I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned some of the most unexpected things during this pandemic: how to color my own hair, how to do a virtual keynote, how to turn my spare bedroom into my Stage/office/exercise room. I even learned to throw a COVID wedding.
Yep, it’s been a journey.
But here’s something that’s really surprised me. My student workers and other staffers are hanging out during the day, Monday through Friday together, face to face, in our “virtual office”.
Let me explain. The Klein College Career Center at Temple University where I’m the Director, has gone virtual; all of our services: coaching, workshops, events, everything.
We decided to open a 9-5 live zoom room for our students to pop in anytime for video conferencing help and questions.
And they do!
And then my team realized, you know,
we miss walking into each other’s offices,
walking down the hall to ask a question, eat lunch together or discuss something. We started popping into our own office zoom room to hang out, I’d guess you’d say.
We are virtually “walking down the hall” or popping in to ask a question or just to say “hi,” or how was your weekend. Someone is always manning the zoom room. Sometimes there’s just 2 of us, sometimes 3 or 4. We come in to chat or figure out how to do something.
I kind of now feel I get to see everyone in real time and have conversations about work and personal chit chat almost in a semi normal way.
Our zoom room is as much a place for us as it is for the students we serve.
I know there are other ways to communicate with home-bound workers and maybe you’ve found better ways. I’d love to know what you’ve discovered!
While some days I feel zoomed to death, I must say for now, I’m glad I have a place to see, on a daily basis, members of my team.
We will have to virtually celebrate birthdays and create some virtual holiday party event, or not. It’s not the office. It’s the virtual office, but I like hanging in there right now.
