phone but nothing beats a live update, does it?

4. Physical proximity to our co-workers enforces a sense of a team. When we all work in one physical place and see each other regularly, it creates a sense of belonging to an organization that cannot be achieved in pure online interactions.

5. Water cooler gossip, chats over tea or lunch and interactions after work hours and outside the work place further enforce this bond. In-fact this is what can be called the unofficial channels of communication and these are equally important. Lots of work can be done through these unofficial channels.

6. Building rapport with our colleagues happens best when done face to face.

The present scenario has surely accelerated the 'work from home' concept and it is going to be the thing of the future. But any organization that hopes to build strong teams and get the best out of their team members needs to incorporate the blended model with optimal mix of online and actual interactions. No company can afford to totally cut out actual interactions and hope to achieve their full potential. Because at least for the foreseeable future, humans will continue to be social beings and need the physical presence of their colleagues (many of whom become friends) and the reassurance that it brings.