I (very) recently started at N.K. BHANDARI, Architecture & Engineering, P.C. as a Senior Interior Designer. I was just getting acclimated to my new company, my new colleagues and my new routine when the COVID-19 pandemic swiftly and drastically changed the way we work.

Within 14 days, 336 hours, 20,160 minutes, I went from working in an open, collaborative and creative work environment in Downtown Syracuse, to working alone at home.

Starting a new job is always a somewhat stressful experience and due to the quick, unexpected shift to working remotely (and alone) from home, I was worried that I would be disconnected from my colleagues, my orientation to NKB would be stalled, and I would somehow be lost in the shuffle.

I very quickly found myself a part of the telecommuting population and began to wonder if I would feel isolated and disconnected from my new coworkers since I had only been working with them for 14 days.

Here are a few key items that I feel have been extremely important in maintaining a sense of community and family:

Establish regular daily communication.

It’s important that it is not just stagnant information and engages your teammates and is something they can count on receiving every day at approximately the same time.

Get feedback from team members – share the results – it’s fun to see how others have responded.

Reach out to a coworker and ask how their weekend or day has been going.

It sounds like a no brainer, but it’s so easy to get wrapped up in your own life to forget to hit pause and check in with one another.

Have a phone conversation / video chat!

Before COVID-19 became an active part of our lives, I never would have realized how important a quick chat, Microsoft Teams social hour, or a daily fun email capsule from NKB’s President would be or that I’d learn such interesting things about my new work family!

-Emily is a Senior Interior Designer at NKB