Play with a purpose

Part 1 of 2

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.

Part 2: Ten powerful - and powerfully fun - telework team-building practices.

Jeff Zbar is an author and speaker on telework, free agency, and small or home office issues. His books include "Teleworking & Telecommuting: Strategies for Remote Workers & Their Managers" and "Safe @ Home: Seven Keys to Home Office Security". Jeff works from home in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Questions or comments? Write him at jeff@chiefhomeofficer.com.

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