Page 28 - Straight Talk On Project Management IV

2. Use a social butterfly for check-ins. Try sending in a friendly face who are able to pick up the
phone say ‘hi’ and leave the person at the other end smiling at the end of the phone call. It
may be the only phone call they receive, and it will be appreciated.

3. Encourage fun at 4 or lunchtime. There is lots of technology that allows you to be socially
close even though physically separate. Tonight, I am attending a virtual pub, we all stay at
home but will still raise a glass and host a pub quiz over WhatsApp. Just because you are
physically distant, it does not mean that you cannot be social. Hold a competition of ‘best
office view’ (expect lots of sleeping cats), healthiest lunch, or hold a contest “I have 5
ingredients in my fridge what am I having for tea”.

4. Keep track of birthdays, work anniversaries and retirement dates. Depending on your
company culture these may be low key with only a mention at certain meetings. Consider in
these times to make a little more effort. If you can, support a local small business by
sourcing small gifts and cards. Another nice option is to book a meeting without an agenda
*gasp* that others know to attend and sing Happy Birthday, handwashing is optional.

5. Organise whatever you normally would. Bake off? Cutest pet photo competition? Best DIY
bug hotel? Bingo? Pictionary? All possible, and they will help keep the teams gelling even if
the sanitizer runs low.

Be willing to adapt

You won’t get it right first time, please accept it. The ground rules will be challenged, and you will
have to make exceptions and perhaps add a few more to the list. Some tasks you consider
meaningful might not benefit the business, some of the suggestions your employees come up with
could be brilliant or not viable. There is simply no one size that fits every business and collectively
teams will need to work out by trial and error what works. So be open to constructive feedback and
take it on board.

In other words: keep calm, but don’t just carry on.