For those tasked with managing a team, building camaraderie and rapport among different personalities is always a challenge. But in March, team leaders had to rapidly shift their techniques and methods to a completely remote model. Team building was put on the sidelined at many companies as HR personnel simply scrambled to keep everyone connected and informed.
But now things are settling down a bit, and companies have adopted a new way of doing things. Some organizations have brought everyone back to the office, others have allowed employees to remain working from home indefinitely – and a host of others have a hybrid solution allowing for more flexibility than any other time in recent memory.
It is a well known fact among HR professionals that although having a team who all get along is great for productivity, it is not always necessary. Still, a cohesive unit that works well together is always the best possible scenario for team leaders. Therefore the question is this – how can we build teams when not everyone is in the same place at the same time?
Team Building via Software
Collaboration software applications allow remote teams to connect from wherever they are. With robust chat and file sharing capability, these platforms connect everyone with the best of both a traditional workplace and a remote office. Strategically speaking, the software permits a manager to conduct team-building activities without the need for conference calls. These software platforms include such popular products as Slack, Asana. Office 365 and Trello. Virtually all of these come with a free version, which allows you a “trial run” before you scale up to adding the full organization.
The Virtual Colleague Happy Hour
Happy hours have traditionally provided a relaxed and fun atmosphere for your team to get to know one another outside of the work environment. Even if work is never discussed, many companies that host after-hour events see workplace productivity soar. Team members can get to know each other outside of the pressures of work, and connect on a different, more causal basis. Even though COVID-19 has all but abolished this workplace tradition, there is no reason why you can’t get the team together for conversation, games, talk or even a drink, if they choose. Zoom or Skype work just as well for friendship as they do for meetings. Some creative team leaders have even used these platforms to host games of Pictionary or Yahtzee, allowing team building even as everyone stays home.
Experts Say: If your teams are not necessarily a “happy hour” crew (ie they have families at home with them) try a morning social event with coffee. Have bagels or donuts delivered to your team’s home for an added surprise and reward.
Host Friendly Team Building Competitions
Increase team building camaraderie by inspiring a little bit of friendly competition. Host a photo contest such as “Most Creative Photo of a Common Household Item” or “What My View is Out My Window”. The team can vote on their favorite photo and a winner named, whether for a prize or simply bragging rights for the week. As the holidays approach, you can also have an “Office Decoration ” contest, or “Silly Dog Costume” contest. Keep it light, fun and easy to participate.
Fun Trivia About Their Teammates
Start your meetings with everyone sharing a “little known fact” about them that their office mates are not likely to know. Perhaps that quiet girl from accounting once had a purple mohawk; or the macho delivery guy is a fantastic pastry chef. These types of fun personal facts help to break down walls and let your team see each other as people with interesting lives, not just co-workers.
Team building during this crisis may take a little more ingenuity, but it is also critical to maintaining a productive and cohesive office. For more information about how to create positive morale which will benefit your growth and success, call People HR Solutions of Sarasota today.
