Hiring managers promote bringing your most authentic selves to work. However, we can often miss the mark when we get caught up in the results, navigating a competitive market, and playing politics. While the primary focus of any organization is to promote its product or message, company culture is also a key driver for solid teams.
For teams working together in an office, there are a plethora of opportunities, such as:
- Pre-work coffee talks
- Team lunches
- After-work meetups
- Team outings
For teams who work predominantly remotely, finding time to connect on a human level can be a bit more challenging. Here are a few examples of ways to strengthen the bonds between employees:
Virtual Learning Opportunities. For teams who thrive on continuous learning, educational opportunities can help greatly with bringing your team together. Finding virtual team learning that exemplifies your employees’ strengths and interests can strengthen your team all around. Listen to your employees’ class preferences and set them up to attend them. Additionally, find out which topic would be of top interest to all employees (as a unit) and schedule a course. By implementing individual interests and group interests, you will improve skills across the board and highlight the passions of your team.
Team Book Club. Find books that inspire your team on an intellectual level and career level. Allow your team to present their insights in the manner that they find most comfortable. When it comes time to discuss the book, your team’s creativity will be showcased, and you will have a better understanding of their analytical interests. Some will come to the meeting with writings, some with speaking points, others with PowerPoints, some may even come with art they produced. A book club is a well-rounded option to promote creativity and allow your team to teach each other.
Dedicate some time for nonwork-related conversations. Utilize your face-to-face (virtual) meetings to include time for employees to talk to each other as people. This is an established practice for the DERGEL Media team. During this time, we discuss News, how it ties/compares to history, what it could mean for the future, and to bring it full circle: how it affects business leaders and their employees.
Maintaining solid bonds among your team in a healthy manner will promote confidence, creativity, and drive to support each other through difficult times. Take the time to understand your team on a human and intellectual level and build a plan that keeps them in mind. Whether your team is in-person, hybrid, or remote, you will uncover their greatest array of strengths and watch as they grow into their most authentic selves.
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