The nature of a team is for individuals to focus, not on the needs of others but rather on their own agenda.

In this new world of Zoom meetings and working from home, effectively functioning as group is even more of a challenge.

With the kids, the dog, the deadlines and the uncertainty people can easily become unaware of how their behavior is affecting those around them.

To get people to function as a unit you need to create and opportunity for them to “jump off the merry-go-round and spend time together thinking and functioning as a unit.

Virtual Corporate Gatherings are great ways to accomplish this.

Because there is a direct correlation between involvement and commitment, I believe in involving rank and file employees in the creation of the event.

I use the following process:

Employees are surveyed to see what they think of the idea of having an organizational gathering.

The Questionnaire might look something like this:

• What would you think of spending one -three hours as a group focusing on ways to improve as an organization?
• What areas or topics would you like to explore?
• What concerns would you like addressed?

Interested employees and I work together to brainstorm what the gathering would look like.

I help the group implement the ideas and facilitation all or part of the gathering.

When the event is over participants complete an evaluation.

Afterwards, I coordinate with the appropriate people to evaluate the effectiveness of the gathering and then discuss ways to implement changes and ideas discussed when the group was together.

Often these events are the catalyst for additional gatherings.