Let me introduce you to my friend, Julie. Julie Pierce has one crazy dream: to empower leaders to change the world. She does this through coaching, consulting teams, and speaking around the country. Author of Play, Team, Play!, she lives in the Dallas area with her family. Julie is a dear friend and Writers Boot Camp graduate.
by Julie Pierce
I reported to a stranger.
Every Monday morning, my boss and I met to dissect my team’s latest marketing plan. His cut-to-the-chase tone and mannerisms made it clear to me he didn’t care to know me as a person, only the details of our projects. These meetings left me feeling like a commodity rather than a contributor, a producer rather than a person.
A few hours later, I’d walk into a meeting with those who reported to me. The transition was like an unexpected ice bucket challenge: a shock to the system.
I knew my team. I sympathized with the financial pressure Frank felt as he pursued a master’s degree. I appreciated Nicki’s ability to silence a crowd with her chimpanzee call. And I understood Cara’s nervousness about pregnancy and Charlie’s nerves about proposing.
In turn, my team knew me. They recognized the “tell” of my tiredness—that’s when my Texas twang drawled every word out for days. They could read the stress on my face and the sparkle in my eyes.
The stark contrast between these two meetings highlighted a deeper truth:
Working for a stranger isolates and demotivates.
Working with a connected team includes and energizes.
Frank, Nicki, Cara, Charlie and I had moved from having a cursory knowledge of cubemates to becoming a knowing community of teammates. Because we knew each other beyond our titles and alma maters, we were motivated to help each other succeed. We wanted to see each other’s strengths shine.
Leader friend, are you leading a group of strangers or an energized, connected team? If you want to lead a dynamic, effective team, try these 3 steps for eliminating the strangers and cultivating team community:
- Asking intentional, open-ended questions like, “What’s your favorite way to spend a free weekend?” or “Who inspires you?” helps your team connect beyond the superficial. Give space for silence as people think of their responses and listen intently without interruptions. Thank them for sharing and follow-up when needed. With practice, you’ll start to hear the excitement in each other’s voices as well as the lumps in your throats.
- Nicknames and inside jokes emerge from time together beyond the deadlines and deliverables. Whether it’s an Iron Chef showdown or an Instagram scavenger hunt, purposeful play builds trust, strengthens communication, and creates memories.
- Celebrate. Big wins (like promotions) or little wins (like catching a glaring mistake before it goes to print) all deserve words of praise and cupcakes on the patio. In addition to birthdays and babies, look for opportunities to acknowledge the wins. My team celebrated everything from surviving a launch week to Christmas in July.
Leader friend, there’s no place for strangers on a team. Eliminate strangers on your team by encouraging a culture of connection. Your intentional investment will lead to energy around initiatives and commitment to the cause as a result of being more connected to each other.
What one thing will you do to connect with your team today?
We're giving away a set of Julie's conversation cards on the blog this week. To enter to win, simply leave a comment on this blog post. The winner will be selected and notified on Friday, August 28th.
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