Workplace Loneliness Isn’t Getting Better Workplace loneliness has been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the way a lot of businesses operate — with most shifting to hybrid or completely remote working. However, that all started almost five years ago (half a decade, can you believe it?!). While some businesses are continuing on as remote or hybrid, many have returned to the office. And still, loneliness persists. Brand new data from aaask reveals that this problem could be even worse than you might think. The survey aaasked 170 people (who work remotely at least some of the time) how they currently feel in the workplace. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights from the data. Loneliness is not caused by working from home. The data revealed that 60% of people feel more lonely at work than they did 5 years ago. Honestly, his figure didn’t really come as a shock. Given the pandemic, it’s easy to blame working from home for this rise in workplace loneliness. The solution is just to get everyone back on site, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. The survey also found that 47% of people always or often feel lonely when working from home … … and 43% of people always or often feel lonely when working on-site (in the office). Now, this data was surprising! It shows that remote working isn’t to blame for increased loneliness. It’s clear that regardless of where people are, they’re...

The Ultimate Guide to Working From Home (+ Remote Work Tips) Working from home is a gift, right up until the cat throws up on your computer. And your neighbor, who you can only assume is building a time machine, starts firing up all sorts of power tools. In those moments, remote work life feels more like a punishment than a miracle. Remote work poses different risks and benefits. Plus, the popularity of this working style has only grown. In fact, when I began working remotely as a digital nomad in 2017, there was still professional pushback, skepticism, and a general dismissive attitude toward remote work. Since then, I’ve been remotely working abroad, and I’ve even published a book on the topic. For me and many others, remote work isn’t a trend; this lifestyle is a long-term choice that allows us to get exactly what we want out of our careers. You may need some help greasing the wheels, but I’m determined to help you feel the same from your remote work lifestyle. Not everyone transitions into remote work smoothly, and that’s okay. Let’s explore the remote work trends, tips, and techniques that can help you get the most out of your remote work. Table of Contents What Remote Work Looks Like Today What is remote work? Types Of Remote Work How to Work From Home 16 Working From Home Tips What Remote Work Looks Like Today Working...

Best 10 Virtual Event Platforms To Host Your Next Event Are you planning a virtual event and not sure which platform to use? From large platforms like Hopin to smaller, more niche platforms, we've got you covered. Check out our list of the 10 best platforms to host your next virtual event. What is a virtual event platform? Key Features to Look For in a Virtual Event Platform Best Virtual Event Platforms You might be wondering, is a virtual event platform the same as a video conferencing platform like Zoom? Technically no. Although both tools will have features that intersect, they are designed for different purposes. A virtual event platform is designed to scale, and offer immersive experiences and interactive elements meant to simulate in-person events. A video conferencing platform, on the other hand, is unlikely to support interactive features beyond chatrooms and breakout rooms, as their main focus is video conferencing. Key Features to Look for in Virtual Event Platform If you’re in the market for a virtual event platform, you’ll want to look for one that’s scalable, customizable, and user-friendly. Here are some key features to look for: Pre-event: Registration system Payment processing Event referral tracking Email marketing integration During the event: Polling and Q&A Live-streaming...

The 8 Best Books on Working from Home for Remote Work Employees Remote work is incredible. Goodbye soul-draining commute, uncomfortable "business professional" outfits, and expensive takeout salads. Hello leisurely mornings, hoodies and slippers, and delicious home-cooked meals. But remote work is also tough. You're hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away from your colleagues; your home workspace probably lacks some of the bells and whistles of a traditional office; and your work-life boundaries can quickly become nonexistent. To learn how to conquer these challenges — plus many you haven't discovered yet — take a look at these books on remote work. 1. Working Remotely: Secrets to Success for Employees on Distributed Teams By Teresa Douglas, Holly Gordon, and Mike Webber Unlike many remote work books aimed at leaders and solopreneurs, Douglas, Gordon, and Webber focus on the front-line remote worker. This book is divided into seven chapters, each dedicated to a pillar of WFH success. You'll learn how to battle isolation and loneliness, work well with your peers, and manage your inbox. Along with concrete tips, the authors include examples and anecdotes to bring their points home (no pun intended). 2. Work-From-Home Hacks: 500+ Easy Ways to Get Organized, Stay Productive, and Maintain a Work-Life Balance While Working from Home! By Aja Frost On March 20th, I left HubSpot's Boston office with my monitor and keyboard. I thought I'd use them for a few weeks, a month at the most — then we'd all be back in the office....

