Utilizing Technology to Build Relationships and Culture
At Element, most of our employees work remotely, therefore, we understand the importance of building caring relationships and working as a team. Sometimes it can feel lonely in remote work environments and that can affect us mentally, physically, and emotionally. We do our best to utilize technology in our business to stay connected using tools to help us be there for each other, show each other appreciation, and incorporate some fun throughout our busy workdays. It’s important to be productive as an organization and it’s also equally as important that we enjoy what we do and those we work alongside.
One of the ways Element has incorporated fun, play, and appreciation into our culture is by using HeyTaco! HeyTaco is an employee recognition software integrated within Microsoft Teams that helps inspire positive communication. This is one of our favorite ways of showing our colleagues' appreciation. We are a hard-working crew, but we are also a fun bunch, and we often see hilarious memes in our chats and fun conversations. With HeyTaco we virtually send taco emojis to our colleagues to say thank you, to congratulate them, to wish them Happy Birthday, and to let them know they are doing an awesome job. We use hashtags like #BETHERE #CARINGRELATIONSHIPS #TEAMWORKMAKESTHEDREAMWORK to accompany our tacos. A taco leaderboard tracks the number of tacos given and received and when an employee receives a certain level of tacos we give gifts like taco socks, taco gift cards, taco trophies, and Element swag.
We have noticed throughout the years that using HeyTaco within our organization has cultivated gratitude, appreciation, and acts of kindness in our culture. To be able to let someone know you see them, their hard work, and their dedication to what they are doing each day is rewarding. Work is not always easy and sometimes we can feel stressed. To be able to show someone your appreciation is not only good for the receiver, but for those who are giving. It’s promoted a sense of camaraderie and community. It also helps with engagement within our teams which is so important in remote environments. Who knew sending a virtual taco could be so fun?! It has made a profound difference in the way we work, collaborate, and celebrate each other. I often hear that it makes people want to help even more, to be there for each other and it simply feels good to be recognized.
As we think about the future, we at Element hope to continue to build strong and caring relationships within our organization. We know that a positive culture makes a profound difference in working with our clients, vendors, and partners and building quality relationships.
If your organization needs a culture shift. Think about the ways you can show your appreciation whether big or small. A thank you can go a long way!
