Part three of our Building Teams in Times of Change series focuses on strategies to shorten the virtual social distance in the current COVID-19 environment or other remote working scenarios. Part one discussed strategies for effectively managing the workload while working remotely. Part two explored strategies to encourage work-life balance for all team members. In this third segment, we focus on strategies to build team, camaraderie, and focus: shortening the virtual social distance. Below are some strategies used by Transforming Solutions and our clients to shorten the virtual social distance:
Shortening the Virtual Social Distance
- Greater Good: Invite team members to share good news, inspirational stories, or other meaningful information in a shared location (chat, social spot, etc.).
- Intentional Interactions: Create and invite daily themes that can be shared out with your team in social media, a chat space, or shared location. Ideas could include:
- Share a picture of your at home work space
- Share an image of your pet, family member, or favorite home item.
- Details of distraction such as a favorite song, movie, or tv show (could thematically request music or another topic)
- Favorite GIF or meme
- Happy hours / Social Meet-Ups: Host virtual meetings to socialize, laugh, share lighthearted topics. Themes bring excitement and participation in new ways and create energy and build rapport.
- GIF or Meme Chain: Start with a meme or gif image and invite team members to add a linking image. Observe where the chain evolves and have some good laughs while you are at it!
- The Not-So-Hot Hot Seat: Choose one team member and have the rest of the team ask “get to know you” questions and inquiries. This can be done live or via a shared location.
- Insert Your Strategy Here: Please share any strategies you or your team are using
Ultimately, what is most important is to remember that we are all people working with other people. People have emotions, needs, thoughts, passions, and concerns. We must have compassion and create an environment of support, productivity, innovation, and patience. We must look out for one another and the goals of the greater team. In the end, remember that we are all in this together!
Join the Conversation
Join the conversation about what other organizations are doing to virtually shorten the social distance. Do you have a creative way of helping your teams focus, stay motivated, and stay connected to each other? How are members of your team supporting and motivating one another? Please share your strategies on our LinkedIn conversation and check out TSI’s Organizational Change Management services on our website.