What do you do if your Agile team is struggling to build strong relationships in a remote work setting?

As a team facilitator, I've found games to be quite helpful for my team. They absolutely love them. Tools like Slides with Friends and IceBreakers by TeamRetro are very fun and engaging. The team enjoys the light hearted competition and we get a break from the monotony of discussing work. I also find that the icebreakers are energising and gets the team talking quickly.

Working in remote set up comes with its own challenges, but with tiny & effective measures, Agile teams, can be productive and challenges can be easily toned down by Scrum master / Agile leader (sometimes its Agile PM) 1) Team building activities (virtual) 2) Need to identify, what's working and what's not working for the team and make changes in real time 3) 1:1 check Ins not just to discuss performance but also to make the team member feel valued and heard about their personal challenges/accomplishments.

Learning from members of other teams through scheduled pairing sessions can be incredibly valuable. It offers a unique opportunity for cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing. By working together on tasks or projects, team members can gain insights into different perspectives, approaches, and expertise areas. This not only enhances individual skills but also promotes a culture of continuous learning and innovation within the organization. Additionally, it strengthens relationships across teams, fostering a sense of unity and cooperation that transcends departmental boundaries.

Create a Buddy System: Implement a buddy system where team members work together on tasks or projects. Pairing up allows team members to collaborate closely, share knowledge, and develop trust and rapport with each other. I benefitted tremendously when I joined a Multinational company and was quickly able to contribute and add value to the team.

?? Incorporating games into retrospectives?? In leading remote teams, I stumbled upon a game-changer: incorporating games into our retrospectives! We'd start with 20 minutes of gaming fun, which really helped everyone loosen up and bond ! It wasn't just about having a laugh; it set the stage for us to dive into deeper discussions with an open heart ?? After the game, sharing thoughts on our work felt easier, more like a chat among friends tackling challenges together. This approach turned out to be gold ??, making us feel more like a close-knit crew than just folks working from different spots.

Miro features for retrospectives can offer a collaborative and visual platform for team members to share their thoughts and ideas effectively. Additionally, incorporating trust-building activities into your retrospective sessions can further strengthen team cohesion and morale. Another suggestion for integrating trust-building dynamics is the Circle of Trust: Begin your retrospective by gathering the team in a virtual circle on Miro. Each team member can contribute by sharing one thing they appreciate or admire about another team member. This creates a positive atmosphere and reinforces mutual respect and appreciation within the team.

When I started working as a software developer, I got used to my open plan office with all my team mates surrounding me. While those had different communication problems, they did connect you very well with your team mates. When COVID hit, suddenly we were working remotely. We initially lost that open space were we would naturally meet up, talk and work together. To recreate this, we came up with a "virtual office". It was a meeting which spanned the whole day and had a teams chat room attached to it. When we started work we would jump onto it and stay on while going about our day. We suddenly regained the benefit of being available for and talking to each other. I recommend that each remote team creates a similar space for themselves.

Effective communication is key to building strong relationships in any team, particularly in a remote work setting where face-to-face interactions are limited. Agile teams should establish open communication channels, such as instant messaging platforms, video conferencing tools, and project management software, to facilitate real-time collaboration and information sharing. By encouraging transparent and frequent communication, team members can stay connected, aligned, and engaged, which ultimately fosters trust and strengthens relationships across the team.

Trust is essential for any team to function effectively, and in a remote work environment, building trust can be more challenging without regular in-person interactions. Agile teams can engage in trust-building activities such as team-building exercises, virtual coffee chats, or even sharing personal anecdotes during meetings. These activities help team members get to know each other on a deeper level, cultivate empathy, and develop mutual respect, all of which are essential for fostering strong relationships and cohesive teamwork.

Go beyond the obvious and ask them how they are faring in life outside of work too. Many have huge challenges that they cannot handle and yet are called to deliver at work as though all is well. This is one great way to create genuine trust.

In a remote work setting, it's easy for team members to feel isolated or disconnected from their colleagues. Personal check-ins provide an opportunity for team members to connect on a more personal level, discussing non-work-related topics such as family, hobbies, or interests. By incorporating regular personal check-ins into team meetings or one-on-one sessions, team members can show empathy, support each other's well-being, and strengthen their relationships beyond just work-related interactions.

Informal get togethers can add a new dimension to the team's cohesiveness. Rather than focusing just on work ceremonies, perhaps set up a "happy hour," or fun event. As an example, PowerPoint Karaoke gets people out of their shells and laughing together, which creates good downstream connections. Adding a ritual of giving an appreciation, from team members to each other, during standups or progress reviews, can also help to raise team focus and positivity.

Encourage Virtual Coffee Chats: Schedule virtual coffee chats or informal video calls where team members can connect on a more personal level. Encourage them to share updates, discuss common interests, or simply catch up with each other.

During the pandemic, my remote team also faced challenges building strong relationships. To bridge the gap, we organized online workshops and retreats specifically focused on strengthening team bonds and collaboration skills.

A quest?o mais básica que vejo nesse tipo de intera??o é manter práticas, valores e comportamentos bem acordados. N?o adianta cobrar coisas e a??es que a própria lideran?a n?o segue. Além disso, os canais de comunica??o devem ser usados de forma correta, sem desperdi?ar tempo ou desrespeitar o espa?o do outro.