Get to Know Your Team
Make Your Team into a Real Team
Do you wish your team actually felt like a team? Do you know your teammates on a personal level or just a first-name basis? Healthy work relationships improve communication, collaboration, and generate an overall positive culture and atmosphere. Getting to know your teammates can help you understand their capabilities, responsibilities, and limits. Below are three fun and simple ideas to help you get to know your team better.
Welcome Celebration
Nothing says “welcome to the team” like a standing ovation of every team member clapping upon your entrance. Oh, and don’t forget the balloons and donuts! That’s what we call a welcome celebration. On your first day, all team members gather around waiting for you to come inside. Once the clapping subsides, everyone will share their name, role, and a highlight of their day. Then it’s time for socializing, your favorite donuts, and personal interactions with our new team member.
Welcome Celebration
Welcome to the Team
Peer Mentor Program
A buddy system? I like it! At Persolvent, we have a 4-week Peer Mentor program for new team members.. Each new hire is assigned a “peer mentor”. These are current team members who volunteer to welcome the newest hire to the team, introduce them to the culture, show them where the LaCroix is stashed, and ensure they know that no question is too silly. The first day consists of going out to lunch and having your mentor show you around the office and making introductions. The following four weeks consist of weekly check-ins and another company-sponsored lunch upon completion of the program. We have found this program helps create social connections and a sense of belonging.
Peer Mentor Duo
Team Member Interviews
Another way to familiarize yourself with teammates is to do team member interviews, like the one below. These are fun to do and can be shared early on in a team member’s journey, but it’s also fun interviewing the office veterans It’s fun to learn how the person sitting next to you likes their eggs.
Example
Name:
Role:
Time of employment:
What do you do at Persolvent? What would I come to you for?
What would you tell a new team member on their first day?
What’s your biggest (work-related) challenge at this moment? And how are you getting through it?
What was your first job?
What’s your most interesting/embarrassing office story?
If you were stuck on an island with one food of your choice, what would it be?
Where is your favorite place in the world?
What’s a hobby that you’d love to get into?
How do you like your eggs?
Do you collect anything?