5 tips for connecting your team face to face
In the digital age, it’s all too easy to stay connected to our team members when we’re not in the office. We can easily communicate with them through email, instant messaging, and video conferencing. But there’s something about face-to-face interactions that can never be replaced by a screen.
That’s why meeting work colleagues face to face is so important. It allows us to build relationships with them, collaborate more effectively, and have more engaging conversations. Here are five tips on how you can connect your team face to face:
1. Big day out: – Big day outs are a great way for teams to connect with each other and enhance their relationships. This is because it allows them to discuss work related content in a more relaxed setting, and also enjoy an experience together that everyone can enjoy.
Simply organize a conference room, either offsite or at work, organise everyone to come in, create some clear guidelines around what you are wanting to achieve, break for lunch and then take the team out with an experience in the afternoon. I.e. Hidden Secret tours, Boat cruises, rock climbing, mountain biking, or book in a fun team building activity.
Big day outs are a great opportunity for teams to connect with colleagues from other departments that they may not usually have had the chance to interact with. This can help to create a more cohesive working environment and make it easier for employees to resolve any issues that may arise.
2. Volunteering: Volunteering can be so important in a workplace, it can build trust and create memories with your co-workers that you never thought would be possible. It is also a chance to connect with people who you may not have had the chance to work with otherwise.
When you’re working together for a charity, it can create an instant bond and lasting memories.
Volunteering is also a great way to show your co-workers that you care about more than just your job. It’s a way to show that you’re willing to work hard and help out, even when it’s not required. You can volunteer at a local soup kitchen, animal shelter, or park clean-up event or why not visit https://www.volunteeringvictoria.org.au/ for more volunteering opportunities.
3. Lunch dates: Lunch dates help connect work colleagues on a more personal level. It gives you an opportunity to chat and get to know them better. Plus, it’s a great way to break up the monotony of the workday!
Now that everyone is working from home, we don’t get the chance to connect with people in the coffee room so it’s important to arrange lunch catch ups with team members to enhance relationships. Lunch is the perfect time to meet up, as you can chat over some food and get to know each other better.
It’s also a great opportunity to discuss any work issues you may be having. You can bounce ideas off each other and come up with solutions together. So go ahead and schedule that lunch date with your work colleagues- it’ll be worth it!
4. Team building activities: Team building activities are a great way for team members to get to know each other better. They provide an opportunity for employees to work together towards a common goal and learn more about each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
It’s also a chance for team members to have shared experiences outside of work that help connect your team on a different level. Team building activities can range from simple icebreakers to more complex events and challenges.
Regardless of the activity, the important thing is that it provides an opportunity for team members to interact with each other in a fun and relaxed environment. So if you’re looking for ways to improve team relationships and boost morale, consider adding some team building activities to your next company event!
5. Collaboration: Collaborating face to face is definitely so important within workplaces since the introduction of hybrid working. There’s something about being in the same room together with someone, understanding body language and facial expressions that you don’t get on a video call. Video Calls provide a great platform for teams to connect but they should never take the place of collaborating in a room together. Being in the same room just creates a better connection and feeling of camaraderie. You’re able to build off each other’s energy and come up with ideas together that you may not have thought of if you were on a video call.
Although we can now stay connected to our team members electronically, there’s nothing quite like face-to-face interactions. The next time you have a meeting or want to connect with your team outside of work, try out one of these five tips. From getting the whole team together for a “Big Day out” to collaborating on projects or going out for lunch, these activities will help strengthen your relationships and improve communication within your team.
