With the current crisis, the power of human connection has never been more important. Connections, whether in our personal lives or at the office, keep us focused on our purpose. Take a second to think about your team at work and ask yourself, “Are we working as a team, or are we working together as individuals?” If you answered the latter, what may be missing is connection. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to build connections within your team.
Why Is A Culture Of Connection So Important?
Connection facilitates strong communication ties. And with excellent communication, it is much easier for a team to work together and get their tasks done. Connection also helps support employee retention. If a team is bonded, they will be happier and more likely to stay in order to continue working together. Finally, connection creates trust, which helps your team not only believe in the company mission but also understand their role in and impact on the company.
Creating Connections In Your Workplace
There are several things you can do to help build connections among your team in the workplace:
1. Create Opportunities For Connection – Most people spend their workday simply focused on getting their work done. If you give them opportunities to connect by creating moments of group activity, they will begin to prioritize building office relationships. One really great strategy is to have department- or company-wide meetings and activities that focus on the company’s mission and showcase everyone’s role in it. The more people connect to the corporate mission, the more they will begin to connect with one another.
2. Be Authentic – One of the key components to true connection is authenticity. However, many of us place barriers between our work selves and our whole selves. Those make it hard to connect on a real level with others. Don’t be afraid to open up to your team and show them who you are. Once they relate to your strengths and vulnerabilities, they will feel comfortable expressing their own. As more people in the office show their authentic selves, the more they will connect.
3. Look Outside Of Work – An after-work happy hour or a company softball team goes a long way to build connections. Creating opportunities for your team to get to know each other as more than just coworkers gives them a chance to bond as people and begin to become friends. Think creatively about not only what you can do as a team together but also what your whole team would enjoy.
These simple strategies will go a long way to build connections with your team and help your company become more than simply a workplace. Curating a strong company culture is easy, but it takes dedication and a good strategy. To help with that strategy, I wrote The OM Factor. It is a guide to helping leaders develop the characteristics that naturally create strong company cultures. With it, you can build the connections that will turn your group project into a team project.
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