Since the pandemic, the world has faced all sorts of changes and shifts. When it comes to the professional world, the pandemic has accelerated the prevalence of the virtual workplace, forcing people to adapt to remote work. Ever since, working remotely has become an essential part of daily life, allowing for greater work-life balance, increasing flexibility and convenience, and contributing to health and happiness. 

However, remote working certainly doesn’t come without challenges, particularly when it comes to building up your network with authentic and valuable connections, and keeping that network well-nurtured. Building these connections is vital for both personal growth and professional success, and making sure our professional lives don’t exist solely online.

Virtual vs ‘IRL’

In 2016, Chris Hope set a goal to spend 100 weeks having 100 coffees with 100 strangers. In his TedTalk, he explains the significance of the project in teaching him about the importance of face-to-face connection and how it can affect our day to day lives. Discussion topics ranged from life goals, setbacks, and life journeys, both professional and personal. In a world where face-to-face connections are becoming more sparse, it’s becoming much more difficult to make impressions and have meaningful encounters with people, especially in an online space. 

The online world itself is rigged to reward inauthentic portrayals of ourselves. Content we share is judged on a criteria of like counts and numbers of interactions, contributing to a culture dependent on instant gratification. Platforms such as Instagram and Twitter can become a competitive numbers game where it can be difficult to make real connections, whether personal or professional. Other more professional-oriented platforms can also often feel too impersonal. Either way, it’s difficult to show the real you and find other like-minded people who share your values. 

And when it comes to colleagues you work with remotely, there is no virtual equivalent of a water cooler to have conversations by. For some people, coworking spaces offer a useful way of meeting people, making diverse connections and joining a wider professional community. For others, however, they act merely as a place to get work done, and can often be noisy, distracting and impersonal. 

So, how do we adapt the task of making real-world connections to a world increasingly dependent on the internet? 

Authentic connections serve us better

Here are a few ideas of some principles we can remind ourselves of in order to make sure our online presence, and in turn our online connections, are as authentic as they can be:

Always be authentic online 

What we share online is a choice, and it’s tempting to only display versions of ourselves that paint us in the best light. Life throws all sorts of challenges our way, and part of being human is facing those challenges. It’s ok to be human online, and show all your different left-turns and chinks in the road. It’s equally important to set boundaries on what and how much you’re happy to share. Lead by example and share the real you with content that you’d want to see, and your online feeds will begin to reflect this, allowing for genuine connections with people that match with your ethos.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Growing a professional network is a marathon, and not a sprint. We’re strong believers that size doesn’t matter. Whether your online circle consists of 5 people, 50, 500 or 5000, it’s always good to take stock of whether these connections are serving your journey. Quality often beats quantity, and it’s important not to spread yourself too thinly to actually maintain your connections. It’s ok, and maybe even better, to grow slowly. Equally, be selective about which platforms to use. Different social media platforms suit different people in different ways, and it’s important to find out what works for you.

You get what you give.

Making connections is a two-way street; you have to be willing and ready to reach out, and you can’t just wait for people to connect with you. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people whose career backgrounds interest you, and feel free to take it just one person at a time. Maybe take a page from Chris Hope’s book, and challenge yourself to go outside your comfort zone and make real connections with strangers. Nothing beats meeting someone face to face but a virtual coffee over zoom can also work. As well as this, maintaining meaningful connections is just as important as making new ones. Make sure you’re engaging thoughtfully with your current circle, and thoughtful responses should follow.

Global opportunities with virtual networking

All in all, the landscape of the working world is shifting, and with it, our definition of authentic workplace connections should as well. The online world gives us the unique opportunity to connect with people all over the world, from a diverse range of backgrounds and industries. Instead of seeing it as a roadblock to human connection, we can use it as a tool to create these connections in an authentic way, committing to growth both for our professional networks and ourselves.

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Source:

https://www.ted.com/talks/chris_hope_what_100_coffees_taught_me_about_human_connection

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