What are some of the challenges you have around team building?

@taylor_spratt Yes! Amazing!

@juliasuontama So tough with remote teams! Have you tried remote, synchronous team building? Where everyone does the same thing (eg visit a museum) at the same time and then share pics? Some teams seem to like that!

but lemme not troll too hard: maybe just work well together and let them have their time away from work to themselves.

@sandymakesplans ohhh say more!?

@yannell_selman hr is constantly trying to reinvent the wheel. even people who like their jobs need a break from work and don't need it to feel like a playground. most places, though, have some degree of dysfunction and toxicity -- not to mention low productivity -- and no amount of improv classes and hot potato is going to change that, especially not when it's toxic. that's why it's best to just meet their needs and include it in their comp. give them breaks. let them be in the environments where they do deep work. don't try to save a sinking ship if you know you are in hr for a toxic environment. make things optional outside of work or keep it casual: invite people to happy hour OUTSIDE of work. i, for example, would be pretty happy with a regular gift card to my favorite stores every so often. anyone else who says they like the after hours pizza and ping pong party is probably lying to you and themselves. not everyone eats pizza or whatever homogenized food that one person assumes everyone will enjoy. maybe small, small types of gamification (not nerf in the office, but leaderboards or something) to encourage productivity and getting lunch based on what each person wants during crunch time -- like a massive deadline upcoming -- would be nice. i saw them do that at a small boutique type of work environment. i didn't even work there and was just visiting and they even got me lunch and let me and each one of us order what we preferred. i don't eat fast food except at a handful of a la carte places, like this one, and they were cool with accommodating all of us because i just happened to be there on a busy day when they knew people would have little time to take for lunch.

@sandymakesplans Thanks for sharing! What are your thoughts on team building in specific contexts, such as an all hands meeting or team retreat? Would you more into the improv class or ping pong match or whatever if it was during a multi day retreat-type meeting vs. an every month thing? Also, do you generally not see value in building informal relationships at work? What's your personal take there? The research 100% agrees with you on the toxic workplace piece. Our bread and butter is really looking at management behavior and supporting teams in making that more sustainable. We have an app that does that and also do learning and development programs around these as well, when teams are prepared to dive deep. Still, the research does show improved outcomes for engagement, culture, retention, job satisfaction, etc. when you have strong connections at work. It also boost well-being by providing you with support when you need help (e.g. if you have strong relationships at work, you may be better equipped and supported in navigating any of the toxicity). Appreciate your thoughtfulness here!