The Practice of Personal Maps: Fostering Genuine Connections in the Workplace

??The Practice of Personal Maps: Fostering Genuine Connections in the Workplace

Starting at a new workplace can be daunting, especially when we are unfamiliar with the team dynamics and individual team members. To build strong and supportive relationships, it is crucial to bridge the emotional and mental gaps between colleagues. Understanding each other's aspirations, interests, values, and goals can significantly enhance team communication and collaboration.

As a leader in the team, I recognized the need to create an environment where team members could truly know one another beyond their professional roles. This led to the implementation of "Energize" Thursdays, a dedicated 30-minute period during the week for Management 3.0 practices. Among these practices, we introduced the Personal Maps exercise, a powerful tool that promotes social bonding and authentic connections.

In the midst of work-related responsibilities, team members often lack the space to share and learn about each other's personal lives. Investing time in Personal Maps not only brings great satisfaction but also ignites colleagues' interests and fosters genuine connections. By sharing personal aspects, we strengthen the sense of belonging, self-awareness, respect, trust, and collaboration within the team.

"By creating a mental map of a colleague, you make an effort to better understand that person." - Jurgen Appelo

During our presentation sessions, we set clear objectives:

1. To deeply know team members on a personal level.
2. To foster a sense of belonging and teamwork.
3. To establish authentic connections between leaders and peers.

The first session commenced with a discussion on the significance of self-awareness and how our emotions, behaviors, and attitudes impact our interactions both at work and in other areas of life.

The Personal Maps exercise proved to be highly effective during the session. It provided an open platform for each team member to express who they are through values, family, friends, hobbies, education, favorite foods, goals, and objectives. This exercise also created a relaxed space for people to ask questions and engage in meaningful conversations.

I began by presenting my own Personal Map to the team, encouraging openness and vulnerability. We then distributed sheets with a suggested model for creating their maps, allowing each member to unleash their creativity and represent themselves in their own unique way.

The subsequent session saw some fascinating results—colleagues unveiled their Personal Maps, revealing playful, creative, and expressive representations of their lives and values. These maps showcased what truly mattered to each individual.

It was a remarkable experience; the team bonded, fostering an environment where people felt comfortable sharing their authentic selves without fear of judgment or labels. Encouraging these connections brought immense satisfaction and allowed us to truly know each other beyond the boundaries of the daily work routine.

The practice of Personal Maps empowers colleagues to freely share their personal preferences, goals, values, and experiences. This open exchange cultivates a strong sense of camaraderie, appreciation, and trust within our daily work.

Although we operate as a Human Resources team, our structure includes smaller groups specializing in Selection and Recruitment, Training and Development, and the Personnel Department. Strong alignment among these groups is crucial for delivering value and ensuring the best employee experience. The more we understand each other, the more cohesive our teamwork becomes.

Creating opportunities for the team to get to know one another has enhanced our meetings, planning sessions, experimentation days, and continuous improvement retrospectives. Honest and constructive feedback has become the norm, as we collectively strive to deliver value to our clients.

??Key Takeaways:

1. The practice of Personal Maps has become an integral part of our management practices, including welcoming presentations for new team members.
2. It revitalizes long-standing teams that may have fallen into autopilot due to the daily routine, reigniting their passion for collaboration.
3. The feedback from the team has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the significance of creating an environment where personal connections thrive.

??"The experience of sharing my values, preferences, and aspirations with my colleagues and discovering common ground brings me immense happiness." - Cris Maria

??"In these moments, I can talk about myself without concern for judgment or comparison. I feel valued and truly part of the team." - Genilza

??By fostering genuine connections through the practice of Personal Maps, we elevate our teamwork and propel ourselves towards a brighter and more united future.

#Teamwork #EmployeeEngagement #Management3 .0 #PersonalMaps