Experimenting for more connectedness

On the group page of working@wur. Claire the interviewer states: the AFI group is really a great example of how connection at a distance is possible. The photos are super and support the message well!

Staying connected with your colleagues can perhaps best be described as a search. Staff all have their own, individual preferences, and what works today may not work tomorrow (and vice versa of course). According to Professor of Aquaculture and Fisheries Geert Wiegertjes, the most important advice is to keep looking for new possibilities and to regularly verify whether the chosen approach ... still works.

The first phase of working from home was mainly focused on the question of 'How can we get through the lockdown?'. To help motivate the staff of the chair group, they were regularly sent small gifts. For example, they were sent tulip bulbs and encouraged to share selfies with the emerging flowers with the rest of the group. Another time they received a hoodie with the group logo to help strengthen the sense of group identity. Although these initiatives had a positive effect, it was necessary to support them with other activities, in order to achieve a lasting approach for more connectedness.

For this group, the ‘winning formula’ for connectedness proved to be a combination of initiatives:
• Deliberately making time for one-on-one contact: those finger-on-the-pulse meetings continue to be important.
• The group uses Discord, a digital platform also used by gamers, to take digital ‘coffee breaks’. This tool allows users to meet in separate ‘rooms’. Staff members are asked to attend at least one ‘coffee break’ per week.
• Because participation in the online coffee breaks was decreasing, the virtual meetings are now alternated with in-person get-togethers (whenever possible). Among others, by organising gatherings in rented spaces, as well as an informal walk-in afternoon/evening in Geert's own garden.
• It turned out to be perfectly possible to celebrate special occasions, such as doctorate ceremonies, using Discord. This led to memorable and hilarious moments, such as an online farewell song, that were well-attended.
• Outlook appointments have been automatically set to 50 minutes, deliberately creating extra time to allow for a chat about non-work related matters.
• Another important element was – and still is – the newsletter written up by the staff themselves in rotations. Staff are free to use this space as they see fit. They often choose to reveal more about their personal situation or home country using text and images, which contributes to the connections between colleagues.
• The newsletters of the year 2020 will be compiled in a booklet: a trip down memory lane for existing staff and an introduction to the group for new colleagues.
• In the meantime, careful thought is being given to the post-corona period. It is not yet certain what things will look like after coronavirus crisis. In any case, the various needs will be closely considered and the department will be used as a testing ground to fully experience what works best.

Are you interested in trying it out?
Discord is free of charge and can be requested at www.discord.com. As with other freely available digital tools that are not provided by WUR, we advise that you use it only for non-business purposes. The Aquaculture and Fisheries newsletter is coordinated by the secretarial office. For instructions for adjusting the standard meeting times in Outlook head to Stay Fresh
The Dialogue Starter (see attachment) provides a tool for having a structured team discussion on how hybrid working will look like post-corona.

On the part of the Working@WUR Implementation team we share tips and experiences from the organization on how colleagues can remain connected with each other and the organization, both remotely and in future hybrid work forms. You can also find our previous posts on Working@WUR: https://intrane...RwE-SeBoUJS5qhA. Please share your own experiences in the Working@WUR intranet group or send me an e-mail! minder weergeven