Is Face-To-Face Communication Still Relevant in the COVID-Era Office? | Coworking Space KL
In today’s digital age and since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, we’re embracing technology more than ever, changing the way we work (be it working from home or in a coworking space kl) and communicate. Colleagues are able to collaborate despite being in different locations (and sometimes even timezones!), employees can work from home and the leaders of companies are able to get the word out to staff efficiently.
Despite the clear advantages of digital communication, it would be a mistake to assume that face-to-face communication is irrelevant in today’s COVID-Era Office.
Face-to-face communication in the office: Why does it matter?
When we talk about face-to-face communication in the office, it’s not just limited to in-person meetings, but the bonds we forge with our colleagues as well, helping us understand each other better and collaborate more.
After getting a taste of the work-from-home life, the importance of the workplace and its offerings are now clear: The office is more than just a place to work. It’s a place that drives innovation and growth, while fostering good company culture, with a sense of community.
And, well, who doesn’t miss the simple joy of drinking coffee with our coworkers in the pantry? Or even sketching out ideas on whiteboards or digital displays in comfortable meeting spaces?
Face-to-face communication in the office: The advantages
In our increasingly digital world, communication is easy, with just the press of a button. But we’re forgetting about the importance of talking to people in person. Here are some advantages of face-to-face communication in the office.
- Stronger connections: Trust isn’t built over text! A colleague or client that’s never seen you in real life will be less likely to have the same connection with someone they interact with on a day to day basis. Face-to-face communication leads to a sense of community and camaraderie, which can lead to a better working relationship over time.
- Better non-verbal understanding: Since the switch to Zoom meetings, we’re missing an important dimension of communication – body language. Non-verbal cues can give off vibes to how they’re feeling and how they feel towards you.
- Company culture: If you’ve never met members of your team or rarely speak to them face-to-face, it’s difficult to feel a part of the office culture. The diverse points of view, spontaneous meetings or even lunch with coworkers gives us opportunities for relationship building and storytelling. These bonds can’t be replicated through a screen.
- Faster problem solving: Whether we’re communicating with teams internally or externally with clients, more than often, emails can cause more problems than it solves, wasting time and effort to crafting that “perfect email”. You might take 15 emails to hash out a problem that could have been solved in five minutes in person. Instant replies don’t sit in your email inbox for hours either.
The future of communication in the office
Today’s technology makes communication faster than ever before, but we shouldn’t only rely on it. An office is more than the technology that is used, it is the sum of people, architecture, and furniture as well. While there are plenty of benefits that come with remote working, no digital tool can replace the sense of community or belonging that comes from face-to-face communication.
Re-imagining the office during a COVID-19 era with a Coworking Space KL
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more businesses are opting for flexibility, utilising a hybrid working model, allowing staff to work from home but also giving them the option of an office where they’ll be able to meet clients or when craving some human interaction.
With a hybrid working model, employees can expect the same benefits of their workplaces, including having that sense of community and connection. Combined with shared workspaces (be it a coworking space, serviced office, private office, or hot desk), this model allows for collaboration and co-operation across the various members, while also providing cost savings and flexibility.
Safety is our #1 priority at our Coworking Space KL
If safety and hygiene are your primary concern at Colony, the safety of our guests and visitors has always been our top priority. Since reopening our doors in early May, we’ve increased our frequency and intensity of our hygiene and sanitary measures, implementing safety measures and protocols in place for our daily operations.
These include:
- Hand sanitisers and disposable face masks are available at the Concierge for our guests.
- Increased the frequency and intensity of our hygiene and sanitary measures, including and not limited to: garbage disposal, cleaning, disinfecting door handles, handrails, lockers, washrooms, front desks, and business equipment in all common areas, and changing hand soaps and dishwashing liquids to antibacterial formulations.
- Temperature screening for all guests and visitors who visit our space is recorded along with contact details in accordance with the guidelines from the Ministry of Health.
In the meantime, if you’d like to keep up with our on-going efforts on how we’re tackling COVID-19, check out our COVID-19 Safety Measure and Guidelines or contact us via email at ask@colony.work or drop us a message at +60 18-213 8086 to find out more about the safety measures we’ve taken to ensure your future Coworking Space KL workspace is kept safe when you step in to work with Colony.
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