3 Quick Tips To Keep Your Team Connected

Have you ever been part of a team where everyone seemed to be working in silos? You know the feeling - no one knows what the other is doing, and collaboration is just a myth. It's frustrating, isn't it? And a culture killer.

As a leader, it's essential to have a connected team. A team that communicates effectively shares knowledge and supports each other. But sometimes, that can seem like a lofty goal. So, let's dive into some of the most common strategies to build connections on the team.

Create a "Buddy System": Remember when you were in elementary school, and you had a "buddy" to help you navigate the school day? Well, leaders can do the same thing. Pair up team members who may not work together often and have them check in with each other once a week. This helps everyone feel connected and supported, even if they don't work on the same projects.

What does this look like in reality? For example, match up Jill from accounting and Jack from sales. They chat briefly every Monday to discuss weekends and ask each other about work. It helps both to feel less isolated and more connected to the company. Use a randomizer on the internet to match names. Switch the pairings every month.

Hold Team-Building Activities: Sometimes, it's nice to get out of the office and do something fun together. Leaders can plan team-building activities, like a company-wide scavenger hunt, a team outing to a sporting event, or even a cooking class. These activities help people get to know each other better and create stronger bonds. 

How can you do it? Schedule the activity during regular work hours so it’s not something extra.

You all have a great time chatting and have some friendly competition. The next time you're back in the office, you can reflect on the amazing time you had.

Allow everyone to speak in meetings. When people feel like they can speak their minds and be heard, they're more likely to feel connected to their colleagues. This way, it’s not only the loudest voices dominating the space.

What does this look like in practice?

Start the meeting by asking everyone to share one idea about the topic. Pause the meeting to ask if anyone else has something to add. Encourage quieter team members to speak up by explicitly asking for their thoughts.

By creating a safe and open environment for everyone to share their ideas, the team can work together to develop new and innovative solutions.

Building a connected team takes time and effort, but the payoff is worth it. By fostering open communication, creating team bonding activities, and bringing all voices into the space, you can create a workplace culture where your team members feel valued, supported, and connected. This is a great way to reduce employee stress and burnout.

How are you building connections on your team?

Always wishing you the best,

Dr. Beckford

PS. 

Reducing employee stress is the key to retaining your best talent and boosting productivity, and it is only attainable through the UR Caring Docs proprietary self-care stress reduction workshops. Interested? Schedule a call here.