It’s a situation that nobody thought we would ever be in, but as we all know social lives as we used to know them have come to a grinding halt over the last few months. Something else that has turned on its head is our approach to work. Sure, working from home across some industries is almightily difficult, but in others it’s completely possible. Not to mention that more and more companies are taking the plunge to adopt such a strategy on a full-time basis.
One of the big downsides about home working, and one of the reasons why a lot of companies are still against it, is the lack of team engagement. While office chit-chat can become tedious at times, many believe it is essential in the formation of strong, happy teams. Bearing this in mind, today’s article is all about what you can do to keep your team’s spirits high if your company is still remotely based. As it turns out, there are several interesting ways you can approach it.
Take advantage of summer: remote, outdoor meetings
You might not be allowed into the office, but one approach that teams are taking are outdoor meetings. Sure, an element of social distancing is required, but the idea is that everybody is allowed to be in the same space and at least have some form of face-to-face contact. This is something that is unlikely to be possible in the peak of winter but while the temperature is warm, it’s something that can bring teams together and allow office chit-chat to commence again!
Classic team building: a round of golf
Once upon a time, team building activities were a thing. At the moment, they seem a thing of the past, with many involving large groups in confined spaces. However, it’s also worth remembering that some of these activities were hosted outdoors. Golf falls into such a category and if you do have several members of a team that play the sport, a trip to the Belfry or a similar course can prove to be fantastic for morale.
Of course, we’ve honed in on golf for the purposes of today, as this is one of the easiest sports to social distance. In truth, any activity in an open space passes, and allows you to reap all of the team building benefits that have been proven over the years.
Keeping it digital: coffee breaks
Sometimes, it’s not about meeting in-person though. Realistically, if your company has taken a completely remote approach, there’s going to be little chance to meet frequently face-to-face. In short, it costs too much time.
This is where you need to make the most of the new-look digital setup. While Zoom is often reserved for official, scheduled meetings, consider creating a regular drop-in session on there. Some companies have called it a coffee break and allow employees to dip in and out at set times to catch up. There’s no official meeting purpose – it’s just about bringing people together, digitally, in the strange times we find ourselves in.
