7 ways to build a community at work
F ew phrases cause more eye-rolling at work than “team-building exercise.” Thoughts of falling backward into the waiting arms of co-workers finally may release that virus in your body — the one that will cause you to call in sick on the day of the exercise. And really, how many companies have thrived because of a day playing paintball? Here are ways you can help build the feeling of community in your office without breaking out the Koosh ball:
1. Put your phones away during meetings. Managers should insist that their employees attend meetings free of electronic devices. Not only are they distracting during the meeting but they virtually halt the pre- and post-meeting banter that can create familiarity among a firm’s employees, especially those who don’t sit near each other.
2. Celebrate birthdays and work anniversaries. No need to go overboard but there’s no reason workplaces can’t celebrate the birthdays of their employees one day each month. It gives workers a chance to mingle with their peers for a few minutes and provides them with a little bit of sugar to get through the rest of the day. Also, recognize employee anniversary dates, even if it’s just in the form of an email or a certificate for a free lunch. Either way, make sure that everyone in the office knows when someone is celebrating five, 10 or 15 years with a company. That stuff still matters. And it matters to not only the individuals celebrating the anniversaries but also to the people they work with. And if it doesn’t matter, it should. So recognize longevity and loyalty when you can.
3. Splurge for an occasional lunch, especially meals in small groups. Yes, the work lunch can be awkward and a little bit contrived but it gives people a chance to get out of the office and away from their perceived personas based only on sales calls and spreadsheets. Despite any directive to keep work issues off the table, employees will undoubtedly discuss their jobs while eating, albeit in a less pressured environment. Who knows? There may be a few good ideas that emerge over a few iced teas and chopped salads. It’s an easy way to make a group more than names on an email subdirectory.
4. Give people time to grieve. One of the surest ways for managers and co-workers to strengthen bonds with each other is to put aside the workplace hierarchy and formality when someone suffers a loss. People may forget the seven-year stretch of 1-percent raises but they will always remember the kindness shown to them by their employer and peers after a spouse becomes ill or a parent dies. Sending flowers is a nice gesture but it’s not enough. Give people the time they need to deal with their situation and make sure others pick up the slack while they’re gone so they can return to a welcoming environment instead of being bombarded with projects.
5. When things go wrong, don’t cut and run. Sometimes projects don’t work out, proposals are rejected and sales efforts crash and burn. While it’s always essential for employees to be judged by their performance, it’s also important that employers give their workers a chance to learn from their mistakes. A fair review of missteps and an offering of lessons learned can go a long way in the future. Do not underestimate the — pardon the cliche — teaching moments that emerge when things don’t go as planned.
6. When possible, involve as many employees in new projects and endeavors. Don’t limit brainstorming sessions to the usual group of managers and developers. Instead, open them up to people across the company, including those who won’t work on the project in question. Not only is it refreshing and productive to hear ideas from others but it’s also an easy way to give employees ownership in the company as a whole, not just in their department.
7. Experiment with seating. This could be a tough one. People like to have their space and their inner-circle of co-workers, but on occasion, it can be helpful to mix things up a bit. Some companies do this in small steps, like asking two workers to switch spaces for a week so they can interact with less familiar co-workers. Other companies take more dramatic approaches, substituting daily pick-a-spot seating instead of dedicated desks. Others have tried a continual rearrangement of employees. Mixing up employees can be an effective way to help people work with others.