Connecting While Distancing? Neythri Table for 8

Plate and table cloth — Photo by Sincerely Media

Connecting while distancing? Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? But these are strange times and a new normal is unfolding around us. As we grapple with the complexities that have enveloped our professional and personal lives thanks to the pandemic, one common dilemma facing most people I know is — how do we remain emotionally and socially connected with co-workers, acquaintances, family, and friends, even as we distance ourselves physically?

Last week I hosted one of three Neythri “Table for 8” virtual dinner meetups, along with my Neythri co-founders, Chitra Nayak and Sruthi Ramaswami. If someone had suggested a “virtual dinner” idea a few months ago, I might have been a tad skeptical. In fact, “Table for 8” has been a pet project of mine for the past couple of years. Ever since I first conceived of the idea, once a quarter I would bring together a group of four couples, who didn’t know each other, to connect and bond over a relaxed meal of carefully crafted menus and conversation topics. And while my menus paid a tribute to the rich diversity of Indian cuisines, my guests and I have built relationships, exchanged inspiring ideas, shared our stories and spread laughter, all over a well-curated meal with a theme.

So, when I first toyed with the idea of retrofitting this concept to a virtual format, I wondered if I could bring the same enchantment and energy to a virtual event where I didn’t labor over the menu, the grocery list, the aesthetic or the theme. How could I channel my inner creative urge to personalize the table setup or whip up a new drinks concoction while being online?

I am a huge believer in the power of human potential and our ability to come together in creative ways to counter a crisis. As my co-founders and I brainstormed ways to bring the Neythri community together and provide a platform for connection and conversation, the Neythri “Table for 8 Virtual Dinner” series was born!

We started cautiously at first, with just one “Table for 8” offering, unsure if the community would embrace it, but had to quickly ramp up to three simultaneous sessions, as the event quickly garnered momentum and was oversubscribed in just a few days! All three sessions included a spectrum of ages, experiences, and backgrounds, leading to an incredible variety of engaging conversations.

Our theme for this series was an adaptation of “Rose, Bud, Thorn”, a popular design-thinking principle typically deployed in team-building exercises. After a brief introduction, where everyone shared their name and professional backgrounds, each person then went on to share a Rose, Bud and/or Thorn they were facing:

a “rose” — a highlight, success, a win, or something positive that happened that they were proud of
a “bud” — new ideas or opportunities that have blossomed or something they were looking forward to knowing more about, experiencing or developing
a “thorn” — a challenge they experienced or something they could use more support with

We wrapped up the last 15 minutes with open discussion, with some participants posing questions and others offering advice.

Here, I have attempted to recap a few key insights from our session that stood out for me:

Profit and Purpose:

Folks felt immense pride in the way their companies looked to pivot their products and services to address the current COVID-19 situation.

From a technology consultant aspiring to launch her own business, to a CMO at a company focused on Infection Prevention, to a senior executive at a 3-D printing technology company creating protective gear to address the current deficit, and a Fulbright scholar who is passionate about championing social entrepreneurship for creatives, everyone felt strongly that balancing profit and purpose was critically important to their professional pursuits.

Work-Life Balance:

For women with young kids, the concept of work-life balance becomes even more challenging while trying to work from home, manage toddler-age children or home-school a young child and handle household chores, all compounded with social distancing. The situation is no less challenging for parents with older kids in middle and high school, trying to ensure that their teenagers were attending “virtual school,” while managing their own Zoom meetings all day. Our participants shared tips and best practices for managing family life while also making time for ourselves.

Community and Connection:

There was an unequivocal acknowledgment that the current situation of prolonged, acute stress and uncertainty is a shared reality. To make social distancing bearable, rather than a major source of strain, we must make every attempt to nurture our social and emotional needs. Never has there been a greater imperative than now to provide connection and context and create a sense of community around us. On a positive note, the shelter-in-place situation has allowed people to reconnect with distant friends, forge stronger relationships and deeper connections with family and friends, even if via video calls.

As we wrapped up our individual stories of vulnerability and triumph, our Rose, Bud, and Thorn, it was clear that these stories will continue to serve as guidelines for how we all can learn from each other and adapt in the present. We are looking forward to hosting many more Neythri “Table for 8” events and hope many of you will join us and share your stories.

Connecting While Distancing? Neythri Table for 8

Profit and Purpose:

Work-Life Balance:

Community and Connection:

Suggested Reading Contributions:

Recent Posts

Comments