As many of you know, I am the lead singer in a Rush tribute band. Recently we went live with a new website that allows us to connect with fans from around the world. https://thespiritofrushband.com
It got me thinking about what bonds us in a world so divided, not only by politics but by screens, time zones, and busyness.
We’re so “connected” and yet most people I talk to feel overwhelmed by the non-stop barrage of information and communication.
As my work mostly revolves around global, distributed teams, I see how much they struggle to connect. The team members have jobs to do and work with multiple time zones, so how do they connect?
One of the challenges with connecting across the global is differing perceptions of what connection is. For some, it’s getting to know your colleagues on a personal level before a project begins. For others, it’s celebrating with them after the project is complete, feeling the camaraderie based on a job well done.
I’ve been reading a fantastic book on building rapport no matter the time zone. It’s called Forging Bonds in a Global Workforce by Andy Molinski and Melissa Hahn.
The authors talk about the importance of forging trust in global teams to get things done. One of their suggestions is to share something “semi-personal” when working with new colleagues, starting with what you might have in common with them.
I love the phrase “semi-personal” because it accounts for cultural nuance. For some, semi-personal might mean someone’s work history, and for others it might be a family photo. It doesn’t matter all that much. The point is to let people in, even if only a little to start.
When you do, you’ll start building the relationships needed to increase efficiency, bear the burden of time zones, and get critical information when you need it. Rapport is not just an exchange of pleasantries; it’s the foundation of high-performance.
I have found music a great connector across cultures, generations, and locations. It’s not too personal, but it’s meaningful to most. Why not make a playlist with your team’s favorite tunes? Better yet, why not share why the song is your favorite?
Other topics that are easy connectors are food, professional interests and history, favorite books or movies, and culturally significant holidays. The latter is more than a rapport-builder; it’s a necessary part of scheduling a team’s calendar!
I highly recommend prioritizing connection in global teams. So I’ll end by asking, what’s your favorite song? I promise to check it out. Mine is Mission by Rush off the album A Show of Hands. Happy listening!
My work mostly revolves around global, distributed teams, and I have seen firsthand how challenging it can be for them to connect. With varying time zones and the pressure of getting work done, finding that sense of connection can be tough. But one of the biggest challenges is the differing perceptions of what connection truly means. Some believe it’s important to get to know your colleagues on a personal level before starting a project, while others find camaraderie in celebrating together after the project is completed.
Absolutely true! It takes a great amount of intention to connect, and even then cultural differences around what it means can make it harder. I find that talking about those differences helps. I know some find this difficult, but I’ve always welcomed conversations around different cultural approaches to things. All teams need trust, even if they don’t have deep connection.