There Is An "I" In Isolation
RETHINKING WHAT IT COULD REALLY MEAN TO WORK FROM HOME
Each night on the news, we hear of yet another story of a Covid patient dying alone, and in isolation. It is something we have become acutely aware of because of the severity and extreme nature of the disease. But there is another isolation going on - one you wouldn’t detect - during this pandemic. It is the isolation that healthcare workers feel. Long, non-stop hours. Constant moving. Endless shift changes. Sanitization processes. They are surrounded by people but often describe (even before the pandemic) of a feeling of isolation. Of interchangeability. Of invisibility.
This is not a pandemic article. This feeling of isolation happens over and over again. The people of Flint, Michigan described an underlying feeling of abandonment during the water crisis. Parents of children who overdose on opioids will say that neighbors are afraid to come and visit because of the assumed shame of such a death. That brings on an utter feeling of loneliness at the worst time.
Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy believes the pandemic is going to set off a wave of loneliness around the world:
“I think there's a real possibility that the physical distancing we're being asked to observe to tamp down this wave of COVID-19 infection could very well contribute to more loneliness. I think it could contribute to a social recession, if you will, marked by deepening levels of loneliness as we stay apart for longer and longer periods of time.” - Vivek Murthy
There is an inherent stress attached to isolation. That stress immediately starts victimizing aspects of everyday life: clear decision-making, open communication, productivity and focus.
So what does this mean for the new work environment? What does our propensity to be social creatures mean when companies are now separating their teams? Well, it means we have a real opportunity to not only appreciate the relationships we have in our lives, but to build them up. Through intentional connecting in meaningful ways, companies can strengthen bonds that are threatened by distance.
If as a company you want to beat the “loneliness paradox”, which has a sufferer afraid to reach out for help and a helper who doesn’t know how to help or if anyone even needs it, having a proactive engagement strategy built on trust, transparency and respect is a great way to start. They also have to realize that “more Zoom calls” is not effective connection building. Rather, psychology states that the path out of isolation or loneliness starts with connecting individuals to themselves first, then to others.
Recently, Khalil Smith of the Neuroleadership Institute discussed how potential employees are now leading their employment decisions with considerations such as “How are you going to take care of me and support me, not on my career, but as a human.” By leveraging effective models of engagement that build off of authentic care, by creating opportunities of service and leadership, by connecting people to their true selves, you can begin to lessen the toll that isolation is probably already having on your newly separated teams.