Many leaders aren’t waiting for the bad dream to be over. They are forging ahead to strengthen company culture with whatever tools and methods are available in today’s circumstances. A project management firm recently partnered with a client to stage a blind pizza-identification contest where teammates were invited to name ingredients using only scent and tastebuds. A municipal engineering firm recently launched an online career development training platform as an investment in their employees. An accounting firm recently entered a ‘Top Small Workplace’ competition that will eventually buttress recruitment and strengthen retention. An early childhood human services agency recently commissioned the composition of a ‘company song’ using mission themes from employees for lyrics.
There are examples galore. Leadership teams, marketing specialists and human resources departments are pressing their creativity buttons. Different times call for different measures. There’s no need to wait for employees to return to the workplace so old morale-building activities can be resurrected. Many of us may not be returning to the workplace.
Begin by asking the question, “How can we invest in workplace culture when teammates no longer interact in common space?” Once the limitations of pandemic-related barriers are shed, open up a brainstorming session. No rules. No bad ideas. No judgement. Just the creative process. See what shakes out. Pick a tactic and convert insight to action.
