Workplace Culture: Cultivating a Culture of Connection
In the dynamic landscape of hybrid work, how do you maintain the vitality of your company culture? Adapting your culture to evolve with the changing dynamics of work is possible while staying true to your values and mission.
Why does your company culture need to evolve?
Company culture shouldn’t be set in stone, as the transition to a hybrid model showed the importance of adapting. Now, you can shift to fostering virtual connections and meaningful in-person interactions in your company culture.
When employees feel acknowledged and valued, it fosters an environment where genuine connections can flourish. Discovering supportive allies within your organization cultivates personal and collective development, nurturing an inclusive atmosphere where everyone can feel a sense of belonging. Employees who feel connected to their work and colleagues are more engaged and are more likely to have satisfied clients.
How do you maintain a strong company culture in a hybrid world?
By incorporating a mix of hybrid team-building activities, you can encourage an inclusive, engaged, and cohesive team to ensure all employees feel connected and valued regardless of where they work.
By prioritizing and integrating well-being into your operations, you signal to your employees that their wellness is important. This approach can make your employees feel valued and deepen their connection to their work, peers, and the organization. By focusing on innovative team building and inclusion, you’re laying the foundation for a culture of connection that nurtures a supportive and respectful environment.
Innovate with cross-departmental projects or ”connection challenges” that encourage employees to interact with colleagues they wouldn’t usually work with. These activities can break down silos and spark new ideas and friendships.
Consider implementing one of these team-building activities to bridge the gap between virtual and in-person environments and foster a sense of belonging and teamwork:
Simultaneous Cooking Class
Organize a cooking class where an instructor leads employees through making a dish with the ingredients sent to employees in advance. This shared experience fosters a sense of community and enjoyment.
Interactive Storytelling Sessions
Host storytelling sessions where employees contribute to a story, one line or idea at a time, building on each other’s contributions. This activity can be conducted via a video call or a collaborative document, encouraging creativity, listening skills, and collective narrative building.
Hybrid Scavenger Hunts
Create a scavenger hunt that individuals in both settings can complete. For remote participants, this could involve finding items or completing tasks at home or online, while office participants could do the same in their physical workspace.
“Show and Tell” Sessions
Allow employees to share something about their personal interests, hobbies, or recent experiences in a relaxed, informal setting. This can be done via video call, with remote and in-office employees participating.
Hybrid Celebrations
Celebrate employee milestones, birthdays, and achievements in a way that includes everyone by sending small gifts to employees’ homes and having an unboxing during a virtual call.
Creating Terrariums
Bond over creating miniature worlds with terrarium kits that showcase each team member’s unique personality. Kits can be mailed to homes and provided in-office. A virtual show-and-tell meeting can include each participant describing the plants they selected, how they arranged the elements, and sharing ideas.
Hybrid work models vary across organizations, but one constant is the need for a culture that grows with your employees’ changing needs. This involves nurturing connections at every level, ensuring your culture survives and thrives, benefiting everyone.
Originally featured in UBA’s February 2024 HR Elements Newsletter.
