3 Tips to Foster Virtual Team Connection
Whether you are currently leading a virtual team or are a member of one, human connection is imperative. Each person is working in a different physical environment, with individual challenges and opportunities. The leader and team members can create connection, even while physically apart. Here are some strategies to bring you closer together.
1. Bring on the laughter – A key aspect of resilience is humor, and nothing brings people together like laughter. Start off a webinar or call with a funny working-from-home personal story and see if anyone else has any to share. Be real, be authentic, and let every know you are human. You can send appropriate memes, videos and jokes. Dr. Karen Doll, shares some of the many benefits of laughter & humor:
Physical health benefits: Boosts immunity, lowers stress hormones, & improves memory and cognitive functioning
Mental health benefits: Eases anxiety and tension, improves mood, & strengthens resilience
Social benefits: Enhances teamwork, helps diffuse conflict, & promotes team bonding
2. Celebrate together – When the team is in separate physical locations, the leader and members can recognize and honor each other as a way to bond. Some ideas include hosting friendly competitions and awarding the winner, recognizing birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, acknowledge outstanding work publicly and via email, and bringing attention to what the team is doing well as a whole. According to social psychology researcher Fred Bryant and others, when we stop to savor the good stuff, we buffer ourselves against the bad and build resilience—and even mini-celebrations can plump up the positive emotions which make it easier to manage the daily challenges that cause stress.
3. Transparency – A true leader shines brighter during times of turbulence than smooth sailing. Consistent and authentic communication is vital in this global crisis and leaders must ensure they are doing it well virtually. Business transparency is the process of being open, honest, and straightforward about various company operations. Mike Kappel, CEO of Patriot Software, LLC, writes “Rather than withhold information from my employees, I regularly keep them up to date with my business’s latest news. Encourage transparency in your business by writing a newsletter, hosting regular virtual meetings, or asking managers to relay information to the employees in their departments.”