Coping with the Need for Social Interaction
by David Zacharias
The concept of staying at home to work has an immediate appeal
to prospective teleworkers, as visions of hassle-free,
dressed-down, low-interruption workdays come to mind. But many find
the realities of telecommuting a bit less satisfying.
One challenge, surprising to even the most flaming of introverts, is the
innate human need for social interaction. Yes, to the non-socializers,
being able to be alone with one's thoughts and computer has immense
appeal. Extended periods of uninterrupted concentration is necessary for
those involved in high creativity/precision activities such as software
design and programming, graphics design, writing, and accounting.
The ability to "be in the flow" is essential for productivity
and quality.
But when it comes time to come up for air, it's important to have other
human beings with whom to interact. There is an undeniable camaraderie
that develops when working within a team. Think for a moment about some
of the most satisfying and rewarding work experiences you ever had. What
made them memorable? Was it the technology? Was it how much you got
paid? Chances are, your fond memories arise not so much from what you
did as with whom you did it - the team chemistry, the charisma of your
leader, the social events that accompanied your achievement.
Loneliness and depression can creep up on you as a home based worker.
What are some of the symptoms? You tend to initiate and sustain more
conversations than ever before. You tend to to drop by friends and
colleagues in person, instead of calling them on the phone. You
experience periodic wistfulness about not being included in "water
cooler discussions." Increasing resentment when your phone calls and
email messages are not promptly responded to. Increased stress and
irritability. Decreased motivation. Spending less and less time "in the
flow". Difficulties sleeping. Feelings of being overwhelmed. Loss
of appetite for food or sex. Depression. Burnout.
Unchecked, this progression of increasingly severe symptoms can lead to
the end of your work at home arrangements. In the case of the home-based
entrepreneur without a main office to return to, this can be
devastating.
How does one avoid going down this path? "An important first step in
coping with isolation", says author Alice Bredin, "is to be willing to
admit that you feel isolated." Solutions don't tend to attach themselves
to situations that aren't characterized as problems. The degree of your
need for socialization will determine when and to what degree you employ
these techniques for coping with the need for social interaction:
Keep the radio on in the background to simulate the background "white
noise" of the office.
Take periodic breaks to initiate phone calls or drop-by conversations.
Get out of the house to network with other professionals – go to
workshops, professional association meetings, training classes, health
clubs, conferences and seminars, etc.
Sensitize your co-workers and supervisor to the importance of
their responsiveness to your email message and phone calls.
Arrange periodic visits to the main office; deliberately take the time
for face-to-face meetings with your colleagues.
Take time out to do physical things you enjoy, from intense
workouts to brisk walks to cultivating the garden.
By recognizing and satisfying your innate need for social interaction,
your work at home experience can be every bit as rewarding as you
dreamed.
Copyright (c) 2000 Telework Connection
David Zacharias is Editor of Telework Connection, an e-zine and web site
(http://telework-connection.com)
focused on examining alternative work arrangements in the Information
Age, including telecommuting, freelancing, and other remote work
arrangements. Mr. Zacharias always welcomes comments on this article,
or telework issues in general. He can be reached at tc-editor@telework-connection.com
