Over the past two months, I attended the Simmons Women’s Leadership Conference and the Massachusetts Health Care Advocates (MAHCA) Spring Symposium. Both events were fabulous and generated positive feedback about being physically together with speakers, colleagues, and friends.

When coaching young professionals, I always discuss the importance of relationships in work environments. I am fortunate that I still have a “best friend” from every work environment I have ever been in. Although we may not see each other frequently, we can pick up where we left off, no matter how much time has passed. I wonder if such amazing relationships would have developed had we not been physically together.

Virtual environments make it more difficult — but still possible — to develop and nurture such relationships. Here are two articles that address these topics.

How to Feel Less Lonely at Work

Work-life balance more important than pay for employees worldwide