It’s that time of year again when our diaries start filling up with end-of-year gatherings and events. If just looking at your calendar triggers an onset of prospective socialisation fatigue, we’d like to remind you of a fairly recent disruptor: Covid-19. Remember how the pandemic abruptly upended our lives with social distancing and remote work, and the ensuing feelings of loneliness and disconnectedness?
We might not all be equally gregarious animals, but the lockdown certainly demonstrated that we are social animals by nature, and that interaction with others of our kind is essential for our overall personal and professional wellbeing. Moreover, for many people, the pandemic fundamentally changed the way we work and where we work.
For those of us with flexible or hybrid working arrangements, this may mean that we forego many of the daily connections that are part of a conventional office environment – the casual conversations and chance encounters, the shared breaks and laughs, and the team gatherings – that allow relationships to develop organically and foster a sense of camaraderie among staff. Which is why we should welcome and take up opportunities to connect with colleagues as often as possible.
When we spend time together, we’re not just unwinding – we’re building relationships that bring a sense of belonging and the reassurance that we’re not in this alone. For us at the Language Centre, this point was again brought home after a recent team trip to the Bo-Kaap to celebrate Heritage Day. Numerous colleagues expressed delight about and appreciation for the visit, stressing that over and above the educational and cultural value of the visit, they especially enjoyed the relaxed interaction and the chance to catch up with colleagues whom they seldom get to see.
Staff outings and social functions give us a chance to step out of our usual work environment and dynamics, forget about deadlines for a bit, and enjoy each other’s company on neutral ground. In these more casual settings, we can overcome the sometimes-unspoken hierarchical barriers that may exist, and we get to see each other as people, not just as co-workers or in terms of superiors and subordinates. That changes everything. Suddenly, it’s easier to have open conversations, to approach someone for advice, or to work together on a project, because we know and trust each other better.
It’s not just about getting the job done; it’s about knowing that beyond the work tasks and meetings, we’re part of a supportive group that has our back, making us more resilient and able to face new challenges when the going gets tough.”
So go ahead: Enjoy the year-end socials and fill your cup with feel-good connections to make the workplace not just a place to work, but a place to thrive in 2025!
– by Tania Botha
