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O P I N I O N
Finding commonalities can help you build trust and strengthen relationships in this changing work environment. Building personal connections
C lose your eyes and envision a day at work. What does that look like to you today, especially relative to two years ago? Does it look like a kitchen table, couch, or home office? Are there partners, relatives, kids, or pets around? Are you home alone? Or does it look like an office building with team members working at their individual stations?
Katie Harrel
Many people will think of something different when they picture work today, and what they see has likely changed significantly over the last two years. Fortunately, technology has been used to support more virtual work environments while adding some efficiencies, such as reduced meeting times and costs. Work continues, new and old, even while our surroundings look different. With that said, living and working alone during the pandemic had its drawbacks, such as losing that physical connection with others that we as a species have relied on for thousands of years. I was recently working on a project that required several team members to spend an entire day in the field together, which is not a normal occurrence,
especially with social distancing protocols. Most of the day we talked about work, but not the whole time. We caught up on recent life events – like how our families were doing, what kept us busy while staying home, and how we were feeling overall. This moment made me realize how our personal connections have degraded significantly since March 2020. Allowing people to know more about you outside of your profession builds trust and allows you to find commonalities that will strengthen relationships, whether you’re being considered by a potential client for a new project, or seeking
Charlotte Knight
See KATIE HARREL & CHARLOTTE KNIGHT, page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER OCTOBER 4, 2021, ISSUE 1411
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