Are you prioritizing connection with your team?

As leaders, we play a critical role in ensuring that connection is a priority. Connection is important business. Trust is built through connection; collaborative work requires trust; organizations thrive when teams and individuals collaborate. So, what can you do to create connection? Below are some thought starters to help you prioritize connection with your team:

  • Eat together – host lunches, coffee breaks, donut days, eating contests, etc. Food helps build community. Community creates connection.
  • Chat together – take 5-10 minutes at the start of a meeting for small talk, ask about their weekend, use a check-in question to find out something new, schedule ‘getting-to-know-you’ 1:1s
  • Play together – introduce Kahoot games, board games, trivia days, team playlists, hot sauce challenge, etc. Create shared experiences using play.
  • Work together – create anchor days, sponsor challenge hacks (brainstorming sessions to collaboratively solve issues), define ‘moments that matter’ (moments the team commits to being together), introduce support huddles (not an update meeting but a ‘support’ date meeting)
  • Celebrate together – stop, take a breath, acknowledge the great work done, and truly celebrate the achievements of the team. Ring a bell, sing a song, share a drink, smile and laugh.
  • Network together – connect across departments, create opportunities to ‘collide’ with senior leaders, and host group events that go beyond your team. Build relationships together.

Invest in creating connections. It is always worth the time and effort.

Marnie Smith, Partner
Lighthouse NINE Group
One Eva Road, Suite 209 | Etobicoke, ON M9C 4Z5
Office: 647-627-6276
marnie@lighthouse9.ca
Marnie Smith LinkedIn
www.lighthouse9.ca

 

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