It's all fun and games

I recently had a coworker contact me and ask what types of icebreaker games they could play at their virtual all-team meeting. Good question! So, here are a few based on your level of tools and ability to plan ahead:

Picture Pages

This is probably my personal favorite. You can make this as simple or as sophisticated as you’d like. The basic premise is to collect photos from the meeting attendees in advance without sharing to the broader audience, then combine them and present them in the meeting as a guessing game. You could do it for fun, or create a real survey-style sheet and collect the entries to pick a winner based on the most matches.

You can go simple, such as everyone send in a picture of your shoes (while on), and have people try to guess the person by their shoes alone. Or likewise with a deck photo, car photo, half of a selfie, back of their head photo, etc.

The pictures don’t have to be real! You could have people send in their favorite 80’s cartoon, superhero, video game character, board game, and so on. It’s more about capturing the personality of the individual in a manner that would provide insight into their character and not be the same across the board.

You can be as fun and creative with the subject matter as you’d like. Even better, if you have a theme to your meeting, pick a photo subject that corresponds.

As for me, I kicked it up a notch! I created a template that is a combination of many of these things and had folks find images for all of them. This allowed people to illustrate more of their personality. But, more importantly, it gave us an artifact we would hold on to and share internally so that it could be referenced later for new people or people that you didn’t work with as frequently. We refer to it as a “virtual desk”, similar to things you might learn about each other if you actually had a desk to approach for a visit. Below is mine. Isn’t it easy to get to know me better from this in quick order? And aren’t I awesome?!? ;-)

Two Truths and a Lie

Classic game of individuals supplying two facts about themselves that others may not be aware of, plus one lie. The goal is to guess which statement is the lie. When people use more obscure facts about themselves, the game becomes far more tricky, and fun!

You can wing this with no advance prep and ask people to make these statements live in your meeting, or type them into some web share (such as Lync, Webex, etc.) on the fly, and then just have others guess. Or these can be collected and collated in advance, and again a score sheet could be used to capture guesses on which item is the lie.

Tip: Having the items written, in advance or via the web share, makes it easier for people to recall all three statements and then review for which they believe to be the lie.

Buddy System

Prior to your meeting, the organizer should pair up all participants with another participant. This can be completely random, but if you’re me to go out of your way to assign people that don’t know each other or typically work together.

The assignment is easy: The pair gets on the phone and chats prior to the meeting to get to know each other, specifically some things about each other personally and their current work.

During the meeting, each person will introduce their partner instead of them introducing themselves. It’s a creative way to do intros while establishing some additional personal connections.

Story Time

If you ever went to camp as a kid, you likely played this game. Someone starts a story, then the next person adds on, and so on as the story goes. The last person brings it to a “logical” conclusion.

You can do this verbally. However, it’s even more fun to see the end product, and maybe even save it for future reference! Using web-share tools, and sharing a whiteboard or even a word processing doc, have someone start by typing the first few words. Then name someone to go next and take over control to continue typing. Some tools will make this very easy with annotation support.

Try putting a limit on it, such as writing only three or five words, before passing the story on to the next person. As the facilitator, you can start the story using words related to your theme or topic to relate it back to your meeting if desired.

Would You Rather…

Put together a slide or two in advance asking people if they would rather do X or Y. In your meeting, display this page and ask people to put a mark on their vote. You can do this with a word processing doc and just collect X’s or names. However, I prefer this in a tool with annotation ability, especially those with pointer arrows that include people’s names. It’s prettier and more fun for the user, usually easier to allow people to edit all at once, and also easier to reset.

You can set the X and Y parts of the game to match the theme of your meeting, or just silly concepts to break the ice. For instance, would you rather:

·         Be invisible or read minds? (Me: Read minds)

·         Eat nothing but sweets or nothing but savory? (Me: Sweets)

·         Give up TV/Internet or give up books? (Me: Books)

·         Swim with dolphins or ride an elephant? (Me: Dolphin)

·         Hike or swim? (Me: Hike)

·         Take a European vacation or Caribbean vacation? (Me: Europe)

·         Have more time or more money? (Me: ummmm…. Time?)

·         Talk like Yoda or breathe like Darth Vader? (Me: Talk like Yoda I will)

Tic-Tac-Toe

Draw up some tic-tac-toe boards. (You know – those giant hashtag looking things?) Assign a pair to play and let them go. You can make the boards in advance, or do them on the fly in your meeting. You can use tools like paint or word processing, but again I prefer web share tools with annotation abilities. It’s just easier for multiple people to engage at once, and tends to have more flexibility. You can keep track of winners and turn it into a bracketed tournament if you’d like. It’s simple, it’s easy, and it gets people engaged in the presentation medium. (And tic-tac-toe smack-talk can be a brutal and fun side conversation taking place!)

