How to Create Intentional Opportunities to Build Connections

In today’s society, where everything is virtual, it can be really hard to build connections. And it can be especially challenging for a leader who is trying to build a business while also developing a leadership team and staff. So today I wanted to share some tips on how you can create intentional opportunities for connecting with your team.

Share Your Lives

When we were all in the office, we often had unintentional opportunities to learn more about team members. Larry’s wife might come by for lunch. Linda’s daughter might hang out after school or during the summer. Or maybe Jennifer would bring her pug into the office because the doggie daycare wasn’t open. All of those little moments gave us a chance to learn more about each other’s lives. But in a virtual setting that isn’t possible, so you have to be more intentional about sharing your life with your team. With my team, we have an email thread called “Maui Pets,” where everyone sends pictures of their dogs, cats, goats, chickens, etc. And those who don’t have pets can still smile at it. Or, during the holidays, we ask what everyone is looking forward to. It’s just an intentional moment to learn more about each other and connect.

Schedule Check-In’s

Another thing I like to do is call people on my team to check in. “Hey, Paul, I just wanted to check in with you. How are you? What’s going on in your life?” Take ten or twenty minutes to connect a few times a year to build that relationship. These one-on-ones aren’t for talking about projects and roadblocks, it’s just a personal moment to see how they are doing.

Study Your Key People

Now, you might say, David, what do you mean by “study your key people?” Well, I mean, what are their personality styles? What are their spouse’s names? What do they like to do on weekends?  What do they value? For example, you might have a team member who really loves her three dogs.  Well, what are the dogs’ names? Taking the time to get to know and actually write down narratives about your key people and their lives will go a long way to helping them feel valued and invested in their roles.

Budget for Actual Face Time

If your team is remote, you need to make sure you budget for in-person time at least twice a year.  This is not optional. There are some things that need to be done in person, and this includes both informal and formally structured time. So get your team together to share a meal, go bowling or go-cart racing. You don’t have to do something incredibly expensive or risky. Just do something together.