Fostering team spirit remotely

Team spirit – tl;dr

• “Shared mindset” is central to almost all aspects of productive teamwork, from information sharing to basic collaboration. Considered one of the most reliable markers of team togetherness, it is a crucial ingredient of team spirit. A shared mindset is bolstered by eye contact, in-depth conversations, and overall time spent together. In a bustling working environment, acoustic pods and booths make a worthwhile investment in your team unity, offering a private, relaxing space where team members can meet and focus on the holistic view of their vision.

• Trust is undoubtedly the next crucial aspect of team spirit. It strongly influences job satisfaction, productivity, and organisational efficiency. When employees work in isolation, trust tends to weaken, and their communication with other team members can lose its significance. The introduction of video call booths, such as hushFree.S, single-person fully-equipped pods, helps address the issue by offering a technological bridge between remote and on-site employees, thereby improving and simplifying hybrid meetings. 

• Understanding your team members well, including their unique strong points, enables you to promote team spirit more effectively. Essentially, a team’s awareness of its strengths holds greater significance than the mere combination of these strengths. To sum up, knowledge of your team members’ specific qualities can enhance engagement and productivity within a team. A 4-person acoustic booth, such as hushFree.M, provides an ideal setting for a strength-and-weakness workshop that can stimulate growth.

• Fun is another cornerstone of team spirit. For example, board games may enhance team dynamics, fostering a distinct sense of togetherness. During periods of overall disengagement, fun can serve as a booster for initiative and commitment. Consequently, an increasing number of organisations invest in large acoustic booths, such as hushFree.L to serve as sound-insulated break rooms where employees can unwind without causing distraction to their colleagues on the floor.

Why is the sense of togetherness essential for remote working?

Robust team spirit can be the ultimate remedy for the variety of challenges pertaining to hybrid work. It helps to fill the communicative void by fostering transparency and mutual understanding. Teams with an unmistakable sense of unity tend to exchange ideas freely and handle potential conflicts more effectively. In an environment based on mutual support, collaboration, even if virtual, comes seamlessly: team members openly discuss common goals, consolidating talents and resources instinctively. And at the end of the day, employees feel secure and supported. Indeed, team spirit can ignite the spark

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Without the feeling of togetherness, creative work can turn into a tedious, pointless hardship, with its real purpose lost in the labyrinth of isolation. Team spirit is what truly helps employees stay afloat in times of difficulty, along with the awareness that acting as a team can move mountains.

The number-one challenge to building team spirit in a hybrid environment: maintaining a shared mindset.

Teams may struggle with achieving good chemistry in spite of collective efforts. Why? The answer provided by neuroscientists is a shared mindset. As an indicator of team spirit, a shared mindset pertains to most aspects of successful teamwork, such as cooperation, exchanging information, and overall group efficacy.

A recent study on workplace chemistry highlights the importance of a shared mindset as an essential element. Fortunately, several effective, science-based methods help foster this essential mindset, which is the cornerstone of a solid team. Some basic solutions include enhancing eye contact, conducting in-depth conversations, and devoting more time to joint activities. In a hybrid, flexible workspace full of various distractions, private pods offer a perfect setting for effective team meetings and open discussions on in-office days, bolstering the sense of camaraderie among team members

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice. 

Online communication may lack context and “heart.”

In the hybrid working environment, employees encounter numerous challenges associated with peer communication almost every day. These difficulties include a shortage of non-verbal cues or visual context, fatigue from an excessive number of applications or platforms, possible misunderstandings, and technical issues.

Developing trust while lacking face-to-face interaction is a considerable challenge.

Without spontaneous interactions, creating shared experiences can be challenging. The lack of non-verbal cues including facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice can pose a real obstacle for understanding intentions and emotions, consequently impeding rapport building.

Isolated employees experience lower levels of interpersonal trust, which has a negative impact on communication with others.

At work, trust has a considerable influence on job satisfaction, employee productivity, and organisational efficacy. It is known to enhance collaboration and information sharing. Its fundamental role is emphasised during times of change with the higher need for shared problem-solving and adaptation.

Various personalities have distinct needs.

Introverted individuals often prefer working from home. However, during hybrid meetings, they may be overshadowed by talkative, more expressive extroverted team members. Therefore, it is essential to provide employees with spaces that cater to the needs of different communication styles, allowing everyone to speak with confidence and maintain focus.

Find out more: An introvert’s retreat from office hubbub: acoustic pods

How can a virtual team sustain a collaborative atmosphere of team unity?

In an environment with direct and candid feedback, workers are 80% more likely to thrive. In a nutshell, they are happier. And happiness translates into a 20% increase in employee productivity. So, how can we create such a supportive atmosphere?

To begin with, you need to know your team, including every individual’s key attributes.

According to Gallup’s research, a team’s knowledge of its strengths holds greater significance than the mere combination of those strengths. Essentially, it means that the mere awareness of your teammates’ strengths will result in increased engagement and productivity.

Introduce more interactive elements into your meetings.

Foolproof methods to foster interaction include preparing and adhering to an agenda, specifying expectations at the start, using collaboration tools, such as the chat bar,  in your video conferencing app, and allowing time for breakouts and small talk.

