#Connect: Building and Strengthening Relationships in a Post Pandemic World
As the workplace continues to change dramatically and work shifts more into a new hybrid environment, connecting with colleagues and building new relationships remains important, but is now more challenging than ever. While meetings have moved to virtual platforms like Teams and Zoom and some work has moved to smart phones, we have found that there is not a technology substitute for the watercooler or the hallway conversation.
Each year, Arc Aspicio brings our strategy to life with a theme – a single word that helps our company focus on our vision. This year, our theme is #Connect. Relationships are more important than ever to achieve organization and mission goals. To make this theme come alive, we are innovating to find new ways to connect internally and externally.
In this hybrid environment, we have experimented with new forums to #connect, including:
Virtual Watercoolers and Hallways – For a watercooler, employees meet in a group setting learning and sharing information with one another. Some of these have specific topics such as Human Trafficking Awareness while others focus on topics the group wants to discuss. For a Hallway, over the course of half an hour, a group of employees interact one-on-one with each other, talking about personal and professional topics of their choice. Our employees enjoy the opportunity to speak with colleagues across projects and strengthen relationships with one another
Virtual Dinners and Listening Sessions – We invited employees to pick up to-go dinners and mingle with colleagues outside. We also hosted after work sessions where employees learned about wine, bourbon, Women in Leadership, and the performance management process
Conferences and Trainings – Employees facilitate and serve on panels for homeland security and law enforcement conferences, building contacts and connections with panelists and attendees. In addition, employees attend trainings to build leadership, technical, and consulting skills while interacting with peers and building relationships
Industry Days – Employees attend industry days with government agencies to learn about upcoming business opportunities, interact with new and potential clients, and engage with possible teaming partners
Through these #connect efforts, our employees learn from each other, grow their network, and strengthen relationships with clients and other companies. Regardless of what the future of work might look like, we are focused on implementing more innovative and creative ways to connect with others.
