How Successful Remote Teams Manage Mental Health
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”
— Wendy Mass
Mental health challenges for remote workers
In Part I of our Remote Best Practices series, we mentioned how remote and dispersed teams have fewer opportunities for in-person discussions, which may hurt team cohesion and productivity. In addition, this may also be a barrier to knowing if a team member is dealing with a mental health challenge.
You, a colleague or a direct report could seem upbeat, productive and engaged on a project online, while in reality you’re struggling to cope. We miss non-verbal cues when much of our workplace communication takes place through a screen or even asynchronously.
Of the 2,500 remote workers surveyed in Buffer’s recent report The State of Remote Work , unplugging after work hours made the number 1 spot as the biggest struggle employees faced with remote working. Loneliness came in second place, while collaborating/communication came in third.
