Are you more or less connected to your colleagues working virtually?

We are hearing different messages from our participants about how much and well they are staying connected with their colleagues when working virtually

• some feel they are actually connecting more regularly with their colleagues who aren’t on the same site, as virtual meetings have created a levelling effect, meaning they are reaching out more equally to colleagues irrespective of distance
• some senior leaders tell us they feel as though they are being bypassed as people connect directly to the individuals they need to speak to rather than using the hierarchy to be connected
• most are experiencing a slow draining of social capital as relationship bonds become slightly weaker over time without the reinforcement of face-to-face contact. For most this isn’t a serious issue leading to active trust problems, but it is something they look forward to re-establishing when we can get back to face-to- face contact
• some feel they are less siloed, particularly in international organisations, where it’s easier to schedule a meeting with international colleagues virtually than it could ever be getting everyone together face to face. Although these teams had often worked remotely before COVID, they have also found virtual working for everyone to be a great leveller
• a few participants, however, feel that virtual working has made them much more focused on their immediate team, but less connected to the wider organisation. They feel that virtual working has made them more siloed in some ways

What is your view? Has working virtually made you more connected (with the exception possibly of emotional connection) or are you feeling more siloed?