After more than a year of quarantine and isolation, we are slowly getting to the point where it’s safe to go back to work at the office. For some people, that might have been great news. But for others, it was just an anxiety trigger. And whether you belong to the first or second group, we all have to admit that our social skills are a little dusty, since we haven’t used them as much for so long.
During the pandemic we had to adapt and learn how to process the new era of constant digital communication, we learned how to use Zoom and other platforms as our best way to connect. Although it’s not the same as talking face-to-face, we learned new ways, with new limitations.
Now, to go back to see people again on a daily basis, proposes new old challenges, and another adjustment process.
Since we sort of reprogrammed ourselves for the energy that virtual interactions required, relearning and adapting to people is almost as new as virtuality was.
In these pandemic times, introverts become more introverted, and extroverts are probably comfortable working from home without that much interaction, so what may happen if you go back to the office?
Well… think about it this way, you are filling an office with workers who haven’t been around that many people in a long time, and who haven’t had the need to communicate face to face for that long. So expect miscommunication and awkwardness. But that’s nothing that can’t be fixed.
Some tips to make face-to-face communication effective again are…
Get ready for what may come
Knowing ourselves is one of the greatest ways to anticipate any situation. If you tend to be a socially anxious person, or you are a new member of this company and find these new in-person encounters a little stressful, trying some breathing exercises or anything that might help you get rid of some tension before entering the office might be of great help.
Training in social skills is like any other training. It requires time, effort, and repetition. For some people, rehearsing small talk in their minds might be of help, others prefer getting ready to be social by getting in tune with themselves. Whether that looks like listening to some music or taking a moment to be aware of your breathing. It’s all valid as long as you feel more comfortable and confident with the idea of going back to the human interaction game.
Embrace the awkward
Let’s be completely honest, it’s going to be awkward at first, and there is nothing wrong with it. Everyone has spent more than a year apart, so it’s not only going to be weird for you to see people again. Don’t be hard on yourself for not being as smooth-talking to people as you were before the pandemic, it’s only natural to have those awkward moments where you don’t know what to say.
To some people, the best way to pass through the inevitable awkward bits is to acknowledge them. Make them a part of the conversation, use them in your favor. They can be an opportunity to crack a joke to break the ice, or just to say something about how awkward it is to be around so many people again and keep the conversation going.
Train your attention
Our attention spans can be a little different from what they used to be. Now a conversation with a coworker can feel longer and at some point, we start thinking about something else and all of a sudden you are saying “of course” to a question you didn’t even hear.
It’s pretty normal that our attention moves around, but bringing it back to the conversation as soon as we notice it is somewhere else, will make it easier every time to maintain the focus.
Now we have a bigger picture to look at other than a screen, which is an adjustment that will require a new management of your energy and attention. A great way to train your focus is to review what happened after a conversation and see if you remember most of it or not.
Listen actively
Being an active listener is an amazing skill to have, and definitely one that we should all work on these days. It implies paying attention not only to what is being said but the way it’s said, too. Body language, tone, and more.
An active listener listens to understand, not to respond, since the goal of communication is to understand each other and make sure that the message is efficiently delivered. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, show that you’re interested, and respond accordingly.
If you want to know more about active listening, we have the article for you. Just click here to read it.
Practice empathy
The isolation and quarantine that came with the pandemic is something we all went through. Going back to face-to-face interactions is going to need an adjustment period for everyone, so be kind to yourself and others. Everybody went through a lot, some might take a little more time to get the hang of it being in person again. Paying attention, and listening actively are ways to show empathy to others. Be patient and act as understanding with others as you wish to be understood.
Going back to the office, and talking to people in person again can be scary. We’ve changed and that’s undeniable. But it’s all about letting the new person you’ve become create new relationships and meet again the people you used to know and some new people as well.
Communication can be very hard at first, and being aware of it can help. At the end of the day, what matters the most is putting in the effort to make it work and understand each other even if we don’t agree. It may be awkward, but what are you waiting to embrace it?
