Returning to the office after a long hiatus can be a daunting prospect. It's not just about adjusting to the physical environment, but also preparing your brain for the shift. Let's delve into the psychological aspects of this transition.
In-person gatherings are blooming again
Constrained to a computer screen and the functionality of videoconferencing, we’ve adopted unnatural ways of working with each other
- We forced our brains to do extra cognitive work and make a million subconscious adjustments over hours of conference calls
- For better or for worse, remote connecting and collaborating has become a default state for many
- There is much to look forward to as offices reopen, and it’s also important to remember that this is all new terrain
- This is what will help make this upcoming chapter of increased in-person collaboration and communication most effective
Make time for just being
After two years of video calls, we’ve all been deprived of the normal releases of dopamine and oxytocin-the feel-good hormones that we seek and need as social beings
- Do your team a favor and let it be okay to have agenda-free social interactions
Manage your inner space
Don’t overschedule yourself
- Allow yourself some open, non-task time and space to readjust and casually reconnect with colleagues
- Set an intention for connection
- Get more sleep
- A good night’s sleep is key to improving your interactions and reducing your risk of burnout
Create spaces that nurture connection and collaboration
Talk about the return-to-office plan and keep talking about it
- Don’t organize schedules by days of the week
- Organize by key moments
- Design spaces for connection
- Cisco is recognizing that environment matters and is structuring their office settings for different ways of interacting
