Team dynamics: a balance worth nurturing

Very cautiously, the idea of emerging from the crisis is gradually taking shape. The economy is up and running again and most companies are once more operating at full capacity, with the exception of a few sectors still bearing the full brunt of the repercussions of these past 18 months of pandemic.

"All systems are go", to borrow the phrase from our politicians, but what about the state of mind of employees within companies?

The "post-Covid" working dynamic

We looked into the question, and it was with varying degrees of enthusiasm that the majority of employees were called back to their workplace, at least on a partial basis. For some, the joy of being reunited with colleagues in a familiar setting; for others, the end of a much-appreciated quality of life.

Many different scenarios exist, but we have observed that new habits have taken hold, offering greater mobility and flexibility, sometimes at the expense of the dynamic of exchange and sharing within a given team.

For managers, this profound shift in paradigm has, in a sense, revolutionised the way they manage, setting aside control in favour of trust, self-accountability and autonomy.

But by dematerialising workstations in this way, what becomes of the interactions, the informal exchanges between colleagues, the glue that helps shape an organisation's DNA?​

Gone are the days when the coffee machine remained "THE" nerve centre of the company. The new all-digital era, thrust into the spotlight by the Covid crisis, has led the vast majority of companies to rethink their organisational model. At the heart of this reflection, beyond logistical questions, lies the challenge of measuring the impact of hybrid ways of working on productivity, culture, the working dynamic and even people's identification with the company.

These are all questions that have so far received only partial answers and that still remain on the minds of senior management, entrepreneurs and HR professionals. But one thing is certain: the period we are going through has highlighted the importance of relationships between people, expressed through a deep need for communication.

"We must put people back at the centre"

This phrase, which is on everyone's lips, resonates particularly strongly at Valeur Plus. Indeed, it chimes with a trend we have been observing. Since the September return to work, we have seen a significant rise in demand for team coaching and support, in the form of team-building or team-cohesion days.

This phenomenon can be explained by a form of pressure linked to a difficult social context, to months of (often enforced) remote working, where the feeling of isolation, the lack of clear reference points, the sense of urgency and the emergence of certain tensions are beginning to weigh heavily in the balance.

What is at stake for working together?

If measures are not taken in time to nurture team dynamics, unfortunate consequences are likely to follow. Indeed, an unfavourable climate quickly gives rise to a drop in motivation, an increase in absenteeism, a rise in conflict situations and a weakening of the sense of belonging to the company.

Generally speaking, it is the entire working atmosphere that is undermined, with knock-on effects that are sometimes damaging to a whole section of an organisation. Fortunately, this outcome can be avoided.

In order to restore the words "team spirit" to their rightful place, we hope to address part of the problem by providing a concrete response to the needs of those employees seeking to rediscover a sense of team identity.

​Below is the list of the main needs we have been able to identify through our various interventions.

• Uniting teams around shared values

• Rebuilding connections and strengthening contact between peers

• Giving and receiving constructive feedback

• Having a space to speak and make room for feelings

• Taking stock and celebrating all the work accomplished during this difficult period

• Celebrating successes, both small and large, collectively

• Sharing convivial moments away from the usual professional context

• Getting to know new colleagues and discovering how they work and communicate

• Laying down the foundations, the golden rules of collaboration, taking into account the hybridisation of work-organisation models

The common denominator in all of this is sharing a "special" moment away from the frantic pace of an everyday working day. It means taking the pulse of your team and pausing to consider their expectations regarding communication and collaboration, but it also means paying particular attention to the key success factors, mutual expectations and pitfalls to avoid.

The Valeur Plus team put it to the test for you

Convinced of the value of this approach, we put our own advice into practice within Valeur Plus, by organising, with our entire TRE team specially brought together for the occasion, a day devoted to the theme of the dynamic of collaboration and exchange.

Objectively very beneficial, this workshop made it possible to bring everyone's needs to the surface. It was the opportunity to open up dialogue, express expectations, and recognise everyone's roles and responsibilities, while re-establishing the foundations of effective and harmonious collaboration.

​"Things could be said, in a supportive setting, and that feels good."

Delighted by the results of this exercise, we even took the initiative a step further by planning a second day with the entire company. Approached in the form of a "speed dating" session with the simple aim of getting to know one another better, this approach proved highly constructive and was thoroughly enjoyed by the whole team.

The good cheer captured in the photo below speaks for itself.

Applicable to any business context, this kind of support approach makes it possible to give your team the support it deserves, by determining the appropriate level of attention. It is an excellent way to rekindle and fan the magical flame of "working together" in order to lead your employees to success.

Now convinced of the benefits of team-dynamics support, we invite you to ask yourself the question.

Could the time have come to take care of your team?

Written by Johanne Ciccarone, Managing Director