The podcast discusses various ideas for team ice-breakers and energizers, including sharing secret skills, creating Spotify playlists, and using personality profiles. They also talk about prioritizing work with the concept of Rock, Pebbles, and Sand, and encourage team members to share and celebrate their successes. Other topics include creating a safe space for team questions, exploring different ice-breaker activities for team meetings, and the importance of diversity and inclusion.
Incorporating icebreakers and activities like sharing secret skills and show and tell sessions can foster connection and belonging within a team.
Using profiling tools and creating opportunities for high-low learning promotes understanding, empathy, and collaboration among team members.
Prioritizing strategic priorities ('rocks') before smaller tasks ('sand') helps teams allocate time and resources more effectively, increasing efficiency.
Deep dives
Creating Memorable Team Moments
In today's remote work environment, team time together is more important than ever. It is crucial to make these moments memorable and energizing. One way to do this is by incorporating icebreakers and activities such as sharing secret skills, engaging in show and tell sessions, and creating Spotify playlists. These activities help team members connect on a personal level and foster a sense of belonging. Another effective approach is to use profiling tools to understand each other better and facilitate meaningful conversations. By creating high-low learning opportunities and implementing challenge and build sessions, teams can grow and improve together. It is also valuable to explore ambitious "wouldn't it be amazing if" ideas and embrace being beginners together. Finally, writing and sharing pride postcards allows team members to celebrate achievements and build a positive culture of support.
Enhancing Efficiency and Connection
To enhance team efficiency and connection, it is beneficial to address knots and needs. This involves openly discussing challenges and seeking support from the team to overcome them. Additionally, implementing regular challenge and build sessions encourages open feedback and collaboration to improve ideas and projects. Embracing the concept of "be beginners together" allows team members to try new activities outside their comfort zones and encourages a playful and creative environment. Celebrating achievements through pride postcards and sharing them with the team fosters a culture of recognition and support. These strategies contribute to team growth and a stronger sense of connection.
Facilitating Meaningful Team Development
Meaningful team development requires taking intentional actions. Incorporating icebreakers and activities that promote connection, such as sharing secret skills and engaging in show and tell sessions, helps team members get to know each other on a deeper level. The use of profiling tools, facilitated by experts, provides valuable insights into individual strengths and preferences. Creating opportunities for high-low learning allows team members to empathize and support each other, fostering a trusting and collaborative atmosphere. Encouraging ambitious thinking with "wouldn't it be amazing if" ideas stimulates creativity and opens up new possibilities. By implementing these strategies, teams can build stronger relationships and create a positive and supportive work environment.
Working Smarter: Rock, Pebbles, and Sand
One key idea discussed in the podcast is the concept of prioritizing work by starting with the big strategic priorities, or 'rocks,' before focusing on smaller tasks, or 'sand.' The speaker explains that teams often get consumed by busy work and struggle to fit in the important strategic objectives. The suggested approach is to identify the rocks, pebbles, and sand in the team's workload and intentionally prioritize the rocks first. By doing so, teams can ensure that they allocate enough time and resources to the most critical initiatives, leading to more effective and efficient work.
Building a Curiosity Culture: Borrowed Brilliance
Another key idea highlighted in the podcast is the practice of 'Borrowed Brilliance,' which involves creating a space for team members to share interesting insights, ideas, or experiences they have come across. This practice promotes curiosity, learning, and collaboration within the team. It encourages team members to bring in diverse perspectives and knowledge, even if they may not directly relate to the team's work. By sharing borrowed brilliance, teams can foster a culture of openness, continuous learning, and the exchange of ideas, leading to increased innovation and engagement.
The moments when teams come together are crucial for bonding and belonging, but we can get stuck in a rut of doing the same things in the same way. This week, Helen and Sarah talk about lots of different ideas to include in your team meetings and moments that can help you to get the most of time spent together. Whether you want to get closer, work smarter or grow better they've got practical ideas you can try out.