Lessons from the Pandemic - Lesson #4 Collaboration and Team Building are More Important than Before
Collaboration and team building are more important now that employees are working from home and observing non-traditional work schedules. Similarly, the need for recognition, rewards, and constant communication is on the rise.
It’s not that there is a sudden emphasis on the importance of efforts, it’s the fact that so many more workers are remote, and we’ve pivoted to making activities virtual rather than in-person. As we pass the one -year mark of the pandemic, most teams have experienced the virtual happy hours, coffee hours, and sometimes awkward online meetups.
Various surveys demonstrate that over 90 percent of employees had positive outcomes and feelings toward their co-workers and employers resulting from virtual efforts. That alone is a compelling reason to put energy into continuing these programs even as offices begin to open.
What was once a new and unique approach may have lost its luster, but the need for ongoing efforts remains. The question is “how to keep engaging employees virtually or in a hybrid environment?’
Recognize that not all virtual workers have the same work environment. Single millennial workers may benefit from the “virtual happy hour” approach, but parents trying to feed and bath small children may see this an infringement on their family time if the happy hour is done frequently. Offering different opportunities and schedules will show your commitment to inclusion in the workplace.
It’s time to get creative. At this point, we’ve all gone around the Zoom room and shared a little-known fact about ourselves. Look for new ways to spark employee recognition and interest while staying true to your company brand. Allow for a team talent showcase - work related or otherwise. One company hosted a haiku competition based on their products and their marketing department actually embraced the winners as a campaign.
Start to include outdoor options for safe, in-person events. Incorporate learning/training with picnics, look for outdoor team building facilities in your area, and allow for small groups to meet in patio settings if possible.
Ask for feedback and track the success of your efforts. If participation wanes, try something new. Encourage cheerleaders and champions to assist in creating and hosting new events. Provide a forum for peer-to-peer recognition.
Some offices will never return to their bricks and mortar state, and some may offer a version of their pre-pandemic days. This means a permanent need for innovative training and engagement methods. It’s important to take what we’ve learned during the pandemic and incorporate it into work environments to benefit a majority of workers.
If improving collaboration and communication means more of your organization’s learning will be done online, let us show you how to successfully transition your in-person training on to a captivating eLearning platform that allows for game-based learning, rewards, recognition, and tracking.