A little social communication can help build trust

Have you thought of social communication as an important part of creating highly productive teams?  If not, start thinking because social communication helps build trust that is crucial to successful teams.

Team members face challenges connecting with each other informally, especially when some team members work remotely.  In their 2008 book, iBrain:  Surviving the technological alteration of the modern mind, Gary Small and Gigi Vorgan, use the term “digital natives” to refer to individuals born since the 1980s who have never known a world without computers, television with 24-hour programming, cell phones, or the Internet.  Perhaps you have felt that digital connections pull the attention away from personal interaction with our fellow human beings. Your concerns are valid and applicable to your workplace teams.  So when you work with your teams through technologies, be deliberate in creating ways for teammates to connect informally.

Some teams have tried to recreate a little of this atmosphere with virtual cocktail hours on Thursday or Friday evenings, allowing team members to relax with a beverage of their choice and converse with colleagues in a casual, relaxed manner.  Some teams stay connected via Slack throughout the day, discussing life events.  You could also participate in a virtual game as a team, etc.  Find ways to connect with team members in order to promote satisfaction and success.