Support Your Global Team

How To Support Your Global Team

  • Friday August 12, 2022
  • Connection   
  • Teams   

Harvard Business School states that 89% of corporate employees work on at least one global team, and 62% have colleagues from three or more cultures. SHRM and Globalization Partners analyzed how global teams feel.

 

Surprisingly, they found no discernible difference in engagement, happiness, or satisfaction with compensation versus overall company statistics. However, one challenge stood out.

 

Feelings of connectedness, belonging, and inclusion diverged dramatically on global teams versus the organization as a whole.

 

Global teams are 15% less likely to report high or very high levels of connectedness. 

 

Connectedness and Global Teams

 

We love the SPLIT framework Harvard professor Tsedal Neeley offers to global team leaders. The framework helps to identify and address five sources of ‘social distance’. 

 

Here are example tips from Tsedal Neeley, but we encourage you to read the full study.

 

Structure

– “We are different yet one”. The team is a single entity. Leaders must foster respect to differences but look for ways to bridge them and build unity.

 

Process

– Add “deliberate moments”. Initiate informal discussions about work and nonwork matters that allow team members to get to know their distant counterparts.

 

Language

– Balance for inclusion. Keep track of who is/isn’t contributing and solicit participation from less fluent speakers (get dominant-language speakers to dial down if needed).

 

Identity

– Learn from one another. Don’t make assumptions about what behaviors mean. Ask a lot of questions before drawing conclusions.

 

Technology

– Choose format carefully. Use instant technologies to persuade others to adopt your viewpoint. Delayed methods are best for information sharing (and less disruptive).

 


 

Experiences for global teams

 

Global team leaders must help team members establish effective interactions.

 

Teamraderie offers 40 ‘international-ready’ experiences to help global teams feel more connected – look for experiences with the globe icon. Experiences (1) ship globally; (2) are available in global time zones; (3) respect cultural differences and preferences.

 

Support Your Global Team

Experience to Support Global Teams

Snacking is global, but 80% of snacks are popular in a single country only. Why is this the case?

Did you know that an Italian Monk created the pretzel in the 6th century for parish children to snack on during service? Learn local traditions and discuss your own while trying international snacks from Africa, South America, Europe, and Asia while building connections and common ground.


[...]
$45 per person
25 min

How do you make your hybrid team feel connected despite the distance between them?

Led by Stanford’s Pam McLeod, your team will learn how to engage everyone, build trust, and feel unified through three evidence-based improv games that your team can utilize anytime throughout the year.


[...]
$1,200 for up to 20 people
45 min

Take a break from your day, relax your mind, and paint something meaningful while bringing your team together in this shared creative experience.

Joined by a professional artist, everyone will receive a canvas, paint, brushes and a pre-chosen design that you will all learn to paint together.

Choose between three themes:

(1) Regional landmark chosen by your team – get to know each other better by learning about a place your colleague is from

(2) Team logo – create a team logo and discuss shared goals

(3) Celebrate the season as a team!


[...]
$90 per person
01h15m
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View our managers guide to hybrid work

Learn where "hybrid" is failing and seven tactics to ensure your team thrives.

View Guide

Categories
  • Teams
  • Remote Work
  • External Connections
  • Leadership

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