Fear holds us back from forging a bond. People tend to choose to speak to people through emails and text because they feel that actually talking to them would be awkward and that they could be misunderstood.
However experiments show surprising results: "People reported forming a "significantly stronger bond with their old friend on the phone versus email, and they did not feel more awkward".

Too shy to talk

<ul>
<li>42% of Americans aged 20-64 earning more than $20,000 were working from home full-time in May 2020.</li>
<li>However, the lack of communication and collaboration are made known to be the biggest challenges of remote workers.</li>
<li>As remote work continues, it is important to encourage employees to adopt habits that would be beneficial to both the employer and the employee.</li>
</ul>

Changes to the workflow

<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">
 
 </div></div>31 October, 2020</div><img alt="Research shows that talking to people on the phone fosters better connection than always typing." src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY0NTQzNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MjgxODU1OX0.j_Cc25_Kxffy_RjAejSdJ35EuoQQfxkOmQaOXZmj9BE/img.jpg?width=1245&amp;coordinates=0%2C158%2C0%2C466&amp;height=700" width="703" height="396"><div>
 Sean Gallup/Getty Images
 </div>When did you last pick up the phone to a coworker or friend instead of firing off an email or text message?In these days of remote working and social distancing, a simple phone call could make us feel more connected and boost well-being, according to scientists.Researchers in the US conducted tests in which they asked participants to reconnect with an old friend, either via phone or email, and another in which participants were asked personal questions by a stranger - by video, voice or text.Participants found that talking to someone and interacting with them helped them feel more connected. The person's voice, even without being able to see them, was important in bonding.<h3>Awkward about talking</h3>But the study also found people hold back from speaking to others, choosing email and texts instead, wrongly believing that a conversation could be awkward or that they could be misunderstood."People feel significantly more connected through voice-based media, but they have these fears about awkwardness that are pushing them towards text-based media," study co-author Amit Kumar, a McCombs School of Business assistant professor of marketing, <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200911141713.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">told Science Daily</a>.In the experiment in which researchers asked people to phone an old friend, participants predicted the conversation would be awkward and that they would prefer to email.In reality, people reported forming a "significantly stronger bond with their old friend on the phone versus email, and they did not feel more awkward," Kumar said.And the call took no longer than reading and responding to an email."We're being asked to maintain physical distance, but we still need these social ties for our well-being - even for our health," added Kumar.<img alt="Before COVID-19, remote workers found communication a struggle, according to a State of Remote report from Buffer." width="623" height="52">Image: Buffer<h3>COVID-19 is changing how we work</h3>In May, 42% of Americans aged 20-64 earning more than $20,000 were working from home full-time, according to a <a href="https://siepr.stanford.edu/research/publications/how-working-home-works-out" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">Stanford University survey</a> – compared to just 2% working full-time from home before the pandemic.And many want to keep working from home. An Adecco survey of 8,000 workers and leaders in eight countries found <a href="https://www.adeccogroup.com/futuhreinsight/we-asked-8000-people-how-they-want-to-work-post-covid-19-here-are-5-things-they-told-us-that-will-likely-change-the-world-of-work-forever/" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">three out of four employees preferred more flexibility and a hybrid</a> approach to working - part at home and part at the office.But lack of communication and collaboration - and loneliness - were reported as the biggest struggles of remote workers in <a href="https://lp.buffer.com/state-of-remote-work-2020" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">Buffer's 2020 State of Remote Work</a> survey (based on 2019 data).The World Economic Forum's virtual<a href="https://www.weforum.org/events/the-jobs-reset-summit-2020" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr"> Jobs Reset Summit</a> is discussing the creation of new jobs and new standards in digital, on-site and hybrid workplaces, as well as the safety nets needed for the employees of the future.As working from home continues, encouraging employees to adopt good habits in connecting and communicating in person with others could improve both well-being and productivity.Reprinted with permission of the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">World Economic Forum</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/mental-health-remote-working-conversations-virtual/" dir="ltr">original article</a>.<div>From Your Site Articles</div><div>Related Articles Around the Web</div>

As working from home continues, encouraging employees to adopt good habits in connecting and communicating could improve both well-being and productivity. Research has found that even talking on the phone is better for people than always typing emails or using instant messaging. Learn more in this article.

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When did you last pick up the phone to a coworker or friend instead of firing off an email or text message?

In these days of remote working and social distancing, a simple phone call could make us feel more connected and boost well-being, according to scientists.

Researchers in the US conducted tests in which they asked participants to reconnect with an old friend, either via phone or email, and another in which participants were asked personal questions by a stranger - by video, voice or text.

Participants found that talking to someone and interacting with them helped them feel more connected. The person's voice, even without being able to see them, was important in bonding.

But the study also found people hold back from speaking to others, choosing email and texts instead, wrongly believing that a conversation could be awkward or that they could be misunderstood.

"People feel significantly more connected through voice-based media, but they have these fears about awkwardness that are pushing them towards text-based media," study co-author Amit Kumar, a McCombs School of Business assistant professor of marketing, <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200911141713.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer">told Science Daily </a>.

In the experiment in which researchers asked people to phone an old friend, participants predicted the conversation would be awkward and that they would prefer to email.

In reality, people reported forming a "significantly stronger bond with their old friend on the phone versus email, and they did not feel more awkward," Kumar said.

And the call took no longer than reading and responding to an email.

"We're being asked to maintain physical distance, but we still need these social ties for our well-being - even for our health," added Kumar.

In May, 42% of Americans aged 20-64 earning more than $20,000 were working from home full-time, according to a <a dir="ltr" href="https://siepr.stanford.edu/research/publications/how-working-home-works-out" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stanford University survey </a>– compared to just 2% working full-time from home before the pandemic.

And many want to keep working from home. An Adecco survey of 8,000 workers and leaders in eight countries found <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.adeccogroup.com/futuhreinsight/we-asked-8000-people-how-they-want-to-work-post-covid-19-here-are-5-things-they-told-us-that-will-likely-change-the-world-of-work-forever/" rel="noopener noreferrer">three out of four employees preferred more flexibility and a hybrid </a>approach to working - part at home and part at the office.

But lack of communication and collaboration - and loneliness - were reported as the biggest struggles of remote workers in <a dir="ltr" href="https://lp.buffer.com/state-of-remote-work-2020" rel="noopener noreferrer">Buffer's 2020 State of Remote Work </a>survey (based on 2019 data).

The World Economic Forum's virtual<a dir="ltr" href="https://www.weforum.org/events/the-jobs-reset-summit-2020" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jobs Reset Summit </a>is discussing the creation of new jobs and new standards in digital, on-site and hybrid workplaces, as well as the safety nets needed for the employees of the future.

As working from home continues, encouraging employees to adopt good habits in connecting and communicating in person with others could improve both well-being and productivity.

Reprinted with permission of the <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.weforum.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Economic Forum </a>. Read the <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/mental-health-remote-working-conversations-virtual/">original article </a>.

Talk more, type less: Talking on the phone is good for you

Too shy to talk

Changes to the workflow

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