BROOKLYN, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 2, 2021 / We as humans, friends and co-workers, are continuing to operate in an unfamiliar world, where the only things we know for sure are that nothing is certain – and we want flexibility. As our previously new normal is becoming an even newer normal, we’re entering into a state of in between-we call it hybrid.
While working from home full-time was a transition in itself, the fact that we were all doing it together made it slightly easier. However, in this new hybrid world, where we may find ourselves working partially together in person, and partially remotely, such is not the case. In the limbo of our new three-days-in-two-days-out schedule, you may find yourself feeling disconnected from your co-workers, both mentally and physically. If this rings true, you’re not alone.
While navigating this uncharted territory can be difficult, ensuring that you and your team are equipped with the correct tools will make all the difference. With that, meet Donut.
Since being founded in 2016, the Donut team has been focused on finding ways to create meaningful relationships between employees, regardless of where they were located. While this was always their mission, it became more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic, as Donut helped to create opportunities for interpersonal conversations, watercooler banter, and the building of friendships, all while we remained safely within the parameters of our Zoom boxes. Think of Donut as the virtual version of bumping into someone at the coffeemaker and starting a conversation: It’s a tool that integrates directly into your team’s Slack workspace to spark meaningful conversations and make personal introductions.
As our workplaces start transitioning out of our bedrooms and back into offices, Donut has launched new features designed specifically for hybrid teams. Donut for Hybrid Work was created under the assumption that while some colleagues may soon have the luxury of simply turning to their office neighbor to ask a quick question, others will be simultaneously dialing into their next meeting virtually. So while some employees are in office, and others are not, Donut for Hybrid Work helps to ensure that camaraderie and effective collaboration are still within reach for all teams.
“While we don’t know much about hybrid work yet, there are some things we do know. If intentional opportunities for connection are not created for remote employees, those who are able to be in the office, and are within a closer physical proximity to team leaders, may be given unfair advantages like positive performance reviews and more frequent advancement opportunities, simply because they’re there,” says Dan Manian, CEO of Donut. “While it’s not necessarily intentional, this proximity bias can put remote employees at a serious disadvantage, and the only way to avoid it is by actively creating space and chances for remote employees to have those same opportunities, and form those same connections. This is one of the goals of Donut for Hybrid Work.”
With this new dynamic top-of-mind, Donut for Hybrid Work has implemented features aimed specifically at combating proximity bias, creating greater access for remote employees and intentionally making more meaningful connections. To get started, it’s as simple as creating a new Slack channel, and inviting the right people. From there, Donut for Hybrid Work helps employees take the first steps when it comes to introductions, ice breakers, brainstorming, collaboration, small talk and so much more, with the use of their innovative tools:
- Favorite Things: If forced isolation has taught us anything, we now know to not take for granted opportunities for forming real relationships with our colleagues. These types of bonds are created when team members get to know one another on a deeper, more personal level.
Favorite Things aims to help colleagues find the kinds of shared passions or experiences that build meaningful relationships. Employees create a quick list of interests-think favorite movies, hobbies, and desserts-that are included with each introduction (or shared in a channel) to facilitate conversation.
- Templates: After spending the last year and a half connecting exclusively over Zoom, your team’s go-to virtual activities may be feeling a bit stale-and discovering new ones is hard. Donut’s solution is a crowd-sourced library of templates where teams can find and implement new rituals that foster camaraderie and community in five minutes or less. Those rituals range from virtual cross-team coffee meetups to hybrid mentorship programs, and many of them are inspired by companies known for innovative people and programs like Okta and InVision.
- Watercooler: No matter your feelings on remote work, there is no denying that it’s lacking the serendipitous run-ins that happen in-office. The natural conversations that occur when employees gather around the watercooler is another instance where important connections occur. While you’re never going to physically bump into a remote employee, Donut’s Watercooler function creates opportunity for spontaneous employee chatter to happen throughout the workday by posting conversation topics directly into your Slack channels.
You determine the cadence of the Watercooler topics, and Donut takes care of the rest. From sharing photos and stories of the most beautiful places you’ve ever been, to sparking a debate about what is the absolute best form of potato, Watercooler creates an opportunity for lighthearted conversations that create a big impact.
One of the benefits of a virtual Watercooler run-in is that there is no limit of distance, so you don’t have to stop with your immediate team. Watercooler is also available for larger teams on Slack Enterprise Grid, as well as for those working with teams outside of their own organization through Slack Connect.
While hybrid work may now look different from day to day, team to team and company to company, the need for human connection remains the same. Now more than ever, it’s important to actively form interpersonal connections with our colleagues – both those ones who are returning to work, as well as those who are not. As where we work is starting to become more flexible, Donut for Hybrid Work helps to ensure that how we work remains efficient, empathetic, and above all else, connected.
Contact:
Company name: SelectFew
Contact Number: +1-805-265-0083
Email Address: team@selectfew.co
Website: selectfew.co
SOURCE: Digital Cartel Media
View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/657907/Donut-for-Hybrid-Work-Your-Digital-Compass-for-Navigating-the-Newer-New-Normal