7 Tips for Hosting a Virtual Brainstorm, According to HubSpot Marketing Managers At HubSpot, we love brainstorms Getting your team together in one room to come up with ideas not only allows you to identify creative content or strategies that you might not have thought of, but it also can improve feelings of psychological safety as people who might not be high-level managers are invited and encouraged to offer their input. Brainstorming is one of the most productive team-building activities we use at HubSpot. But, recently, when we had to leave our physical offices and embrace remote work, many managers wondered how they’d recreate the same in-person communication, productivity, and sense of psychological safety virtually. Luckily, many of our managers were able to adapt quickly, leading a number of successful virtual brainstorms in 2020. To help managers build solid idea-generation techniques -- even from home -- here are a few steps HubSpot employees on the blog, acquisition team, and DI&B team take when coordinating remote brainstorms. How to Run a Virtual Brainstorm 1. Give your team a headstart. If your teammates already know the goal of the brainstorm, the prompts they'll be given, and their idea generation instructions, they'll come ready and eager to immediately make suggestions. Before the brainstorm, consider sending a detailed email or a creative brief about what you'd like to achieve during the session. "I’ve found that giving members of your brainstorm a chance to prepare in advance results in higher quality ideas presented...

11 Tips for Virtually Pitching Marketing Campaigns It's no secret that agencies are accustomed to wooing clients during in-person pitches. In fact, the term "pitch theater" is regularly used in the agency world to describe over-the-top presentations that go to great lengths to win accounts. But, with the recent shift to remote work, agencies can no longer rely on a firm handshake, in-person meetings, and casual small talk to help land them a client. If you're one of the many marketers or agency members who thrive during in-person pitches, you might still be learning how to create a presentation that brings your memorable charm and flair to a small computer screen. Luckily, as you pivot some aspects of your presentation style to a new video-friendly format, you can leverage your inner creativity, meeting software, and other digital tools to give you a leg up against other agencies vying for the same clients. With a creative mindset, it actually isn't too hard to give a concise virtual presentation that answers most of a prospect's burning questions. In this post, I'll highlight 11 tips for planning, practicing, and presenting virtual pitches. 11 Tips for Giving Virtually Pitching Marketing Campaigns Preparing Your Pitch 1. Map out a plan for a smooth virtual presentation. With the growth of video call technology, most or all elements of a pitch can be virtual. For example, you can simply share your screen to show your peers a presentation, or send a video pitch to your...

How to Transition from In-Office to Remote Work Going into the office every day, I was comfortable. I was in a smooth routine. I would show up every morning at 8:30 a.m., have a smoothie, eat breakfast, and make my way to my desk. Happily, I greeted coworkers as they filed into our section. At lunchtime, I would enjoy a meal at my desk or in the lobby and work from a different area in the office until it was time to leave. Then, suddenly, I had to begin working remotely full-time. I was comfortable with the idea. I'd worked from home a couple of times before, and I'm an introvert. In many ways, this sounded like a dream come true: I could experience a full work day from the comfort of my home every day. Let's talk about some things to remember when you're transitioning from working in the office to working remotely. 1. Gather all of the materials you need to complete your work. When you begin to transition to remote work, your work setup will change. For instance, you might not have double monitors. You may or may not have a desk, and it might not rise like your desk at the office. In order to make the transition more smooth, think about the hardware and software you absolutely will need in order to successfully complete your job duties. Check with your company to see if they have support for necessary hardware. If you're used...