It’s been roughly eight months since the COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed everything from the way we gather with friends and family, to staying healthy, to the way we work. According to a recent Gallup poll during the height of the pandemic in April, 51 percent of Americans were working remotely. It’s been challenging for business leaders to ensure their staff working remotely have the resources to not only continue to perform their job duties successfully but still feel connected to one another when lockdowns are keeping them far apart.
A recent Harvard Business Review story said giving employees working remotely the opportunity to spend unstructured time together helps reduce isolation and promote team building. This has been true for us at Teak. We have found fun and creative ways to engage with one another remotely including zoom yoga and a virtual field trip to a farm.
In October, Teak did a month-long Wellness Challenge. We each kept a log and earned points in various categories. We engaged in healthy behavior, such as eating nutritious foods (ice cream and fried foods beware!), limiting our alcohol intake, and exercising more regularly. We were also encouraged to keep our mental health vibrant by learning something new every day, participating in our choice of meditation, yoga, or clearing our heads with a brisk walk. And most importantly, we got to know each other in a new way outside of our work duties by sharing book recommendations and healthy recipes. The leaders of each category were announced each week, which sparked some friendly competition. At the end of the month, the challenge winners received gift cards to their favorite local small shops or restaurants. It was a great opportunity to support small businesses that may be struggling during the pandemic. Our staff feels fortunate that we can help others in need during these times.
There are other remote team building activities any organization can try that can also support their communities at the same time:
Matching Donation Opportunities
People have been stepping up during this pandemic to help others in greater need. Organizations can offer to match any donation amount their employees make to their favorite nonprofits and charities in a show of support and solidarity.
Peer-to-peer Learning Opportunities
Organizations can implement virtual mentorship programs. These meetings allow more experienced members to offer guidance and support to younger workers who may find it especially hard to navigate not just a new job setting, but also one in which virtual screens have changed what it means to “go to the office.”
Support Others
With the holidays coming up, organizations can encourage their staff and employees to band together and donate gifts to families in need. Organizations can have their employees send toys, clothing, home goods and other items to local donation centers that will certainly bring some joy and cheer to families who have struggled this year.
Whether it’s a wellness challenge, donation opportunity, or professional development, organizations can get creative in keeping employees and staff engaged in a remote work world. The important thing to remember is we’re all in this together– so keep engagement light, fun, and if possible, helpful for others in need.
