How to Connect Your Siloed Departments in a Remote World

Interdepartmental communication creates a collaborative environment, but creating connections can be difficult. When is there time to break away from tasks and to-dos to learn more about your colleagues? The pressures of deadlines and project milestones can get in the way of genuine employee connections.

At INT, we know it’s important to prioritize interdepartmental unity.  Use our strategies below to increase employee engagement:

Host a Leadership Lunch or Coffee Break

Taking an hour out of a busy workday to connect with different departments can refocus and recharge your team. This works even if your teams are fully remote. Everyone can have a snack or a beverage of their choice.  At INT, we have a rotating calendar where one member of the Leadership Team hosts a member from each department.    While everyone may be suffering from "zoom fatigue," they will welcome having a scheduled break in their day every now and then again.  

Recognize Daily Victories

At INT, each employee has a designated number of “Awesome Awards” to hand out each year. These can be used to recognize a professional success, a hard project completed, or a coworker who lent a helping hand. They help break down barriers, encouraging interdepartmental communication and collaboration. “Awesome Awards” come with a personalized shout-out and a gift card for the recipient to use. By giving your team the autonomy to reward hard work, you encourage them to look for the good in one another and to celebrate everyday success.

Get Creative

From arts and crafts to icebreaker activities, we make sure our employees get a chance to try something new from time to time. Getting to break away from the to-do list and work on something different can bring a fresh perspective to lingering tasks. Plus, hanging employee art in common spaces brightens the room and creates a sense of unity.  For companies that are fully remote, you can still do activities, such as a weekly Q&A with a different team member, contests, or even taking a couple of minutes at the beginning of regularly scheduled calls to just discuss weekend plans. 

Looking for personalized advice for your employees? Contact INT to hear about all our organizational health solutions.