Recently, many companies have been calling their employees back to in-person work, at least for part of the week. For those who prefer working from home this requirement may be a huge source of frustration. For those workers who can’t wait to return to the office, there are likely feelings of relief. And for many, this return might be a cause of happiness, angst, and frustration all at once. Can you say ALL the feels? 

We’ve been asking ourselves these questions, like we know you have, too: Is hugging dead? How does small talk even work? What happens if there’s a divided conversation about vaccines? 

The list of possible awkward social interactions can feel nearly endless. Not to mention, you’ve likely changed as a person during this time away, bringing lessons and new beliefs to old work environments. If you’re having all the feelings about returning to the office, we hope the below resources and considerations can help support you during this latest transition. 

4 Ways You Can Begin Preparations for the Return to the Office:

The Great Awkward. Leave it to Brené Brown to keep it real when it comes to calling out how cringey a return to work can feel. Inside this podcast episode, Brown talks through how to navigate going back to the workplace (a transition she calls “The Great Awkward”), from sharing high-level lessons to tips on how to be really thoughtful in those initial interactions with your colleagues. I.E., handshake no handshake?

Get mindful. Who have you become over the last two years? This is a great question to journal on before returning to work. Specifically, paying attention to how your boundaries have evolved. For example, if you’re an introvert who has loved working remotely, you should consider how you might be able to maintain some of these aspects in your new setting. What are the meetings that got canceled during WFH  that might not need to come back on the calendar? How can you honor what you learned during this time away about yourself, and make sure you advocate for what you need most? 

Visualize your ideal. Visualize what you want your return to work to look like. While it’s easy to prepare for the worst, why not also prepare for the best? What would make you excited to work on-site, if anything? Many companies will be turning to employees for their feedback, so now is a great time to get intentional and communicative about what you do want from a return to office scenario - instead of just focusing on what you don’t. 

Permission to be human. It’s important to actually expect some level of anxiety when it comes to returning to work.  And honestly, not be surprised by it! We’ve been away for years, so keep in mind that many of these initial feelings of fear and social awkwardness might dissipate when you have the chance to reconnect (I.E., go grab lunch with that colleague of yours you love!).. It’s going to be a process - and that’s ok. 

Between hybrid work and the return to the office, it’s an adjustment

Any way you slice it, we’re in another major adjustment period right now. Success in navigating this transition will come from organizations with leaders who are empathetic and deliberate in offering support that is relevant to your team's current reality. 

Your people need coaching, mentoring, collaborative learning, and safe spaces to process who they’ve become - and want to be. We’re here to help you with that touchpoint. Whether you’re a manager looking to increase your leadership training and managerial skills, or you have a full team looking to do the same, then Activate is here for you. Get started by booking a call to talk with us and discuss you and your team’s unique needs!