Simple life changing ideas – TEAMS

The Teams chapter in the Fresh Air Fridays book, ‘Simple Life Changing Ideas’, starts with:

“As human beings, we are not designed to function alone; we work best as part of a team. When you hear the terms ‘team’, ‘function’ and ‘work’ you may immediately think of this as related to your occupation or business. Although it applies there, this is about your life as a whole.”

Wellbeing

In our Wellbeing that Works newsletter we do have an organisational focus and, in many cases, the whole make up of how we work as a team in our businesses is likely to have changed during Covid. However, it’s affected the teams we have personally too. In recent days I have read much about weariness, reaching the 6-month barrier and really missing those human interactions both with work colleagues and family and friends. To be honest I feel that too.

Coming together

Celebrating the teams that I’ve come to recognise more makes a difference. For example, I am so grateful for the family time we got together in lockdown. I’m also grateful for the new teams I now belong to and how they are making sure I don’t function alone. Close to home are the new community groups I am now a frequent part of, whether that is supporting with shopping etc. in my locality or running the Zoom coffee morning I set up in the first week of lockdown. I’m part of a team of volunteers across the country continuing the NHS Check in and Chats, with those who feel isolated. I’ve also joined an online book club and have even become a regular viewer of some youtube channels – not really my thing before!

There is a difference; I am part of these teams at a distance and meet ups often have to be thought about in a different way. While that can feel far less spontaneous, nonetheless we are a team – a group of people coming together with a common purpose. In some instances I know I won’t meet or even connect with everyone in that team, in the NHS one for example. However, I can feel the collective strength of all those volunteers and coordinators as we move forward with a common focus.

Part of a team

So maybe it is time to rethink our views of teams – how we may have viewed them in that they feel strongest and close when they are face to face! A number of you will already be familiar with that not necessarily being the case as you work in geographically dispersed teams and be in socially dispersed family or friend groups. We don’t stop being in that team when we are apart. It still exists, and we can still gain strength in the solace of knowing that. As you read this you are part of our team, either as a regular receiver of the Wellbeing that Works Newsletter or as a reader of our blogs, so let’s take a moment to savour and celebrate that. Take a note of the diversity of the teams you’re a part of and savour and celebrate those too.

Then we want to encourage you to pass on that moment, to make contact with someone who is on one of your own teams, whether work or social, celebrate them and encourage them to do the same. 

Supporting each other

Let’s help one another, either at work or to simply be at their best as part of any team. Whichever team they’re on, they are our team and then we can support them in not having to function alone.

Whatever teams you and your people are in, let’s help one another to feel a part of them – they are our team and we can support them in not having to function alone.

There are many more ‘simple life changing ideas’ in the book. It is practical and encourages you to reflect on questions that impact how your life feels, with ideas and tools to help you make positive changes. Available as a printed version or e-book.