Pictionary

You’ve all played Pictionary, right? Pick a word, draw a picture of that word, and see if your team can guess the word you picked. Same deal, only virtual and using the tools to your advantage. Divide your meeting into two teams. The meeting host supplies the word to ONE PERSON on one of the teams, and gives them sixty seconds to draw. The others on the team are guessing out loud. The drawing works best with a nice annotation feature, but paint or other similar tools will also work in your web share. If the team gets it, they get a point. If they don’t, the other team can guess and steal that point. Rotate to the other team. Then rotate to the next player on the first team. And so on. First team to X wins.

If that feels like too much work, just share your whiteboard and have people draw. Pick out a theme and have them create a collective scene, building off each other. Maybe a summer’s day, a picnic, a snowy day, the zoo – it’s all in the engagement and banter.

Hangman

Is that name even still politically correct?? I’m using it anyway…

The host gets most of the work on this one, but it doesn’t require much-if-any advanced prep. Standard hangman rules: Draw the empty gallows, and draw the word or phrase as a serious of blank lines (“Wheel of Fortune” style). Take turns guessing letters. When the letters are correct, fill in your blank lines. When they aren’t, draw more body parts on your hanging dude. It’s up to you how elaborate you make your person. Decide how you want to declare a winner – it could be just for fun, or you could make teams like Pictionary with a steal option (after the dude is dead).

You can make the words and phrases related to your topic, or something silly. The best part is that everyone will get to see your awful computer drawing skills!

Quick Questions

Think of a silly question to ask the participants in your group. Have them share aloud or in writing through your web share. This is the simplest way out, but can be just as fun! Some ideas:

·         If you had a theme song play every time you entered the room/a meeting, what would it be? (Mine is the “Night Court” theme song… Inside joke!)

·         What should I never ask you about? (Don’t ask me about Apple/”i” anything. I’m a Windows and Android gal!)

·         What was the last concert you attended? Or what is the next one on your list? (I’ll be at Alice Cooper this weekend!! We’re not worthy!!)

·         If today were like High School, what superlative would apply to you? Most likely to succeed? Best dressed? Class clown? (I’ll go with cutest couple for me. My hubby is my prince. Awwwhhh…)

The bottom-line is that there tons of games you can play with remote teams depending on your goals and time available. The most important thing is to try. There are creative ways to turn almost anything into a virtual game if you just give it some thought. See how much you just learned about me? 

Attaboy

For some strange reason, I hear many people talk about how it is harder to thank someone for their contributions when they work from home. Likewise, the at-home people say the same things about their in-office counterparts. I tend to think it's pretty easy to say "Thank you", but let's address the topic anyway!

Let's start with the easiest method: Call, email, or Instant Message. These are avenues you should be comfortable with and have at your disposal. The key to this forum is that your thanks be timely and personalized. Instead of "Thank You", consider something more like "Thanks, Joe. This {new feature} will save us 2 hours a week. Much appreciated!" This makes the thanks more specific to the action that was performed and not a generic rubber stamp. If the thanks is related to something really over-the-top, considering carbon copying the coworker's leaders or team so that others can recognize the difference this person made for you.

Additionally, many companies now have internal social media sites. Feel free to give a shout out on these electronic means so that other people interested in topic can tag on, and start a snowball of positive feedback! Use @ and # tags appropriately to get the message to the right people and find it again later.

Where this gets more interesting is when it relates to swag and physical forms of thanks. Maybe you might take someone to lunch, grab a coffee together, buy them a soda, or put a gag gift on their desk. Hard to do that when they are hundreds of miles away! Hard maybe, but not impossible. Here are some suggestions in the $3-10 range:

• Tell someone they rock, by buying them a $3 e-gift card to a music venue (such as iTunes or Amazon)
• Share that cup o' joe by sending them an e-gift card for a local latte lounge (such as Starbucks). Don't skip on the coffee talk though! Get on an a video chat and share your coffee together.
• Show someone how sweet you think they are by sending a cookie gram (such as the $5 cookie cards from Cheryl's) 
• Is it your lucky day because they helped you out so much? Make it theirs and mail them some lotto scratchers. 
• Make a donation to a charity in their name. Even $5-10 telling them that you are paying their kindness forward. Charities can use every penny! (Red Cross, American Cancer Society, or a favorite local charity, for example)
• Personalize a bottle of Coke during the Share a Coke campaign. Even if they never drink it, it will be a fun keepsake. We all know how hard it can be to find your name!
• Send an old fashioned card. A hand-written note really shows your appreciations. See my previous blog post on cards... e-Cards work too when you are short on time or do not have a mailing address. 

