Here’s a conundrum for you.
We all agree that the new standard for leadership competency involves the ability to cultivate strong partnerships with colleagues. Collaboration, team cohesion, colleague development, and collective problem-solving are the cornerstones of success these days.
Yet despite that awareness, how many of us are putting in the time and effort required to build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues? Are we consciously cultivating our bonds, or hoping connections form as an inevitable consequence of everyday work?
As someone with a front-row seat to the challenges of professional life, I can say with certainty that too many of us are missing key opportunities to consciously build stronger connections with co-workers. We’re short on bandwidth, tight on time, and the first priority that often falls to the wayside is the effort to engage with our teams at a relationship level.
But what if I told you that it’s possible to build stronger bonds with your team in about 10 minutes a day? Have I piqued your interest?
On a conceptual level, most professionals believe in the importance of strong relationships within a team. Strong bonds lead to improved communication, reduced misunderstandings and conflict, and a sense of camaraderie that commonly leads to outperforming teams with weaker connections. Quality bonds do not just lead to better innovation and productivity, they create a satisfying and supportive work environment where individuals can achieve a deep sense of professional fulfillment.
To prove the point, think of how many of us have tolerated mediocre jobs because we love the people we work with? My metaphorical hand is waving wildly in the air. Strong connections inoculate us against the frustrations and annoyances of professional life and create environments for us to thrive.
However, cultivating these bonds can feel like a monumental challenge for leaders who are juggling deadlines, projects and endless meetings. Expectations to deliver results on time and under budget are unprecedentedly high, teams are running very lean, and bandwidth is stretched to its limits. Often, the first obligation to fall victim to professional triage is building stronger relationship ties with colleagues.
But here is the thing – building strong relationships doesn’t have to be a huge, time-consuming effort that detracts from your other responsibilities. It is possible to incorporate effective relationship-building strategies into your daily routine without committing more than 10 minutes a day. Yes, you read that right – 10 minutes!
Now before I sound even more like I’m trying to sell you a rotisserie oven, let’s dive into my list of simple, practical strategies for creating tighter, more engaged teams, even in the busiest working environments.
1. The Daily Check-In
I’m a HUGE fan of the daily check-in with every member of your team. It doesn’t have to be formal or long, just a quick conversation at the beginning of the day to ask how they are doing, what they are working on, and if they need any support.
Why it Works: Although it’s an investment of time, it ultimately saves time because you often get ahead of anticipated challenges instead of waiting for them to appear in your inbox. Additionally, team members easily associate this effort with caring about their well-being and valuing their contributions. They are more likely to open up about challenges or share creative ideas when they know someone is regularly checking in to offer support.
2. Encouraging Vulnerability
In a world where professional success looks too close to perfectionism, taking time to show vulnerability can be a game-changer. At the top of a meeting or in one-on-one conversations, take the opportunity to share a mistake you’ve made or a challenge you’ve struggled to overcome. Invite your team to collaborate with you on solutions or devising a better approach.
Why it Works: When leaders are vulnerable, they foster an environment of trust and psychological safety. By admitting mistakes or asking for help, you show others that it’s ok to be imperfect. Even if you have to start small, remember the goal is a high-performing team that communicates openly and isn’t afraid of making mistakes. We make powerful strides in that direction when we’re willing to be vulnerable with our colleagues.
3. Role Switching Exercises
One of the best ways to build empathy and stronger bonds is by creating opportunities for the team to see the world through a colleague’s eyes. Take 10 minutes during a team meeting, ask someone to explain a decision or challenge they are facing, and invite colleagues to offer suggestions by switching their roles and thinking through solutions from another perspective. This exercise challenges team members to consider other perspectives and inspires the kind of creative problem-solving teams need to be successful.
Why it Works: When employees gain a better understanding of their colleagues’ responsibilities and challenges, they are more likely to appreciate and support each other when the going gets rough. Over time, this exercise has the potential to break down stubborn silos and foster a deep sense of mutual respect.
4. Mini-Experiments
Nothing builds team bonds faster than working together to solve a problem. While scavenger hunts and office simulations of group climbs to the summit of Mt. Everest are fine for retreats (not really), we don’t often have the time for such elaborate productions. Instead, dedicate an occasional 10 minutes for the team to try a mini-experiment together. Work together to test some new software, generate a list of speed solutions to a problem, or try a digital detox.
Why it Works: When team members are part of a low-stakes experiment where everyone is in uncharted waters, they tend to bond over shared curiosity and working together to solve a problem. When no one is a subject matter expert, it provides a refreshing break from the roles we carry and fosters a spirit of innovation.
5. Win Rituals
It’s too easy to fall prey to a corporate environment where we focus on everything that’s going wrong and lose sight of everything that’s going right. When we focus exclusively on problems, issues, and complaints, we miss the opportunity to bond through shared success. Instead, find a way to memorialize the team’s wins. Have a wall of accomplishments where team members can document their wins and sign their names (yes, I stole this from Ryan Serhant, and I love it!), invite the team to curate a playlist with a song that reminds them of every win, or put a gold star sticker for every win on your team’s laptops. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you recognize good work in a fun and exciting way.
Why it Works: This approach keeps bonds focused on success, not just shared struggle. When we reinforce even small accomplishments worth celebrating, colleagues build connections through recognition and begin to eagerly anticipate the celebration of new wins. Teams that win together thrive together, and we miss this key bonding opportunity when issues are the only focus.
Small Actions, Big Impact
The reality is - team bonds aren’t exclusively built through grand gestures and dedicated team building efforts. More often, they’re built incrementally, through consistent, intentional actions that demonstrate care, appreciation and respect. The good news is that stronger connections can be achieved without a massive impact on your already limited bandwidth.
By setting aside just 10 minutes a day to check in, recognize, and connect with your team members, you can transform your team dynamics and create a more supportive, cohesive, and engaged work environment.
Remember, it’s the little moments that add up over time. When your team knows that you genuinely care about them—not just their productivity but also their well-being—they’re more likely to go above and beyond, collaborate more effectively, and weather challenges together.
So, tomorrow, take that extra 10 minutes. Whether it’s a quick check-in, a win celebration, or supporting creative solutions, know that these small investments will pay off in the long run and create the kind of team that not only works well together but truly thrives. You’ve got this.
Danielle Terranova is the voice behind Leadership Lessons with Danielle.
She has been an executive coach since 2015 and owner of Terranova Consulting, LLC since 2019.
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