Cultivating Camaraderie in Your Meetings

In a dynamic professional world, forming meaningful connections with colleagues matters more than ever before. At the core of high performing teams is competence, collective efficacy, and support that fosters a positive and collaborative environment. Yet pivotally important and sometimes overlooked, is the impact of camaraderie on teams. When teams have camaraderie, they often thrive.?

Camaraderie involves building strong professional relationships that enhance morale and drive both success and job satisfaction. The bond of camaraderie within a team is what makes it distinguishable from other “high performing” teams. When a strong sense of camaraderie exists, team members experience psychological safety, exhibit mutual trust and respect, and truly enjoy collaborating and working with one another.?

Teams with camaraderie engage in meaningful and consistent communication. Uniquely, they have a culture of checking in and making sure each team member is in a good place both professionally and personally. They cultivate a culture that is ?warm, inviting and inclusive. Collaboration is seamlessly interwoven into their daily workflow, all while being infused with a sense of humor, unity, and shared purpose.

Establishing team camaraderie doesn't happen overnight, and it is far more than just? “having fun” at work. Developing camaraderie requires intentionality; as the team strives to create genuine connections and nurture authentic relationships.

Five Signs Camaraderie is Missing Within Your Team

1. The leader’s ego is more important than the wellbeing of the team. Their focus is primarily on themselves. The leader acts as if their ideas and opinions reflect the entirety of the group; they monopolize discussions and dominate conversations and decision making.
2. The communication in the team is irregular, unclear, or entirely lacking.
3. The underlying team dynamic feels out of balance/sync. There’s an unspoken tension disrupting the cohesion of the team. Low trust amongst practitioners is evident where challenging issues or concerns are not raised or discussed. Rather they are pushed aside and ignored due to fear of conflict or repercussions.
4. Within the team and its leader, there is a tendency to evade accountability and responsibility, along with an increased emphasis on blame.
5. Toxic behaviors within the team are present. These include; resource hoarding, quiet quitting, catastrophizing, and members clinging to nostalgia.

Fortunately, camaraderie within teams can be cultivated through deliberate and practical strategies.?

Meetings offer powerful moments to foster this bond, and even small, strategic efforts can make a significant impact.?

Practical Applications for Facilitators/Leaders to Build Camaraderie During Meetings?

1. Dedicate the first 5-10 minutes of smaller meetings to ‘connection time.’ This can include a balance of both structured and unstructured engagement. While it doesn’t need to happen in every meeting, it’s beneficial to incorporate it routinely, and ideally at the beginning.
2. Use discussion & decision process protocols to ensure “air time” is given to all team members.?
3. Refrain from cramming too many items onto the agenda. Prioritize essential items to create opportunities for engagement, dialogue, and genuine connection.
4. Ensure that roles, expectations, and meeting norms are clearly communicated and understood throughout the year; rather than only at the onset of a new working year. Discuss and document these expectations routinely.?
5. Collectively identify and specify team goals.
6. Semi-regularly, incorporate a “purposeful mingle” during larger meetings for about 15-20 minutes per session.
7. Encourage team retreats/meetings off campus.
8. Acknowledge and celebrate successes, including both big and small. Express genuine appreciation and encourage others to do the same.
9. Teams take turns to rotate providing ‘hosting’ food during larger meetings.
10. Engage in reflective practice. Take the time as a team to reflect on your sense of camaraderie.?

A strong sense of camaraderie is essential for engaging in authentic collaboration, maximizing team efficiency, and achieving long-term success. Teams with greater camaraderie often experience increased happiness, higher professional engagement, improved job satisfaction, and better retention rates.?

What strategies might you try to improve your team’s camaraderie?

Take care,

Dr. Sarah Trevaskis