06/27/2022

Foster Connection Through Online Interactive Meetings

These events can help people minimize their feelings of loneliness

Americans are lonelier than ever—a problem the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated. Could interactions on platforms like Zoom and Twitch come close to replicating the real-life contact people crave?

New research suggests that's more likely to happen if the virtual experiences truly engage people on screen. Harvard Business School's (HBS) Amit Goldenberg worked with seven other researchers, including Airbnb executives, to evaluate online strategies for mitigating loneliness. Goldenberg's findings offer insights for managers and employees as they navigate the inevitable post-honeymoon period of remote work.

"There's a huge value to real interactions even if they are occurring virtually," said Goldenberg, who is a psychologist by training and an assistant professor at HBS.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Harvard Business School' s Working Knowledge.