Marina Marisma

La Digital transformation is making its way by leaps and bounds due to the health crisis.

At Marina Marisma we work exploiting the synergy that occurs between technology and artisan work, and that is why humanization is one of our differential values. Now that the situation forces us to put digital communications and relationships in the foreground, it seems that even the most skeptical are beginning to make sense of remote work.

Beyond the debate on whether or not we are prepared for teleworking, and taking into account that we are adapting it in an unplanned situation in which there is no structure in the domestic sphere or conciliation conciliation for those people who have other people in their charge (children, the elderly, the sick ...) we offer you some tips to humanize digital communications during quarantine,and that, surely, we can apply when we pass this time of change and that right now we can use not only with colleagues, suppliers and customers , but with our own family and friends.

1. ASK YOUR INTERLOCUTOR ABOUT THE HEALTH

We are living in a time of total uncertainty, unparalleled in our generation. The empathy and solidarity that make us human have emerged spontaneously, therefore, although you are surely already doing so, we propose that in this period, when starting a communication whether spoken or written, you are interested in the health of your interlocutor and the of yours.

2. USE VIDEO CONFERENCES WHEN POSSIBLE

If your connection and devices allow it, do not hesitate to use video calls whenever you can. Of course, communication should always prevail,so if cuts, screen freezes or pixelated occur continuously, it is preferable to do without video due to fluid communication..

If you can't use video, the phone is always warmer than email.

3. SMILE

Here we are not simply referring to a tip, it is rather an order! And you should also use the smile in all kinds of communications, whether face to face or even by phone, although it may seem incredible, our smile is also transmitted in the tone of our voice. It is very nice to find that our interlocutor smiles, this implies that he is willing to listen to us and understand usand this feeling is transmitted.

4. THE SENSE OF HUMOR IS YOUR BEST ALLY

Continuing with the previous advice, if you can go from smiling to laughing it will be fantastic. There is no more effective way to relax the stress to which we are all subjected these days, and if you also manage to transmit it to your interlocutor this will generate a fantastic bond between you.

But be careful, you should not abuse your sense of humor and you have to be careful with making jokes about what situations, for example, if there is a sick family member. Measure your words and do not abuse the forwarding of jokes and memes that circulate so much these days, the line that separates humor from heaviness is very thin.

5. DON'T HURRY IF ANY INTERMISSION INTERRUPTS THE CONVERSATION

We are human, and what makes us human is, among other things, that we have a life beyond the screen.

We usually rush when in the background the cry of our son is heard, or if some other relative should enter the room in which we are working. If it were a co-worker we would understand it, but it seems that we take it as an intrusion or a sign that we cannot control our environment. Nothing further, planning within the home to be effective at work, while the other members also carry out their daily routines, is an achievement and above all worthy of admiration.

6. DO NOT HESITATE TO SHOW EVERYDAY OBJECTS

On the contrary, there are many other people who are passing the confinement in the strictest solitude.You too are still human..

We do not recommend working in pajamas, rather the opposite: showering, dressing, grooming, are very necessary routines so that the mood does not decline. But if your interlocutor guesses at the desk your breakfast cup will not take it badly but will remind you that you are also going through an exceptional situation of confinement.

7. MAKE NOTES OR CLARIFICATIONS BY HAND

Surely you will have the screen occupied by the image, the mail, the file manager. Of course you can always write down in your notebook or diary, but the best thing is that your hands will never run out of battery. Use them as a complement to communication,do not forget that being in the distance many signs of non-verbal language will stay on the road, and in the end it is what makes vis a vis relationships so warm.

You can also use your hands not only to gesticulate,but to make drawings, diagrams mental maps,or write down keywords that you can show on the screen and that will surely bring that point of warmth and humanity so necessary at this time. Because although it may seem incredible to you, technology still cannot extract and show the concepts that are in your mindbut your hand can.

8. RESPECT THE SCHEDULES

Remember that although we continue working, we are all experiencing an exceptional situation and in many cases it is very difficult to reconcile with the people who live with us, especially if they require a lot of attention. Surely the people with whom you are working at a distance are making a great effort to respond as soon as possible, therefore, and to make it easier for everyone, get organized to make your demands and requests during working hours, and if you cannot Remember that there are many tools, including email tools, that allow you to schedule mailing at the desired times and days.

9. DISCOVER NEW INTERACTION PLATFORMS

From wasap and Skype to Hangouts, Zoom, Blackboard, Webex ... Depending on your network connection or your team, you will prefer one or the other and some will work better. But you can also discover real platforms where you can carry out your business, such as those offered by Virtway.There you can completely recreate a fair dedicated to your activity and each of the attendees will have a personalized avatar that can interact, in public or private, with others in real time. Without a doubt, a world of possibilities that will further humanize our communications in these difficult times.

We hope that these tips help you cope better with the difficult task of maintaining ties with the people you love through the screens and phone lines.

Above all, let us remember that in a short time these days will have passed, but we will have learned a lot from this experience.