Basically, all you need is their email address or home address, and the possibilities are endless. Most cost the same that you would spend in the office. You may perceive it to cost more because it took more effort, but that effort will be totally worth it.

The key to thanking anyone, in-office or at-home, is your sincerity. If you are truly thankful and express your sentiments from the heart, the recipient will feel that and know they made a difference. 

Thank you for reading my blog today. :-)

Will Work At Home work for you?

Not everyone is cut out to be work at home. Well, maybe not all of their situations enable them to be successful. I'd like to think, based on job duties, that anyone could work at home if they gave it the effort. But let's ground ourselves back in reality and agree that I'm a bit pie-in-the-sky.

So, if it doesn't work for everyone, how do you know if it will work for you? Let's explore some of the factors:

Distractions - To be successful at home, the things that take focus away from work need to be kept to a minimum. That doesn't mean you have to lock yourself in a windowless, soundproof, isolation chamber. But, you do need to make sure that you aren't adding more distraction at home than you would have in the office. The biggest distraction is other people - babies, kids, significant others, neighbors, etc; anyone that is present in the house and requires too much of your attention. While you may switch a load of laundry during lunch, you must remember that you are here to work.

Office Space - Despite what some may think, working from home is not sitting on your couch or lying in bed. You need to have a dedicated work space, just like a space when you would physically go to the office. This cannot be your kitchen table, or an end table, or whatever makeshift thing you think will suffice. In some industries/roles, your office must be private and secured, with the ability to lock files and manage confidential data. Your office must also be safe and ergonomic, for both your long term health, and for legal reasons to protect your employer from workplace safety liability.

Outside Interests - Working at home is physically isolating. While you may compensate socially, there is still a feeling of confinement if you don't leave the house. It is important to have interests that go beyond your four walls to keep your social skills up and your creepiness down. You don't want to be that weirdo that never leaves the house and neighbors whisper about! Your house will turn into a prison if you don't step outside of it. You will feel isolated, alone, and depressed. The best candidates are involved in activities that take place in the outside world: volunteering, church, school, sports activities, social groups, activities with your family, etc.

Social (Media) Skills - You are not the only person working for your company. Even if your work is solitary, there will be others you must connect with, and others you should. If you live on an island, you won't be as engaged with your work, and in turn will not put your whole heart into it. We are social creatures, even the most anti-social of us. We also have a base level of needs, and belonging is a large component. To belong, to engage, you must interact. Being remote, this takes more effort. You have to be willing to reach out and not wait for interactions to come to you. Through electronic means, you must be able to share of yourself and invite others in. This will likely take the form of email, instant message, video chat, phone, and social media venues. If you don't actively employ these techniques in your personal life or current job, you likely will not thrive remotely.

Past Experience - This one is obvious. If someone has worked remotely in the past, they generally know what they are getting into and know if they can handle it. Obviously this cannot be the only factor, but it certainly does help.

Equipment/Tech Savvy - When you work at home, there will be at least some equipment/connections you have to manage. Even if your company supplies everything from the computer to the phone and internet lines, tech support is not onsite to help you if something goes wrong. You should be able to diagnose basic problems like connections. Ideally you are familiar with collaboration tools as well. Being remote, you will need to use webcams, social media, and other tools to stay connected with coworkers. It is important that you feel comfortable with technology enough to utilize these tools with little hand-holding.

Internet Speed - Duh! If you can't maintain a high-speed, dependable connection, it won't work no matter how great everything else is.

This isn't comprehensive. Each role will have unique qualifications, and of course the standard role desirables will also be in play. But these are some of the unique factors that may help you determine if working remote will work for you. Please comment with others!

Make the most of your office visit

Those dreaded words no work-at-home employee wants to hear: "We need you to come to the office for (this)."

Sends chills up your spine, doesn't it? Then your mind starts whirling around... I have to get up earlier? Do I still have any work pants that fit? Do I have gas in my car? What will I do with the dogs while I'm gone? And so on.