It’s not only about work, so provide opportunities for spontaneous, relaxed conversations.

Team outings twice a month. Video games in the breakrooms. Offsite retreats for team members to take part in workshops, team-building activities, or skill-improving sessions. Send out questionnaires to find out what activities and events meet the genuine needs of your employees.

Gaming can play a role in fostering a happier and more coordinated team.

Incorporating fun activities into employees’ daily routines can significantly boost creativity. According to a study, participation in simple board games can cultivate an incredible team flow, enhancing unity and facilitating open communication among team members.

Regardless of age, fun is a vital catalyst for well-being.

There is a positive correlation between the level of enjoyment in the workplace and prosocial, ethical, and altruistic attitudes an individual displays. Indeed, fun plays a crucial role at work, enhancing employee ingenuity and emotional involvement (during the periods when involvement tends to be low).

Consider the numerous digital tools available for fostering team unity remotely.

A quick Internet search will provide you with a long list of applications that facilitate online relationship-building. Similarly, digital whiteboard tools can aid in promoting team unity, while employee recognition software serves as a valuable tool for celebrating wins and offering feedback.

Acoustic office booths play a vital role in fostering connections among hybrid team members.

Pods and booths can provide optimal working environments by cancelling out noise, thereby supporting efforts to foster connections. A video booth functions as a space conducive to focus, enabling the meeting host to fully engage with remote peers in spite of background noise. A team meeting pod shields participants from office distractions, providing them with the focused environment necessary to effectively collaborate on their task.

For high-quality hybrid calls, invest in the hushFree.S 1-person video pod.

In a boisterous workspace where conference rooms tend to be always booked, mobile booths, such as hushFree.S, will be a spot-on solution. Equipped with video light strips and customisable ventilation, they provide an adjustable setting perfect for virtual meetings. 

For effective team meetings, try the hushFree.M 4-person acoustic booth.

If you need a peaceful, private space for team meetings, invest in hushFree.M. With its Class A rating, it ensures full speech privacy allowing for discussions of confidential and sensitive issues. In hushFree.M, your team will seamlessly connect.

For some fun, consider the hushFree.L large, sound-insulated booth — a small break room.

HushFree.L accommodates up to 4-6 individuals, depending on its arrangement. It is available either furnished or empty, allowing you to customise its interior to meet your specific needs. For instance, you can choose bean bags and a cosy, plush sofa to complement the gaming equipment.

Click here to find out more about the hushFree collection of Class A pods.

Team spirit – summarized

• “Shared mindset” is central to almost all aspects of productive teamwork, from information sharing to basic collaboration. Considered one of the most reliable markers of team togetherness, it is a crucial ingredient of team spirit. A shared mindset is bolstered by eye contact, in-depth conversations, and overall time spent together. In a bustling working environment, acoustic pods and booths make a worthwhile investment in your team unity, offering a private, relaxing space where team members can meet and focus on the holistic view of their vision.

• Trust is undoubtedly the next crucial aspect of team spirit. It strongly influences job satisfaction, productivity, and organisational efficiency. When employees work in isolation, trust tends to weaken, and their communication with other team members can lose its significance. The introduction of video call booths, such as hushFree.S, single-person fully-equipped pods, helps address the issue by offering a technological bridge between remote and on-site employees, thereby improving and simplifying hybrid meetings. 

• Understanding your team members well, including their unique strong points, enables you to promote team spirit more effectively. Essentially, a team’s awareness of its strengths holds greater significance than the mere combination of these strengths. To sum up, knowledge of your team members’ specific qualities can enhance engagement and productivity within a team. A 4-person acoustic booth, such as hushFree.M, provides an ideal setting for a strength-and-weakness workshop that can stimulate growth.

• Fun is another cornerstone of team spirit. For example, board games may enhance team dynamics, fostering a distinct sense of togetherness. During periods of overall disengagement, fun can serve as a booster for initiative and commitment. Consequently, an increasing number of organisations invest in large acoustic booths, such as hushFree.L to serve as sound-insulated break rooms where employees can unwind without causing distraction to their colleagues on the floor.

How to maintain team spirit remotely – frequently asked questions

How can you foster team spirit remotely?

You can choose one of the following scientifically-based ideas for team building. Consider a strengths-weaknesses team workshop to gain a fuller understanding of your group and its dynamics. Allowing time for regular play, such as board or video games, can enhance team flow by heightening the sense of togetherness. You may also opt for a game-based application specifically designed to boost employee relationships and create unity within your team.

Why is team spirit important?

Teams with a well-developed spirit are characterised by resilience and a collective determination to succeed, making them more effective at overcoming obstacles. They also tend to seamlessly brainstorm ideas and exchange information, leading to enhanced collaboration and productivity. When employees feel they are part of a team, they are strongly motivated and inspired to perform at their best.

How can playing games enhance team spirit?

According to one study, video gaming, for instance, can serve as a practical method of building and enhancing newly formed teams. Moreover, board games have been proven to significantly improve team flow, providing a sense of camaraderie and fostering open communication.