As professional management consultants and executive coaches, we help create strong teams that make up robust, resilient organizations. At Berlineaton, we believe that effective organizations excel in three areas: Direction, Process, and People. Strong teams are necessary for organizations to perform at their collective best.
In today’s post-Covid world, most teams I collaborate with are virtual or hybrid, reflecting a broader, arguably irreversible shift in the workplace. There is a lot of discourse about the benefits and drawbacks of in-person versus virtual teams. I’ve had experience in both worlds and am not here to debate the merits—both have their place and strengths. However, during my work, I have observed a few standard practices among the most effective virtual and hybrid teams that are worth sharing.
The Power of the First Five Minutes
In nearly every successful virtual team I’ve worked with, there’s a common practice that might surprise you: the first five or so minutes of every meeting include casual conversation, either intentionally or, more often, organically. When I first encountered this, I couldn’t help but think it was a bit of a time-waster. But as I saw it in action, I realized that this informal chat is the virtual equivalent of the office water cooler. In this place, relationships are built, and people can connect on a human level. These few minutes of casual banter help set a positive tone for the rest of the meeting and foster a sense of camaraderie that can be hard to achieve when everyone works from different locations.
Embracing the “Cringe” of Team Building Activities
Let’s be honest: team-building exercises often come with a bit of an eye-roll. Even in person, they can feel forced or awkward. So, it’s no wonder that engaging in team-building activities can feel even more cringe-worthy in a virtual setting, where it’s easier to feel disconnected. But here’s the thing: the best virtual teams do them anyway. And more often than not, once people get over the initial awkwardness, they enjoy it. These activities, whether a quick icebreaker or a more involved virtual workshop, are crucial in maintaining team cohesion. Suppose you’re looking for solid ideas on how to do this well. In that case, I highly recommend checking out this great article from HBR—it’s packed with tips and tricks to make these exercises meaningful and tailor them to your team’s unique needs.
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The Value of Face-to-Face Time
Even in a world where virtual meetings are the norm, the most effective teams still prioritize in-person interactions. Whether it’s a quarterly workshop, annual retreat, or occasional meetup, these moments are invaluable. They allow team members to connect deeper, making the following virtual interactions much easier and more meaningful. There’s something about sharing a meal, a laugh, or even just a room with someone that builds trust and connection that is not as easily replicated online. And the teams that invest in these in-person connections are the ones that seem to communicate better, trust each other more, and ultimately perform at a higher level.
What’s Your Secret Sauce?
So, those are a few of the strategies I’ve seen work wonders in strong teams in the virtual and hybrid space. But I’m curious—what else are you doing to build connections and strengthen your teams in a virtual environment? Whether it’s a unique ritual, a tool that’s changed the game, or a mindset that’s made all the difference, I’d love to hear what’s working for you. Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s keep this conversation going!
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Cathryn Chase is a Senior Consultant at Berlineaton, a well-known and respected Victoria-based management consulting firm that has been providing strategic management, continuous improvement, and people development services to visionary leaders across Canada since 1996.
This blog was inspired by an article in the Harvard Business Review