Ask an Admin: How Can I Create Team Building Opportunities and a Sense of Unity for My Location-Scattered Team?

Welcome to Career Corner: a monthly blog series from ASAP that offers career advice from seasoned professionals, in response to questions from administrative and executive assistants.

Whether you're a hybrid, remote, or fully in-person employee, most professionals can agree that COVID-19 has had a large impact on workplace culture and community. In fact, a commonly asked question for those in the administrative profession is how to foster relationships and a unified culture at work, especially for admins who may be responsible for planning and executing events for a location-scattered team. 

We brought this question to Claire Deal, an executive assistant to the CEO at PRACTICE Benefit Corp, as part of our "Ask an Admin" series.

Watch Claire's video response and read more below!

Question: How Can I Create Team Building Opportunities and a Sense of Unity for My Location-Scattered Team?

Claire Deal: As the Executive Assistant to the CEO of our remote-first organization, I'm the glue that keeps our team's spirits high and the gears well-oiled. Picture me as a mix between a nurturing mother hen and a quirky sitcom neighbor, always ready with a plan (and a punchline) to keep our culture vibrant and cohesive.

1. Embrace Virtual Team-Building Activities

I've turned our virtual space into a playground of connection and laughter. No run-of-the-mill team-building here; we're all about creativity and a touch of delightful madness.

• Monthly Book Club: We dive into books with the enthusiasm of detectives on a mystery case, sparking lively debates and laughter.
• Weekly Calm Sessions: Using the Calm app, we transform into Zen masters, finding our inner peace amid the digital chaos.
• Coffee and Connect: Our virtual coffee breaks are like a sitcom episode, full of laughs, shared stories, and the occasional pet cameo.
• Coworking - Body Doubling: To fight off the remote work blues, we pair up for virtual coworking sessions, boosting productivity and banishing loneliness.

2. Nurture a Supportive Digital Workspace

In our digital realm, effective communication is our superpower. We use tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams not just for work, but to keep our team's camaraderie thriving.

• Weekly Team Meetings: Every Monday, we gather on Google Meets/Teams/Zoom. It's part pep rally, part strategy session, and a whole lot of celebrating our wins.
• Communication Guidelines: We've set clear communication expectations, balancing prompt responses with respecting personal time. It's about being a team, not a 24/7 work machine.
• Recharge Days: Encouraging regular recharge days, we remind everyone that it's okay to step back, relax, and return re-energized.

More About Claire:

Claire M. Deal is a passionate professional with over 15 years of administrative support experience. As the dedicated Executive Assistant to the CEO at PRACTICE Benefit Corp, Claire plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the organization. Claire is focused on fostering an inclusive culture and community and is dedicated to making PRACTICE even more welcoming. Claire’s journey has allowed her to fully pursue her passion for helping others. Whether it’s mentoring and empowering staff to become leaders or supporting the CEO and the C-suite in leveraging technology for team growth, Claire is committed to helping her organization’s team reach their full potential.

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