In 2024, Staff Shop began a Social Meetup initiative led by Laura De Lorenzi, the company’s Marketing Coordinator. The battle cry for the year is “One Love”, which is a way of being that is beneficial to the company’s mindset, operations, stakeholders and industry. It’s aligned with who Staff Shop is, their differentiators, the value they provide and the promise they keep. A voice and way that is like no other in the industry from a competitive advantage internally and externally. A choice to grow from being a Leadership Factory breeding Servant Leaders, to operating with One Love because love always wins.
With this in mind, this initiative is designed to bring their internal team together once a month to engage in a meaningful activity. As the company follows a remote-work model, setting aside time to meet and engage has the following benefits:
- Building Relationships: Regular team gatherings allow team members to get to know each other on a personal level. This builds trust and a sense of belonging within the team, which are essential for effective collaboration.
- Communication: Face-to-face interactions, even if virtual, facilitate clearer communication compared to written messages or emails. It helps in reducing misunderstandings, fostering open dialogue, and ensuring everyone is on the same page regarding projects, goals, and expectations.
- Team Alignment: Monthly meetings provide an opportunity to align everyone’s efforts towards common goals.
- Boosting Morale: Providing a chance for team members to interact socially, share successes, and celebrate achievements together, therefore boosting morale and motivation.
- Creativity and Innovation: Allows for brainstorming sessions, idea exchanges, and collaborative problem-solving. These interactions can lead to new insights and approaches that may not have emerged through remote communication alone.
- Professional Development: Team gatherings can also serve as opportunities for professional development. You can invite guest speakers, conduct workshops, or facilitate skill-sharing sessions to help team members learn from each other and grow in their roles.
- Maintaining Company Culture: Regular team gatherings help reinforce the company’s culture and values.
For the month of April the team gathered at Toronto Botanical Gardens for an afternoon of wellness. The day included a tour through the grounds; capturing photos of nature that inspired them, followed by a drawing session under the garden’s shade trees. The walk allowed for meaningful conversations about life, work and everything in between. Clear minds allowed for a relaxing drawing session. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life it’s easy to forget to slow down and engage in activities like this. Drawing has many benefits including stimulating the creative part of the brain, fostering outside the box thinking and stress relief. It has been found to improve concentration and problem solving skills; figuring out proportions, perspectives and shading techniques. Team members worked together to share tips on how to capture their ideal image, while allowing their pencil to take them on a journey.
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