Nonvirtual work cements social relationships. And for remote workers, being committed to making an effort and spending resources to make remote work feel personal and connected can replace that.Just scheduling a video call once a week and having some pleasant small talk can be enough to build relationships that last.

Real Remote Communication Experience

These few weekly half-hours small talk make work more enjoyable. Communication barriers are lowered and channels smoothened.Mutual reliance, understanding, and coordination increase. Slowing down and making social time helps people be better teammates.

Regular Small Talk

Even though I've been working remotely as a software engineer at Trello for several years, I've recently picked up a new habit: I schedule two ~30 minute weekly video calls with individuals on my team, just for social interaction and casual conversation. This simple change to my calendar helps me enjoy work more and feel more connected.

remotework

Remote Work