Fostering team synergy in a remote workplace
By: Juliana Hernández Molina
At Paladino HCM we like to take pride in being different from other consulting firms. After two years of working at Paladino HCM, I can assure you that we are the Sheldon Lee Cooper of consulting—not just due to our love for pop culture references, but because we challenge norms and bring fresh approaches to the table.
These turbulent years have stirred many organizations in different directions. Many find themselves struggling with the now commonplace remote and flexible “post-pandemic” practices.
Yet here we are. So, what are we doing right at Paladino? And what makes us different?
We believe it’s our cultivated synergy— our collective lifestyle and harmonious way of thinking. This ensures that strategic decisions, even the uncomfortable ones, resonate with the entire team.
So now the real question is, how do we achieve team synergy in this current “post pandemic” era of remote work? At Paladino the pandemic was an opportunity to make a difference and jump into the unknown. And this brings us to the first lesson.
- Master the kung fu arts of HR practices
We make flexible and remote practices our most attractive feature. This means creating disruptive and fearless ideas. We recognized that uncertainty can be daunting, but we saw it as an opportunity for transformation.
We unleashed our creativity, imagining unconventional possibilities. Beginning with the phrase “You know what would be cool…,” we explored fresh concepts. From eliminating time-off policies to incentivizing creativity with tangible rewards and crafting personalized benefits plans for each employee, our ideas were boundless.
In essence, we heeded the advice: “Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” This quote, often attributed to Goethe, was coined by the Canadian William Benjamin Basil King, who had an even cooler name.
2.“Don’t stop believin’, hold on to that feeling”
Ok, first a little bit of history. In the beginning, we were three HR wizards, our own version of Harry, Hermione, and Ron—spread across different cities worldwide, never having to meet face-to-face. We knew from the start this was going to be our way of working, following the new trends of 2020. We understood that a physical location wasn’t necessary to form a company. Determination and a shared vision were enough. This foundation became the key to our team synergy—a unified purpose that resonated with everyone.
Our common idea: crafting our dream company, a space for creativity, authenticity, and yes, of course, freely mentioning Harry Potter in our content.
Here’s where I’d like to give a special shout out to the CEOs, practice leaders, and company Dumbledores of the world. Their support and belief for developing team synergy is crucial for any organization. Why? Well, because a leader is more than a title. They are role models for their employees and the go-to source for guidance.
Ultimately, it is a matter of believing. When workers recognize their leader’s commitment to the organization’s core values, this cultivates a new level of loyalty rooted in actions, not blind trust.
This takes us to the third point
3.It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it
It’s tough to believe, but the pandemic led business leaders to rethink the design of their internal policies. For instance, it’s inconsistent if the company’s culture claims they value people and promote wellbeing, but then their rules micromanage break times and punish tardiness. This leads to a stressful situation where double standards are perceived. Consequently, workers might lose trust and engagement due to this mismatch company culture and policies.
To stay true to their values, companies must align internal policies accordingly. This often goes hand in hand with the first point of Mastering HR Practices because these core rules often emanate from top management. While many think HR manages this equilibrium, it’s a big misconception. HR just validates the organization’s cultural alignment through the policies created. Instead, it’s the leader’s responsibility to develop and support all business decisions based on these ideals. When this occurs, business strategies become coherent; therefore, fostering a unified workforce that genuinely believes in and embodies the organization’s values.
And lastly…
4.Again, and again, and again
Repeatedly reinforcing your organization’s purpose is crucial. Between busy back-to-back calls, endless reports, and never-ending assignments, it’s easy to lose yourself. However, small habit changes can rekindle core beliefs. For example, at Paladino HCM every Friday we’ve established an unconventional Touchbase and transformed it into a time for all of us to connect, laugh, and express our deeper thoughts. It’s something that we all look forward to throughout the week! This practice enhances our sense of purpose, adds value to our daily assignments and fuels our creativity for reaching our goals.
I know sale reports and client demands are urgent, but never forget the importance of reaffirming core values. With repetition, these values become ingrained and the constant need for assurance is eliminated. At this stage, the company’s vision becomes a part of everyone’s day to day activities.
This is crucial because culture is transmitted from person to person. And what is team synergy if not the result of a solid and coherent organizational culture? While culture-building varies from organization to organization, remember it’s a key ingredient for cultivating team synergy. Culture isn’t absorbed through osmosis; it is transmitted from one person to another through observation and imitation.
For those yearning to forge a distinct team environment without fear of the unknown, I am confident that this article could help. I hope Paladino’s journey offers a roadmap, not to replicate, but to prove achieving something truly remarkable is possible. Challenges are mere opportunities; our job is to spot and embrace them smartly. Like Ernesto de la Cruz once said, “Seize your moment.” (That’s the last reference, I promise)