Are you returning to work gradually, but it is not the exciting and motivating place you remember and was looking forward to? Instead, you notice that it feels strange to talk to your boss in person and that you are obsessing about who else can hear what you are saying. You feel overwhelmed by all the sensory input. You have become so accustomed to communicating virtually by video or phone that experiencing non-verbal communication in-person is overwhelming and confusing, and you are not sure how and what you are communicating non-verbally yourself?
Anecdotal information from my network is telling me that this is the experience of many these days. We have grown comfortable with zoom and teams’ meetings. We are experts at expressing and reading emotions with our eyes and foreheads only. Smiling with our eyes as we wear a facemask.
Communicating and interacting in-person might feel foreign. We may need to readjust and relearn. But I am convinced it is possible.
A few suggestions you might find helpful:
- First, remember that your reaction is normal. We have worked virtually for two years and what initially felt foreign to us became normal, even safe, and comfortable.
- Second, while accepting that your reaction is normal, it does not mean that you want to remain in this state of mind. Take conscious steps to challenge your initial reaction. Remind yourself that while you understand why you are feeling this way, there is a benefit to move out of this comfort zone and back to interacting fully and completely in person. You know how to read body language and process sensory input. You just need a little practice. It is like playing tennis, bicycling or any other sport, if you have not done it for a while, you are a little rusty, a bit stiff. But with time and practice you can regain your skills.
- Third, talk about what you are experiencing with your peers, teams, and your boss. I bet most everyone else is sharing your experience making this is an opportunity for you to reconnect, and bond. We all have experiences, anxieties, and trauma to process as we emerge from the pandemic, to create a new reality. At work and at home. Even if it feels daunting, it brings an opportunity.
Enjoy human interaction in-person and live!