With Covid-19, employees moved from the office to working from home overnight. Both companies and their employees had to quickly adapt to this new reality in order to face an unprecedented crisis. As we enter phase 3 of the easing of lockdown measures and after three months of isolation, it is more crucial than ever to strengthen bonds and rebuild team cohesion, especially since a full return to normal is still a long way off.
Daily rituals
Just like in the office, where gathering around the coffee machine is a daily ritual, why not organize virtual coffee breaks? These informal meetings allow colleagues to chat while stepping outside the work framework. It’s the perfect time to share feelings and challenges related to this unusual situation. You can even take it a step further by randomly selecting participants for each virtual coffee break to spark new and meaningful encounters.
Creative use of your intranet
In a time when remote work has become the norm, the intranet is, for some, the only channel through which they can reach all employees. It is therefore essential for sharing key messages from leadership and gathering feedback and sentiments from staff. Don’t limit yourself to written content—consider using videos, illustrations, or even cartoons. During this easing phase, there’s nothing stopping you from adding a touch of lightness to your messages and using humour wisely. Let your creativity—and your employees’—run free, and you might just uncover some hidden talents.
Organize remote teambuilding activities
Due to Covid-19, many staff days and team-building events were simply cancelled. However, in this period of social distancing and reduced interpersonal contact, employees need opportunities to connect and enjoy shared moments. With that in mind, many digital concepts have emerged, such as blind tests, quizzes, and cooking classes. But the most popular by far are virtual escape rooms. Split into teams, players must solve puzzles within a time limit. Why are they so successful? Because of the wide variety of challenges, which can be intellectual, artistic, or deductive.
And what about new employees?
This period is certainly not ideal for onboarding new hires. Nevertheless, company life cannot come to a halt and must go on. So how can you ensure successful onboarding? After face-to-face events, video remains the most effective tool—whether for introducing the company, sharing a welcome message, or explaining procedures. Gamification is also a growing trend that allows you to integrate new employees successfully. By using quizzes, challenges, and games, you can communicate key messages effectively and, more importantly, ensure they are understood.
No matter what initiatives you implement, the key during remote work is to maintain connection by creating rituals and incentives, and by encouraging transparent and proactive communication. One might think these efforts are secondary during a time when all businesses are facing a crisis. However, it’s important to remember that team cohesion and interaction among colleagues are vital for advancing projects and maintaining productivity.
Netty Thines
Communication Consultant
Mediation SA