Your Team Can Still Feel Close
Work done in remote teams has increased by 63% over the last decade. That number is way higher with the coronavirus pandemic very much still in the peripheral. The joys of working in your bathrobe come with their fair share of disadvantages, one of which is a lack connection between colleagues. It is difficult for your people to bond with each other when they hardly ever see each other in person. However, with these few simple tips, you can create the deep meaningful connection among team members, even in remote work scenarios.
Speak Your Appreciation
Make it the first agenda item of every session to take some time for the team to celebrate recent wins by acknowledging even small items of progress since last time. A good format is simply to open the line for anybody who wants to call out a win to do so by stating both the positive progress achieved and the quality expressed by the person involved that made it happen.
Name the Emotion
A great way to deepen person to person connection is by highlighting the emotions that arise during a call. Use statements like “I can see how you could be frustrated by that” or “wow, it’s incredible to see how passionate you are about this project”. When team members are heard for what they feel, not just what they think, they open up.
Arouse their Imagination
Punctuate key moments in the conversation with comments that draw a picture in the mind’s eye of those online. For example, to close a topic you might say, “Thanks for coming up with a great solution…I just see the smile on the faces of our customers as they see you implementing that.”
Use Short Videos
It is very powerful to send your team 1-minute videos of what your vision is or feeling about a particular topic and have team members do the same. So much easier to communicate your passion or concern that way. So much quicker for people to give input. And when you meet next time virtually (or eventually in person) having viewed each others’ videos, there is this feeling of hitting the ground running, of being with people who feel close.
During the height of the pandemic we offered free help during the crisis. We facilitated free corona support circles of 5 people to support human connection during those times of distancing.
If you are still in need of something like this please contact us by replying to this email if you want to be part of this initiative. You can join a coronavirus support circle, create groups for your team, or become a facilitator. Learn more at numina.team.
Please help share this offer. Instead of isolation, let our experiences encourage and inspire each other.
Very Best,
David Lesser