Developing the informal Work Approach in Remote Work
Developing the informal work approach is particularly challenging in remote work but also increasingly important. In remote work, employees miss out on natural encounters like hallway conversations and lunch breaks, where informal interaction typically occurs. This can lead to team fragmentation, a decline in creativity, and weakened team spirit. Therefore, it is crucial that organizations develop strategies and practices to maintain and strengthen the informal work approach even in a virtual environment.
The first step in developing the informal work approach in remote work is to consciously create opportunities for informal interaction. This could mean virtual coffee breaks, casual team meetings, or online game events that help maintain and strengthen team cohesion. These meetings don’t need to be strictly structured; their purpose is to provide space for informal conversation and getting to know each other.
Another important factor is building and maintaining trust. In remote work, the success of the informal work approach requires that employees feel safe and trust each other. Organizations need to create a culture where open communication and informal discussions are allowed and encouraged. This might involve the leadership participating in informal meetings and promoting open interaction at all levels of the organization.
The third factor is leveraging technology. Digital tools can support informal interaction by providing platforms where employees can easily communicate and share ideas. For example, instant messaging programs, internal social media platforms, and shared project management tools can create frameworks for informal interaction that fosters teamwork and innovation.
Developing the informal work approach requires organizations to take a proactive stance and a willingness to experiment with different work approaches. When employees are provided with opportunities and tools to create and maintain informal connections even in remote work, this can lead to significant improvements in team collaboration, innovation, and job satisfaction. This ensures that the informal approach remains a central part of knowledge work, even in future work environments.
The Reflective Work Approach at the Core of Soft Skills
The reflective work approach is a profound work method that integrates and strengthens key soft skills such as empathy, communication, problem-solving, and creativity. These skills are often considered “soft,” but their significance in knowledge work is indispensable. The reflective approach acts as a connective tissue that makes these skills truly impactful in professional contexts.
Empathy: Empathy is the ability to put oneself in another’s shoes, understand, and appreciate their perspectives and feelings. The reflective work approach allows for the use of empathy because it requires pausing and considering others’ viewpoints. In shared reflection, teams can examine how different solutions affect people, both within and outside the organization. This deepens empathetic understanding and helps make better, more humane decisions.
Communication: Good communication is more than just the exchange of information; it’s the ability to listen, understand, and respond appropriately. The reflective work approach encourages deep communication, where not just information but experiences, emotions, and insights are shared. This enables deeper mutual understanding among teams and more effective collaboration. The reflective work approach also helps identify and resolve potential misunderstandings or conflicts, improving the quality and impact of communication.
Problem-Solving: In problem-solving, the reflective work approach is a key element because it allows for the consideration of alternative solutions and the application of lessons learned from past experiences. In a reflective process, teams can analyze problems comprehensively and learn from previous mistakes and successes. This process develops critical thinking and enhances the ability to find innovative solutions to complex problems.
Creativity: Creativity thrives in environments where there is room to experiment, fail, and learn. The reflective work approach supports this process because it encourages continuous learning and the evaluation of new ideas. Reflection helps employees identify creative opportunities and understand how they can apply what they have learned in new ways. This makes the reflective work approach an important catalyst for creativity, especially in knowledge work, where finding new ideas and solutions is often critical to success.
Subject matter by Ville Ojanen (Leading Psychologist at Academy of Brain)
Ville Ojanen is a psychologist with a doctorate in cognitive neuroscience. His passion is understanding and influencing the human behavior. Ville combines an exceptionally broad and in-depth understanding of behavioral and neurosciences with practical experience in developing individuals, teams and communities.
He has worked as a clinical neuropsychologist, as an HR professional in Nokia and for fifteen years as an organizational psychologist, coach and keynote speaker. Ville is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of Academy of Brain Ltd. He has served in the behavioral science advisor team of the Finnish Prime minister´s office since 2020, currently as a steering group member.
“Change the mind, change the world”
