Open your calendar and look at your upcoming meetings this week or next. Reflect on those you’ll have with team members and people outside your organization and the “conversations” with people in your personal life.
For many of us, most of these work meetings will be with people outside our physical location. We are often so busy that we don’t make the time to prepare to be intentional in the next conversation we enter. Therefore, the call to action in this article is to encourage people to slow down as they enter the next deliberate connection with their teammates.
Human Beingness
While remote work has become the norm for many organizations, we face a challenge: keeping remote teams engaged. One way to foster engagement for remote employees is to prioritize connection before content. As highlighted in the Harvard Business Review article, “High-Performing Teams Don’t Leave Relationships to Chance,” by Ron Friedman, creating conditions for learning about one another is crucial. One of Friedman’s tips is to schedule regular, open-ended meetings that allow team members to share personal stories and experiences, thereby building deeper connections and trust within the team.
Whether you’ve been working remotely since the COVID era or your workplace is exploring hybrid solutions, remote environments can lack the spontaneous interactions and camaraderie of traditional office settings. However, this doesn’t have to lead to isolation or disconnection. Research shows that disengaged employees result in lower productivity and performance.
In my recent TEDx talk, I spoke intentionally about the importance of fostering meaningful connections to mitigate these issues. Regularly scheduled virtual coffee breaks, teambuilding activities, and open communication channels enhance engagement and build a connected team environment.
(TEDxVandenbergSFB: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/moments-make-difference-dr-jason-womack-hp4ke/)
I remember during the pandemic, during my after-work reflective writing—I am a big believer in journaling—I wrote, “Today was a hard day leading humans being.” I immediately realized I’d misspelled the term, but I stopped before I could correct it. I reflected on my reflection and said out loud, “You’re right. It was a hard day!” During those months, I knew people were having a hard time being.
I practice the “connection before content” approach to meetings daily. I emphasize focusing on human beingness before reviewing the agenda’s tasks and objectives. Making space for personal connections in every collaboration or meeting has significantly enhanced our team dynamics and morale.
Emotional Support Check-Ins
Recently, I experienced a challenging two-week period that tested our team’s resilience. During that time, one member left our group to join another division, another had to put their dog to sleep, and I lost my father-in-law to the double whammy of cancer and pneumonia. Throughout these crises, my team and I prioritized personal check-ins at the start of every phone or video meeting.
Moments of genuine sharing allowed us to support one another in those moments of being human. Despite our divided attention, we remained as productive as possible. The emotional support and understanding we extended during those check-ins helped us stay connected and engaged with our work. This experience reminded me of the power of small, consistent actions.
These check-ins, though brief, created a lasting impact.
In their book, “The Power of Moments”, Chip and Dan Heath emphasize the importance of creating moments to elevate experiences. By intentionally designing moments of connection, such as our team check-ins, we can transform routine meetings into significant, engagement-boosting experiences. These moments don’t have to be grand gestures; even small, thoughtful interactions can create a sense of belonging and significance among team members.
Video meetings played a crucial role in facilitating these personal interactions. The ability to see each other’s faces and read non-verbal cues added a layer of connection that audio calls or e-mails couldn’t match. This visual element made our check-ins more impactful, fostering a stronger sense of empathy and camaraderie.
Several innovative tools and strategies can enhance engagement in remote teams. Scheduling regular virtual coffee breaks or hosting “home tours” where team members share their personal spaces can build camaraderie. Virtual teambuilding activities such as collaborative online projects or creative challenges can strengthen bonds. As highlighted by Vivek Murthy in his work on the loneliness epidemic, fostering deep, meaningful connections is crucial to combating isolation. Open communication channels such as dedicated well-being check-ins encourage ongoing interaction and connection. These practices can contribute to a more connected and engaged team by maintaining momentum and encouraging continuous engagement.
The Importance of Intentionality
In her book, “The Art of Gathering,” Priya Parker emphasizes the importance of intentionality in bringing people together. My favorite section is “Make Purpose Your Bouncer.” By thoughtfully designing our remote interactions with a focus on human connection, we can create more meaningful and engaging experiences. I challenge you to be deliberate in the way you gather. Look for ways to create meaningful connections and improve the overall engagement of our teams.
While today’s workplace presents unique challenges in maintaining engagement, it also offers opportunities for intentional connection. We can transform routine meetings into powerful engagement tools by embracing strategies that prioritize personal interactions—like the “connection before content” approach. Regularly scheduled virtual check-ins, creative team-building activities, and fostering a culture of empathy and support are crucial. As we adapt to tomorrow’s work, let’s commit to nurturing these meaningful connections, ensuring our teams remain cohesive, motivated, and productive.