Let's face it. We're all going to hear it at some point. If you live close to work, you may hear it more often. If you live far away, it may not be as often, but tends to be a bigger ordeal to orchestrate. At some time, something will come up where your hands are tied and you have to go. After you complete the stages of grieving over the loss of your home for the day, you end up in Acceptance. And then what?

When you have finally come to terms with it, now you need to take advantage of it. If you had to leave your comfort zone, make sure you cash in. Make it worth your while. Don't come back home with any regrets or missed opportunities.

Here are some tips when planning your in-office visit:

• Don't book your day full of meetings. Leave as much of your time booked for impromptu conversations. Chances are that there are a large number of people that want to see you and you want to give them that chance. Staying locked away closes the door (literally) on those run-ins.
• Attend meetings in person. Take the room option, and if there isn't one, ask to make an exception this time. People will be so glad to see you that they won't mind the trouble of the conference room booking system.
• Let people know you are coming in. Share where you will be, what hours you have free, etc. Send an email or tell them on other meetings in advance so they can clear up some time to visit with you. Don't leave anyone telling you "I wish I would have known..."
• Schedule some social time. Arrive early, stay late, go out to lunch. Get in those casual meetings that are only slightly about work but help build lasting bonds.
• If you are traveling from further away, book an extra day or two to ensure you have time for all of your networking.
• Also if traveling, schedule something bigger with folks after work such as dinner or going to a local sporting event. Make every minute of your trip count.
• Reach out to someone you normally wouldn't. Expand your horizons. Build a bigger network.
• Don't complain about having to be in the office. No one wants to hear you whine. They are excited you are in, so don't belittle that with your bellyaching. 
• Don't forget the office rules. Double check on dress code, weather, traffic, meeting locations, and all the prep stuff so that your time in the office is focused on the interactions and not the distractions.
• Be present. Be available. Be social. Just be.
• Smile :-)

Send Cards

When I used to work in a traditional office building, I kept a set of various cards at my desk. If an occasion popped up, I was prepared. And if I didn't have the right card, there was a lobby shop in the building to pick one up for emergencies. It was super easy to leave a card on someone's desk, or use interoffice mail at worst case, to let them know I was thinking about them.

I enjoyed giving cards in the office because it builds engagement. People like to know that you remember them, you think about them, and that you took time to make them feel special. It's an easy gesture that pays big dividends.

Now that I'm at home, I can't just drop off a card at someone's desk. Some of my own staff aren't even in the same city. The logistics have changed. But that doesn't mean the sentiment has to.

The only difference between then and now is preparation, and maybe a few extra pennies. I still have a stash of cards on hand. However, I have to pay attention to upcoming events that I can foresee and drop the cards in the mail. I have to have stamps, I have to have home addresses, and I have to have a head's up. But with those things, I can still accomplish the same.

Actually, I accomplish more. People know it takes more effort to mail. It's no longer something I can run to my office last minute and do. They know I thought even more about them.

The real trick to getting the most value from sending cards is in the message. I never just sent a card. I ALWAYS hand write a personal note. I include messages of thanks for the work they are doing, positive outlooks for the future, and personal sentiments. Handwriting the card shows it came from me, not on assistant or something I copied from the internet. When I screw up a word, it shows I'm human. The personal note is genuine and real.

The following is a direct quote from an associate after receiving her birthday card:
Thank you so much for my birthday card. Seriously it was the absolute cutest birthday card I got this year. Maybe even ever. J It was an unexpected surprise & really made a difference in my day. J I don’t think a boss has ever sent me a card on my birthday & its little stuff like that make me so happy to be a part of this team & its why your team engagement scores are so high. You do a great job as an encourager & leader. J

See how much engagement credit I just scored? It cost me less than $2.00 for the card and stamp, and 5 minutes of time to write a personal message. The return on investment here is huge.

Welcome!

Happy 2015!

My name is Cortney Hoese and I am an IT Manager for a Fortune 100 company. What's unique about that? Maybe not much.

However, I lead my team from my home. I've been working full time from the comfort of my home office for 1.5 years (and part-time for about another year prior), and the majority of my team is remote as well.

The industry is moving this way. Moving to be "location independent". Yet, many other firms (yes, you, Yahoo!) have moved in the opposite direction.

How do you succeed when you work remote? How do you lead a remote team? My goal with this blog is to help you answer these questions based on my real-world experience.

Work at home is not for everyone. But it can be for more people if you know what you are getting into and are willing to put in some extra effort. I hope this blog offers you some tips to make your adventure successful.