Bring Them Closer

You can build community even with far-flung team members

My team is scattered, with people in offices across the country working on fast-paced projects. We don't have the resources to meet in person regularly. So, what can I do to help people feel connected?

Team spirit depends on successful relationships, which you can foster through regular interaction, even across 

the country.
 

Have a vision Start by developing your vision for a successful team. It'll include your ability to get your work done and meet your clients' needs, but also think about how you all feel about each other. In a good team, everyone knows that their team-mates will cover their backs. Consider the unique pressures you and your face, and know what mutual support you'd like to see. Thriving teams also have a sense of fun; consider how that might fit for you.

Now, evaluate your current team status. Do your assessment on how well the team is doing on productivity, support and satisfaction. Find out how your team members feel, too.
Disconnects related to your current team cohesiveness will give you useful information on how to move towards your goal.
 

How to connect It's all about communication, but there are many ways to make this happen. Some will be taskoriented and businesslike; others may be more playful.

Teams like yours tend to have a lot of change in workloads, project assignments, and mutual dependencies. Regular checkin meetings for the team as a whole can set a solid foundation to keep it on track. Even if some members call in, it can address the need to keep the work moving successfully. These meetings may take 15 minutes or so, while each person runs through their assignments and lines up the assistance they need from co-workers. The frequency will depend on your needs, but they may be as often as daily and as seldom as once a week.

Moving away from the tactical, have staff meetings that share information at a higher level, giving team members a chance to present work or new ideas to their peers, discuss corporate strategies, or focus on team vision.
 

Consider holding the meetings monthly for an hour or so, again using teleor videoconferences to include the remote members.
 

To build rapport and relationship, get off e-mail and get on the phone together.
Group activities Perhaps you could set up a small team website where folks could share work information, along with pictures and build personal connections. Push it even more into the fun zone with shared interests. People who are in the same locations can plan some shared events. However, this can work virtually, too. If you have sports fans, try a fantasy league. If people like to cook, do a virtual potluck by sharing recipes. Try book groups on different topics, or even a bowling league where people participate in their own location but compete on scores. Don't take this on yourself; make it a shared expectation that people will help create a shared team culture.

Use the tools at your disposal to build a sense of community.