For teams to thrive, every person on the team needs to be highly engaged in his or her work. The good news is that team engagement is not the result of expensive perks or time-consuming programs, but of having a company culture where people care about each other and about their work.
In these “connection cultures,” people invest time to develop healthy work relationships, and the resulting bond creates a sense of connection, community, trust and unity that energizes the team and spurs productivity and innovation.
As a team leader, foster this culture of connection by:
Cast a clear vision - Team members are more engaged when they understand the company’s or project vision, are united by its values and are proud of its reputation. Communicate goals clearly, frequently, and keep everyone in the loop.
Recognize the value of each individual - Your team members need to feel respected and valued. Encourage team members to express appreciation for their colleagues’ contributions and help others to achieve their potential.
Give people a voice - Having a voice in decisions empowers people to make a difference. You achieve a higher degree of buy-in. In teams where there is a connection culture, team members seek the ideas of others, share their ideas and opinions honestly and work on any conflicts productively, safeguarding the connections by not cutting others out when disagreements arise.
Be a servant leader - Connected cultures need leaders who are willing to put the needs of others before their own. Tame the ego and by doing so, you gain the respect of team members and encourage them to do the same.
Celebrate committed members - Team members who are committed to excellence and connection are the heart of your team and should be recognized, encouraged and celebrated.
Adapted from Michael Lee Stallard – Connection Culture: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy and Understanding at Work (Association for Talent Development 2015)