An elementary student ran straight from the school bus stop into his parent’s home office and exclaimed with exasperation, “Your days are the best. You get to play games all day long while I have to work hard at school.” While the DISTek engineer attempted to explain that virtual meetings are not all fun and games, the son was not buying the claim that socializing (including some games) is work related because it benefits the business. DISTek understands that informal communications build relationships and foster a sense of camaraderie which enhances employees’ ability to work well together.
Employee interactions have been a vital part of DISTek’s culture from the beginning. Whether it was large anniversary celebrations for the whole family or all company holiday parties, DISTek regularly gathered the whole team to socialize and celebrate. Growth and expansion into the world of remote work did not change DISTek’s value of employee interactions. Rather, we began thinking outside of the box to enhance the connections, realizing that informal communication did not have to stop due to working remotely.
One of the most common examples of workplace informal communications has always been breaktime conversations. We quickly discovered that conversations over coffee do not have to be limited to the office breakroom. Rather, coffee breaks can happen in an online environment, too. The secret for making these interactions happen is intentionality. At DISTek, we schedule monthly Coffee and Conversations to encourage employees to take 15 minutes to chat with fellow employee owners. We believe this investment is worthwhile because employees who feel they have genuine friends at work are more likely to enjoy their job, perform at a high level, feel invested in the company, and serve others within the organization. And employees like the breaks, as they say they are a fun way to get to know their co-workers better.
Prior to remote work, informal interactions often occurred while eating. When having employees in 26 states limited our ability for in-person lunch and learning opportunities, we began implementing virtual lunchtime gatherings. At DISTek, lunchtime information exchanges come in many forms including monthly Town Hall meetings with leadership, Lunch and Learns where subject matter experts share information often exploring the “why” behind actions or decisions at DISTek, and structured training classes teaching professional skills, leadership, and ESOP basics. We’ve also recently added Facts and Snacks, late afternoon opportunities to learn from subject matter experts covering topics such as interpersonal skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and tips for career growth.
As we continued looking for ways to connect, we realized that we use social media in our personal lives to bond with others. DISTek took a similar approach by customizing our Microsoft Teams platform. These posts have included everything from recognizing employees’ accomplishments to hosting virtual celebrations, including Spirit Days, scavenger hunts, and dress-up days. Posting selfies or scavenger hunt finds such as the wackiest item in your house, favorite mug, or family favorite game entered employees into drawings for gift cards. One employee wrote, “It’s been a hard week but … posting pictures from our home and everything has really helped me. It’s allowing us to get to know each other.” Similarly, to lift employees’ spirits when the outside temperatures were dropping, we declared a Comfort and Joy Day. We invited employees to come dressed in comfy but work appropriate attire (sweats, flannels, fuzzy slippers), drink hot chocolate, eat cozy soups, and generate loads of positive vibes.
The fun does not stop with the Teams version of social media. DISTek actually uses virtual games to build camaraderie (don’t tell our kids). For example, each month 3 employees challenge our CEO to a lunchtime virtual game of Catan. We have also built stronger teams through games of Family Feud, connected over competitive trivia rounds during happy hours, and bonded as we impersonated Sherlock Holmes to flee escape rooms.
In the end, there’s no avoiding the fact that remote workers miss out on the social aspect of a traditional work environment—watercooler chat, office jokes, and other invisible elements that improve teamwork behind the scenes, but DISTek has made great strides in bridging the gap. Our children may not believe that we are working rather than playing games all day, but DISTek employees have found a great balance between working remotely and forming interpersonal connections through informal communications.
