Media Reviews of: "Get Weird!" - 101 Innovative Ways to Make Your Company a Great Place to Work
Net.Worker News
www.nwfusion.com
by Jeff Zbar
Play with a purpose
Laser tag, after-hours socializing, a ball game or concert with the team…John Putzier can rattle off dozens of ways to build camaraderie among the team.But how do you include team members who are hundreds or thousands of miles from the office?
"Team building was an issue even before telework came along," says Putzier, author of "Get Weird: 101 Innovative Ways to Make your Company a Great Place to Work." "You can work next to someone for years, and still know nothing about them. Now, that's been exacerbated by distance. People are just electrons on a screen."
Hoping to build esprit de corps among a virtual or mixed traditional/remote team? First, find out how well the team knows each other. If telework failure often stems from a lack of trust or sense that remote workers aren't carrying their load, building a bond could help build trust, Putzier says. "You've got to learn who is on your team."
How about a little "Getting to Know You" session via e-mail, message board or face-to-face chats? Workers can share tales from their early life, education, experiences and expectations. Try tackling one topic each Friday for a month, and keep it fun. While you can't mandate socialization, lead by example, encouraging your team members to get to know each other better. Using text-based chat for frequent, friendly, nonwork-related discussions allows remote colleagues to become real people.
For local team building, Putzier suggests members attend sporting events, rock concert, movies or nights out on the town together - possibly aboard a rented bus or van to create a group event, he says. The team can even visit a supplier or vendor, to see how the companies work together.
Whether the events occur locally or virtually, they should always include at least the manager, as well as an occasional senior executive. If not, team socializing can sometimes take on a "revolutionary tone."
"And if management isn't motivated to do it, I'd be concerned," he adds.
Jeff Zbar is an author and speaker on telework, free agency, and small or home office (SOHO) issues. His books include Safe@Home: Seven Keys to Home Office Security (FirstPublish, 2001) and Your Profitable Home Business Made E-Z (Made E-Z Products, 2000). Jeff works from home in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Questions or comments? Write him at Jeff@goinsoho.com.
Net.Worker News
www.nwfusion.com
by Jeff Zbar
Part 2 of 2
Eight ways to build (remote) team spirit
So the team is scattered across the landscape, with some people teleworking from homes nearby, and others based hundreds or thousands of miles away.
How do you keep the "we" in the team?
Team-building events have long been heralded as effective camaraderie builders in the corporate environment. Pull off similar events - like laser tag, after-hours socializing, a ball game with the workgroup, or group attendance at a concert or movie - for the telework group to keep the team spirit alive and well.
The event can even be in-house events or gags that take moments - not hours, but have the same door-opening impact, explains John Putzier, author of "Get Weird: 101 Innovative Ways to Make your Company a Great Place to Work" ($17.95, Amacom). The goal is to heighten individual achievement and unite the team, he says.
Here are some of Putzier's ideas for telework and in-office team building. While some require everyone be in the same place at the same time, others can work for on-site and remote team members. For those that discuss Internet-based efforts, consider setting up an intranet site accessible only by team members.
- Heard it through the grapevine - Create a chat area (a Web forum or list serv) where workers can start up discussions or pose questions of a professional or personal nature. From the company's point of view, it can help stifle rumors and gossip about company policy or workplace issues. "The grapevine is the number one source of information for nonmanagers. This takes the grapevine to a legitimate level," Putzier says.
- Wall of Fame - Display awards, trophies, certificates, or other professional or personal successes on a shelf in the office dedicated to showing off individual or team merit or achievement. For remote members, post images, photos or tales of the worker's accolades on the intranet site, or the team leader can send an e-mail to members touting individual honors. Similarly, you can lead any recurring, teamwide conference calls with such news announcements.
- Peer pats - Don't wait for management to recognize you or your co-workers. If you know a co-worker has won an award or did a good job on a project, send a message to the team acknowledging the worker.
- Personal messages - Every Friday, encourage team members to create some sort of personal message or information as part of their team-only e-mail. Accolades, hobbies, greatest accomplishments, favorite local restaurant or vacation retreats, or upcoming vacation are all good candidates. Consider including family notes, such as a child's soccer championship or college acceptance. "It doesn't need to spur discussion," Putzier says. "It's just so people can read the e-mail and say, 'That's cool.'"
- Brainpower inventory - What are the skills and interest of your team members? You'll probably find musicians and singers, artists and cartoonists, chefs or barbecue aficionados, authors and poets in your group. Display their work in the hallways or on the team intranet, or hold a social event - possibly when the whole team is in town for a department or companywide meeting - to have everyone show their stuff. The team could pull together a band to jam at events - where the team's chefs supply the fare, for instance.
- Oh, baby - What were you like as a baby? When the team is together, or on the team intranet, post team members' baby pictures. Get team members to try to match the baby with the adult.
- Rock me, baby - Whether the entire team works in the same region, or those times that the team is together for a company meeting, scan the local paper to see what events will be held locally. Plan to attend sporting events, concerts, a comedy club or the movies as a group. Rent a bus and ride together - even include spouses or partners. If the event is kid-friendly, invite the whole family.
- Fantasy weekends - Have team members submit their own fantasy weekends. If you could have dinner with anybody, who would it be? Name three things you would like to do before you die? Make them reasonable, and then try to pull off some as a team. Putzier's lifelong dream, for example, is to be a race car driver. So in June, his wife sent him to a weekend stock-car race driving school.
Jeff Zbar is an author and speaker on telework, free agency, and small or home office (SOHO) issues. His books include Safe@Home: Seven Keys to Home Office Security (FirstPublish, 2001) and Your Profitable Home Business Made E-Z (Made E-Z Products, 2000). Jeff works from home in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Questions or comments? Write him at Jeff@goinsoho.com.
Network World Careers Newsletter
by Amy Schurr
A peek at perks
Now that the job market is softening, you don’t hear as much about companies trying to recruit and retain workers with fancy perks. But nice extras are still there to be found; you just have to look a little harder. Here are some of the perks I’ve come across recently:* At Technology Advancement Group, which develops ruggedized computer hardware, founder John McEwan shares his passion for Corvettes with employees through an unusual perk. Any staffer who leases a new Corvette receives $500 per month toward expenses, according to an article in The Washington Post. So far, a few have taken him on the offer.
* John Putzier, author of " Get Weird!: 101 Innovative Ways to Make Your Company a Great Place to Work, " suggests providing take-home gourmet dinners for staffers and their families.
* Last summer’s picnic was no ordinary weenie roast for employees of BORN Information Services in Wayzata, Minn. As TechLink reports (http://www.techlinks.net/news/L11Sep0095215.cfm), the $1 million event that Rick Born threw for his employees featured entertainment by Eagles singer Glenn Frey and other ’70’s rock groups, as well as tons of activities for kids.
* Public relations firm Alexander Ogilvy offers employees $2,000 per year in a " Q-Fund. " The money can be used for any product or service that contributes to overall quality of life, such as child day care, housecleaning service, gym membership, or a spa vacation.
* My employer, Network World, offers us access to a concierge service to plan parties, get concert or theatre tickets, and make dinner reservations. The company also offers access to a personal trainer and massage therapist on-site, and best of all, I get to telecommute two days per week.
Amy Schurr is an editor for Network World's Management Strategies and Features sections. If you have any career topics you'd like her to cover or want to comment on this newsletter, you can reach her at aschurr@nww.com.