Top 5 tips on how to maintain your team spirit and culture.

Team culture is always a challenge. Maintaining a high team spirit at all times as well. Why? Because we are all humans trying to get the most out of this life. We are layered with our own world of thoughts, emotions, and experiences. So, whether you are in a team that works together in the same space or mainly through digital channels– the challenge remains the same…

In the end, a good team culture and spirit come down to three core elements:

• Feeling Needed

• Feeling Competent

• Feeling Loved

Here are some lovely tools and mindsets we at Serious.Business believe are the key to our successful team culture. They surely have enabled our diverse team to stick together through life’s sweets and sours.

1. Don’t be scared to be open and vulnerable

Admitting that you don’t know everything and seeking support when needed is a must.

We are all in this together. People feel valuable and needed when you give them When you give a person the chance to help you out they feel valuable and needed. Not only that, but feeling needed as an individual in a work environment is crucial!

2. Address conflicts and concerns

Practice your “honest culture muscle.” Because, if a person’s conflict is left unsolved, then they’ve already started counting their days to leave.

We have many conflicts within ourselves. Some are definitely smaller than others, those you can often handle on your own. But, anything bigger than “tiny”– should be discussed. You can use the support from the team tool “Stinky Fish.” This will for sure lighten the team spirit up.

Communicate and empathize with your teammates. Try to understand where they’re coming from, and at last– everyone can feel loved, and appreciated again.

3. Check-In and Out

We use the amazing team communication tool Slack. Starting the day by checking in with your team makes you feel a part of a group working towards a common goal.

In the “check-in” it’s essential to address how one is feeling. As we come from different circumstances it builds understanding and sets expectations for each other for the day. It’s also helpful to disclose what you will be focusing on that day. This serves a few purposes:

Firstly, for yourself to start the day with an overview of your own tasks.

Secondly, to make others in the team know that you are putting effort into the common goal.

Lastly, this enables you to know what everyone is up to in the team. Creating a unified sense of trust and an overview of everyone’s competence.

“Checking out” is a fantastic way to have a clear cut when you finish your day. Both for yourself, (especially if you work from a home office) and for others to not bother you after you have checked out. It’s also a good way to let your peers know how you left the workday. Did you finish all your tasks, was it smooth and easy or do you have any concerns that might lead you to need support tomorrow etc.

4. Give feedback

It works well in a team development session. For example, sitting in a circle together for an hour or so, without desks, phones, and computers. (Except in a remote work environment).

It’s the greatest way to come together and raise any concerns or share ideas because everyone is seen and heard. In conclusion, team satisfaction increases without too much effort, planning or pressure. (All you need is someone to take notes).

These sessions are optimal to give each other feedback. Which is an essential part of team maintenance. Moreover, you should give feedback at the moment it’s needed. If “creating the space” helps to make that effort– sitting in a circle works well.

5. Go on a team trip together!

Preferably one where work is not discussed, unless urgently needed. Here are some team trip suggestions from the Serious.Business team:

• Rent a cabin
• Go on an adventure
• Do a challenge of some sort
• Cook together
• Go for a drink — and ask each other unusual questions. (I can recommend the 100 question boxes from School of Life).

We have come to understand investing in good team culture will pay back multiple times. Not only in general team wellness, but also in project performance, for instance. A well-nurtured team will attract dream clients, and attain greater projects.

For more tips, tricks, and professional consultation on team culture and development.

Contact us at hello@serious.business