R U OK? Connection Matters, Wherever We Work
Ask the question. Make time to listen. And check in again.
Understanding Every Part starts with each other
Remote work has changed the way teams connect. We might speak every day, collaborate on projects and see each other regularly on screen, but we don’t always see the small things we would notice if we were sitting beside each other.
A change in mood. Someone who seems quieter than usual. A colleague having a particularly difficult week.
R U OK? Day on September 10 is an important reminder to check in with the people around us, but it’s also a conversation that matters all year round.
At Attekus, our team works remotely across different locations, which means staying connected has to be intentional. Technology makes it possible for us to work together from anywhere, but good communication is about more than project updates, meetings and messages. It’s also about making time for each other.
“At Attekus, we talk about showing up, connecting and being approachable, and that applies just as much to how we support each other as it does to how we work with our customers. Being a remote team makes those connections something we need to be intentional about. R U OK? Day is a good reminder to make the time, ask the question and really listen to the answer.”
Peter Suchting, CEO, Attekus
Sometimes, it starts with a simple question
You don’t need to be an expert to check in with someone, and you don’t need to have the answers.
Sometimes it’s as simple as noticing something has changed and asking, “Are you OK?”
For remote teams, that might mean taking a few extra minutes at the beginning of a call, sending someone a message when they seem quieter than usual, or making time for a conversation that has nothing to do with the task at hand.
R U OK? encourages four simple steps:
1. Ask R U OK?
Choose the right moment, be relaxed and start the conversation.
2. Listen
Give the person your full attention and let them talk without rushing to solve the problem.
3. Encourage action
If they’re having a difficult time, encourage them to consider what might help or who else they could speak with.
4. Check in
Follow up later. A second conversation can be just as important as the first.
“We recently brought the Attekus team together for our team offsite, and it was a great reminder of how important it is to make time to connect beyond our day-to-day work. One of our core beliefs is that every interaction counts and every perspective matters. As a remote team, that means being intentional about listening, asking questions and genuinely understanding how the people around us are going. R U OK? Day is a great reminder to keep doing that, not just today, but throughout the year.”
Rebecca Hersant, Chief Marketing Officer and Director of People & Culture, Attekus
Understanding Every Part, including each other
At Attekus, our essence is Understanding Every Part, of our customers, our markets and each other. It shapes the way we work, communicate and grow as a team.
One of our core beliefs is Understanding: every interaction counts, every perspective matters. That means asking questions before jumping to conclusions, listening to the insights of the people around us and adapting the way we communicate.
Those behaviours matter in our work, but they matter just as much in how we look out for each other.
R U OK? Day is a reminder that understanding someone sometimes starts with one very simple question, and taking the time to genuinely listen to the answer.
Learn more about how to ask R U OK? and support someone who may be struggling at the R U OK? website.
