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With the return-to-office drive in full throttle, the stats around global workers working from home are changing. As of 2023, just over 28% of employees all over the world work a hybrid model, close to 13% work from home, and the rest have returned to the office.
With some workers working from the office and others working from home, leaders today face unique challenges when it comes to nurturing relationships and facilitating meaningful interactions among team members.
What can you, as a manager, do to make your team feel connected? Let’s look at five practical tips to foster team connectivity.
What are team member connections?
Team member connections refer to the personal and professional relationships that extend beyond work tasks and responsibilities within a team. These connections are rooted in mutual understanding, trust, and shared experiences, both inside and outside the workplace.
Meaningful connections take root over time and contribute to a thriving workplace. In the beginning, when teams are formed and people are getting to know each other, the connections between team members are limited to just collaborating on different tasks. However, as people become more familiar with each other’s values, perspectives, objectives, and ideas, they build deeper emotional connections and become part of a workplace culture where employees genuinely care for each other’s well-being.
Having such meaningful connections between team members is pivotal to creating a sense of unity, facilitating collaboration, and offering employees a workplace they look forward to coming to every day.
Social relationships at work act as a buffer against emotional exhaustion and depression among employees. In addition, a sense of connectedness with managers and coworkers supports active communication, improves performance, and elevates job satisfaction.
One notable example of the power of team member connections can be seen in the healthcare sector. Nurses working long shifts in a hospital often form close connections with their colleagues. These connections go beyond work; they extend to providing emotional support during challenging moments. When a nurse faces a particularly tough day, knowing that their teammates have their back can make all the difference in maintaining their job satisfaction and overall well-being.
So team member connections are not just the bonds that tie a team together. Instead, they are personal and professional relationships that transcend work-related tasks. Cultivating and nurturing these connections not only benefits individuals but also contributes to the success of the team and the organization, creating a harmonious and productive work environment.
Benefits of team member connections
Team member connections have a profound impact on both employee well-being and overall team dynamics as well as organizational success. Organizations where people have tight-knit bonds with their colleagues experience improved job satisfaction, engagement, collaboration, and several other benefits.
Let’s discuss them and see how businesses can capitalize on strong employee connections to drive organizational success.
1. Improved business outcomes
Having friendships at work is related to positive business outcomes, including greater profitability, better inventory control, improved safety, and increased customer retention. This can be attributed to the social capital that employees leverage when they are better connected. They feel comfortable seeking help or giving advice which facilitates knowledge sharing, problem-solving, and innovation.
Google is a prime example of team member connections resulting in better business outcomes, The company is well-known for its innovative and employee-friendly culture. They offer various perks such as free meals, fitness facilities, and even on-site massages to create a sense of community.
They organize team-building activities, hackathons, and encourage cross-functional collaboration.
Google's emphasis on fostering strong relationships among employees has contributed to their ability to attract and retain top talent, leading to continuous innovation and business success.
2. Higher employee retention
69.5% of employees believe that they’d be happier if they had a deeper connection with their colleagues. A similar percentage (69.72) crave more meaningful bonds with their coworkers.
When you have friends at work, it makes your job more enjoyable. Employees with strong work friendships are 86% more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. Why? Because with better team member connections, you feel like you're part of a team, supported by people who care about you. Also, when you have friends at work, you're more likely to stick around. That is why companies with strong team member connections enjoy higher satisfaction and lower turnover.
3. Lower risk of employee burnout
Close to 30% of US employees feel burnt out at work often.
Workplace friendships reduce the risk of burnout. When an employee is going through a challenging time — such as a personal crisis or a high-pressure project — colleagues can offer empathy, understanding, and encouragement. This emotional support helps individuals cope with stress and maintain their well-being.
4. Improved team coordination
The mere perception of working collectively on a task can supercharge a team’s performance. In fact, research suggests that companies with a collaborative culture are five times more likely to be high-performing than their peers.
Having strong connections among team members facilitates collaboration. When there is an environment of trust and mutual respect, open communication becomes second nature. Team members can then work together to resolve issues, brainstorm solutions, and lead projects to timely and successful completion.
5. Improved career advancement
Connected workplaces support the career advancement of employees. When team members build strong relationships with their colleagues, they often receive mentorship, guidance, and constructive feedback, which can be instrumental in personal and professional growth. These connections expand one's professional network, opening doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and even promotions.
63% of employees point to a lack of career advancement opportunities as the main reason they say goodbye to their jobs. That's why it's crucial to create a workplace where team members forge strong connections. This not only helps employees grow in their careers but also makes them more likely to stick around with the organization for the long term.
Tips for building team member connections
Building strong team member connections is essential for fostering a cohesive and productive work environment. It goes beyond the daily tasks and projects, encompassing trust, rapport, and shared experiences among team members.
