5 Ideas for Creating an Engaged Team
If you have ever been a part of a fully engaged team, one that works in synch with each other and the purpose of the company, you know what a great feeling it is. Creating an engaged team is no small task and takes a concentrated effort from the leader to allow the group to come together and succeed in every situation.Here are five ideas that you can utilize to help create a level of connectedness with your team that will support rising above the rest.
Do team activities together
Nothing helps to build a culture of teamwork more than doing things as a team. These don’t have to be fancy outings or expensive team building sessions that take you into the wilderness lead by high profile instructors. Doing something together can be as simple as getting coffee as a group, going bowling, visiting a store together, or even watching a movie. The point is to create a common shared experience. It gives you the opportunity to see, hear, and be a part of the same thing as a group. Then you can discuss it further later, talk about any funny moments, or just smile at the time away from work as a team.
Create projects to work on cross-functionally
It is very easy to get lost in your own work. We all have plenty to do, regardless of our role or title. One thing you can do as a leader to help create an environment of togetherness is to ensure that people on the team have projects they can work on together. It may be blending their specific roles into something that requires both skills. Alternatively, maybe you want to expose different members of your team to different things - having them work on something outside their usual routine with other members of their team can build new connections and allow them to see each other's strengths in new ways. It is a way to both grow individuals as well as the team as a whole.
Allow time for fun discussions
Part of being a team is taking time to be yourselves together. Many times in the work setting we believe that it must be all about the job at hand, the strategy in play, or the immediate situation status, but in reality, we all need a chance to break away from work throughout the day. Ensure you build in time before meetings, after meetings, or just as casual conversation to discuss things outside of work. Share funny stories with each other, let a tangent carry on for a while, and don’t be afraid of the occasional ‘rabbit hole’ to let everyone see a different side of each other. Laughter is an excellent tool for bonding people together. An engaged team is more than just the members that make it up. They need to feel as though they belong together. Allowing your discussions to venture off the ‘work path’ is an excellent way to build a sense of camaraderie.
Communicate everything
We understand that engagement is largely built on sustained trust and empowerment. There is one thing that can build or erode each quicker than anything else - communication. It is nearly impossible to over communicate, so that should be your objective - communicate, communicate, and communicate some more. Share everything you possibly can with your team. Keep the messaging simple and straightforward. Stick to the facts, manage the emotion, and keep everyone informed on what is happening. It is almost certain that the amount of information is always being shared, whether it is factual or speculation is largely up to you and what you are providing in terms of communication. Without your voice, others are left to fill that void with whoever is speaking, so ensure that your message is the one they hear in the manner in which fits the situation. That level of communication will ensure everyone stays engaged in the right way, on the right things.
Engage, enable, empathize
This one may seem like I am adding two extra pieces, but they all go hand in hand. It is one idea for creating engagement that works in a three-step process. Stay connected to your team. In doing so you will establish a level of trust that allows everyone to feel fully enabled to make their own decisions. Moreover, you have an environment that encourages and rewards that. They are indeed empowered. However, by staying close, you know when to be engaged with them to sense what they need and when they need it. You are able to empathize with their situation and provide the support they need in a manner that is of the most value to them. This is situational leadership at its finest.Creating an environment for an engaged team is not a ‘one and done’ process. It is ongoing and requires continual effort on the part of the leader. Each of the ideas above are only parts of a broader ecosystem that supports teams that can perform at their highest level. These ideas may be ways to jump-start your program, add new energy to an already established culture, or simply a way to create further discussion on how to strengthen your environment. Regardless of how you use them, building and maintaining an engaged team will pay dividends for everyone who is actively participating.How are you building an environment for an engaged team? Share your ideas and thoughts in the comments section.Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash