Since the 2020 pandemic hit, it seems the world has turned upside down in all aspects of our lives. As we continue to adjust to social distancing and daily briefings, we have also been busy adjusting to our work lives. Each of us is experiencing these changes differently both in our personal lives and in our professional ones. Some of us are feeling quite lonely with no one else at home while others are desperate for five minutes peace. Some have had experience working from home and are not quite as disrupted- or perhaps differently disrupted- as those who are working from home for the first time. For many organizations, it is pretty much business as usual while others are experiencing a colossal shift on top of the many other colossal shifts that have resulted from COVID-19.
As a leader, supporting and developing your team should always be your priority, and this is especially true now as your team adjusts, struggles and adapts to all the uncertainty of all that is going on. Your leadership is needed now more than ever, and it is essential that you continue to prioritize your team both as individuals and collectively through team building, growth and support.
Like anything we do, including team building, it is important to understand the purpose, and when it comes to team building, many leaders simply do not. Too often, these leaders attribute team building to nothing more than a waste of time, a pointless endeavor that gets in the way of the real work getting done. But this simply is not true. Research tells us that team building is effective at helping teams work more effectively together. It is not merely a time waster or a silly game to kick of an annual retreat- it is a research-based way to maximize your impact as a team.
The good news is, while much has changed during this adjustment to virtual work, much has stayed the same. The strengths and gifts you bring to your leadership will serve you and your team through this crisis. The way you build your team virtually will look familiar in many ways to how you have always done it. Virtual team building requires some adjustments of course, but largely it is a continuation of the good work you are already doing. And, the lessons you are learning can be taken back with you when you return to your office once again, stronger and closer than before.
Team building is multi-faceted and is accomplished in three main ways, all recommended and complementary to one another: relationship building, shared support and activities.
VIRTUAL TEAM BUILDING THROUGH RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Often when we think of team building, we think of team building activities. There is great value to these (which we will discuss further below) but team building is more than just activities. You build your team by building the relationships among team members and this can be done in countless ways. While you are navigating the world of virtual team building, you have a great opportunity to help guide team members to intentionally build those relationships. Create space for people on your team to reach out to one another to get to know each other better. Not everything needs a bulleted agenda. Encourage phone calls, chats and virtual coffee get togethers. Give people permission, encouragement and space to simply talk and get to know one another and make sure you are doing it yourself. As the team leader, take time to connect with each of the people you supervise and deepen your relationships with them.
VIRTUAL TEAM BUILDING THROUGH SHARED SUPPORT
In any work environment, there are challenges to work through and problems to solve. During this time of virtual team building, you will likely encounter new challenges to work through and new problems to solve (which add to, rather than replace your already existing ones). It is not feasible or advisable for you to always be the go-to person for your team when these problems arise. This is as true when you are working side by side as it is when you are working virtually. Encourage your team members to reach out to one another for support and help during this time. You can create some systems if you think that might help (virtual spaces to post and answer questions; problem-solving sessions; lists of people’s areas of expertise so they know who to turn to) or you can simply encourage and remind staff that they have every capability to help one another with regular “work stuff”, new challenges with technology, the effects of personal situations that arise because of the pandemic and how tasks might be shared accordingly. Teams that help and support each other are stronger for it. Make yourself available but encourage team problem solving whenever possible.
VIRTUAL TEAM BUILDING THROUGH ACTIVITIES
Finally, virtual team building activities are a fun and proven method to build a stronger team. Just like your offline efforts, creating virtual team building activities can be as intricate or as simple as you choose. For best results, solicit your team members for ideas and ask for volunteers to lead their own team building activities. Structurally, some activities are designed better than others, but most important is intentional execution and reflection. Whether you choose an activity that is designed as a challenge, or a way to get-to-know team members better or something that is simply fun, make sure you are treating it with the importance that it deserves. Team building is as essential to your success as any other work you do, so commit to implementing it often and well.
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Virtual team building, like offline team building, is essential to your team’s success. As a leader, make sure you are prioritizing your team during this time and creating ways for them to grow together and support each other. Teams who know each other better and enjoy working together will always perform better. Understand the value in continued team building efforts and prioritize them during this time of uncertainty and challenge. The growth and learning that will result will strengthen your team not just through this situation but after it as well.
If you are looking for outside support to design and/or lead some team building activities for you, we would be thrilled to talk with you about ways to make that happen. Email us at: CoachKat@katherinespinney.com or call us at: 703-688-2394.
VIDEOS
Virtual Team Building: Strengthening Your Team While Working Remotely
3 Fun and Meaningful Team Building Activities You Can Do Today
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