In this section, we'll explore some effective tips to enhance these connections and create a more supportive and connected workplace culture.
1. Implement Colleague Connect to expand peer mentoring
When we hear the word "mentoring," we often think of wise, experienced professionals sharing their years of wisdom and experience with a junior colleague to help them grow professionally. However, the benefits of peer mentoring extend beyond professional development.
Colleague Connect expands the idea of peer mentoring with the philosophy that "everyone can learn from anyone." By dismantling the traditional boundaries of mentor-mentee roles, Colleague Connect offers a more adaptable and inclusive approach to team development and learning. Here's how:
Fostering Inclusivity and Diversity: Colleague Connect nurtures an environment where learning and growth are accessible to everyone, irrespective of their role or level within the organization. It democratizes knowledge sharing and breaks down silos among departments, building a more inclusive workplace.
Removing Hierarchical Boundaries: Colleague Connect’s unique design encourages learning exchanges that are free from the conventional labels of "mentor" and "mentee," promoting a culture where knowledge flows seamlessly in all directions. When colleagues meet in a casual setting, it helps eliminate the intimidation often associated with hierarchical differences, enabling more open, trusting, and productive relationships to flourish.
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Building Meaningful Connections Across the Board: The platform facilitates meaningful engagements by aligning individuals based on shared interests, skills, goals, and organizational contexts, such as location, department, or Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). Such connections not only enhance professional development but also foster a sense of belonging and community, crucial elements in a strong team culture.
Ensuring Continuous Learning and Development: With Colleague Connect, the journey of learning and growth never stalls. Employees have the freedom to continuously seek out new connections, and unlock collaboration opportunities. This dynamic approach ensures that team members are constantly engaging with fresh perspectives and skills, driving innovation and adaptability within the team.
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Customizing Connections to Enhance Relevance: The platform offers customizable templates tailored to various objectives, from facilitating introductions across departments to addressing specific learning needs. This level of customization ensures that every interaction is relevant and aligned with the participants’ goals, maximizing the impact of these exchanges on both individual growth and team connections.
Integrating Colleague Connect into your organization's L&D strategy goes beyond just enhancing peer mentoring and coaching; it actively contributes to building a better team culture. Imagine a scenario where team members from different departments discover a shared passion for environmental sustainability. Through Colleague Connect, they can easily collaborate on a green initiative for the office, combining their diverse skills and perspectives. This not only leads to innovative solutions for the workplace but also strengthens the team's bond and commitment to shared values.
Such interactions create a more connected, innovative, and collaborative team culture. Through its support of informal, yet purposeful, exchanges, Colleague Connect cultivates an environment where every team member feels valued, connected, and engaged.
2. Streamline onboarding with a buddy system
Having a dedicated “work buddy” can do wonders to the workplace dynamics, especially during employee onboarding.
The work buddy can offer support, answer questions, and help newcomers feel comfortable and integrated.
This not only accelerates the onboarding process but also builds meaningful connections among team members, creating a more welcoming and collaborative work environment.
3. Lead by example
What you say and do as an organizational leader matters. Practice what you preach and model the behaviors that you want to see in your team.
If you want to create a culture of trust and camaraderie, start by having conversations with your employees. Hold regular one-on-one meetings to discuss their work, goals, and challenges. Also, try to get to know your team members outside of work by attending team-building events, going out for lunch or coffee, or simply chatting with them in the hallway or through Colleague Connect sessions.
By consistently demonstrating these actions, you can create an environment where people feel valued and genuinely care about each other’s interests.
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4. Organize icebreaker and team-building activities
When team members engage in fun and non-work-related activities, they become more comfortable around each other, which makes it easier for them to connect on a personal level.
So, use frequent icebreakers and team-building activities to break down communication barriers and create a relaxed atmosphere.
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5. Celebrate each other’s successes
Celebrating each other's success doesn't just acknowledge individual achievements; it strengthens the bonds among team members, creating a more connected and motivated team.
And it doesn't always have to be a company-wide event. When budgets are tight, virtual happy hours, team lunches, or even authentic praise do just as well and leave the team feeling valued and connected.
Build stronger teams with Together
Effective team dynamics are the bedrock upon which organizational success is built. It's not just about achieving tasks and meeting deadlines; it's about creating an environment where trust, collaboration, and shared growth thrive.
Particularly today, when millennials and Gen Z dominate the workforce, it has become more important than ever for the HR function to forge strong team connections. Colleague Connect is a great way to create a more engaging and connected workplace. It empowers team members to learn from each other, share their experiences, and grow both professionally and personally.
To leverage peer mentoring within your teams, consider harnessing the power of Together, a mentorship software designed to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and skill development. It simplifies the process of matching mentors and mentees based on skills, interests, and goals, and takes off the administrative burden of setting up a mentorship program from HR professionals and managers.
