Building Bonds Beyond Business: Insights from Auditing an SEMD Team-Building Meeting

In a recent episode of our DrivingSales podcast, Defining Leadership, we had the pleasure of interviewing Mike Donovan, CEO and Co-Founder of Search Engines MD (SEMD). Among other things, our conversation delved into the unique challenges of fostering bonds and building relationships among team members - especially remote team members. Mike shared an innovative approach his team uses: a weekly team-building meeting every Monday morning, which even clients or prospective clients are invited to join. I was fortunate to receive one of these invitations during our interview and wasted no time accepting. 

The Power of Connection

Imagine starting your week not with the usual rush of business updates and project deadlines but with a genuine, heartfelt connection with your colleagues. That’s exactly what Mike Donovan and his team at SEMD do. These Monday morning sessions are not about business—they’re purely dedicated to team building and personal connection.

Mike explained that the meeting begins with introductions, but only if there’s a new face. If everyone already knows each other, they skip this part. What follows is an opportunity for anyone to share personal updates. This segment is wonderfully informal and organic, allowing participants to share as much or as little as they feel comfortable with.

The “Meat” of the Meeting

The heart of the meeting is a prepared question that everyone must answer. This is where the magic happens. Mike’s questions are designed to be relatable and fun, helping to uncover common interests and spark lively discussions. Whether you’re an SEMD team member or a guest, participation is mandatory, ensuring that everyone engages and contributes to the conversation.

During the call I attended, Mike asked everyone to share what food item they are best at cooking. You might think this is a simple question, but it revealed so much about each person. For instance:

• Nate shared a delicious dish he learned in Portugal which sparked questions about his travels. 
• Doug humorously confessed that he avoids the kitchen because his wife is an accomplished chef, but proudly claimed to make the “world’s best” shrimp bisque. This led to a hilarious debate about Flavor Flav’s new role as a spokesperson and investor in Red Lobster and his hopes of rejuvenating the faltering brand.
• Alicia boasted about her fantastic steaks, sparking a friendly rivalry with Kelly, who touted her unbeatable burgers that require a secret ingredient. As a testament to the comfortability of the meeting, she even shared this ingredient for the team to try. Sorry folks, while I would love to share her secret, we were all sworn to secrecy. haha
• I offered up my mother’s famous (and truly one of the only things I cook) sour cream enchiladas, recounting an embarrassing story of forgetting the crucial ingredient—sour cream! They had a field day teasing me about this blunder.

The Impact of Personal Connection

Throughout the meeting, the excitement in each person’s voice was palpable. People were genuinely interested in each other’s stories and experiences. There were even references to previous meetings’ questions, highlighting that participants pay attention and care about what everyone has to say.

This simple exercise was not just fun—it was a huge success. It provided a platform for team members to share a bit of their personal lives, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie that is often missing in work environments - did you notice that I didn’t specify “remote” work environments? By the end of the meeting, I felt a strong connection to each of these folks and later received emails requesting my recipe. I was even invited back to future meetings!

Try Something New - Don’t Fear Connection

If you’re looking to strengthen your team’s relationships, whether you’re working remotely or in person, I highly encourage you to adopt a similar approach. Here are a few reasons why this type of exercise can be so beneficial:

1. Builds Trust: Sharing personal stories and experiences helps build trust and understanding among team members.
2. Fosters Engagement: Fun, relatable questions engage everyone and make meetings something to look forward to.
3. Enhances Communication: Knowing more about each other on a personal level can improve overall communication and collaboration.
4. Creates a Positive Work Environment: Starting the week with a positive, relaxed meeting sets a great tone for the days ahead.

You don’t need a big budget or fancy tools to make this work. Just a regular meeting time, a prepared question, and an open, supportive environment. Whether you’re discussing cooking skills, favorite travel destinations, or your favorite books, these conversations can break down barriers and bring your team closer together.

In conclusion, the Monday morning team-building meetings at SEMD are a testament to the power of personal connection, contributing to their ridiculously low, almost non-existent turnover. They show that taking a little time to focus on the human side of work can lead to stronger, more cohesive teams. So why not give it a try? You might just find that it’s the best way to start your week too.

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

As the new year approaches, many of us are thinking about ways to improve and grow in our personal and professional lives. One effective way to do this is by setting goals and working towards them. But it’s also important to remember that it’s okay to fall off track. The most important thing is that we pick up where we left off and continue to work towards our goal. Don’t let one, two, or even ten stumbles stop you from achieving your vision of success. 

So, how can we engage with our employees to help them set and achieve their goals in the new year? Here are a few tips:

1. Encourage open communication: Create a culture of open communication in your workplace. Encourage your team to write their goals and aspirations down and share them with their colleagues. This can help create a sense of support and accountability, as well as give you a better understanding of what your team is working towards. 
2. Help employees set SMART goals: SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Work with your team to set SMART goals that align with their personal values and career aspirations. This will help them stay motivated and focused as they work towards their goals. Don’t just focus on the job - focus on the person. Positive personal growth will almost certainly improve job performance. This will also show employees that you care about more than just their work contributions, strengthening your relationship.
3. Break your goals down: Often, goals are set that require numerous smaller tasks to be completed in order to achieve success. Look for opportunities to break your goals into smaller tasks to help you stay on track. Help show that small triumphs can be found in the ingredients, not just the final result. 
4. Offer support and resources: Provide your team with the resources and support they need to monitor and achieve their goals. This could include training, mentorship, or access to specific tools, equipment, or software. Monitoring the progress of your goals helps you stay on track. And smaller, incremental updates will help show continual progress and reduce anxiety.
5. Encourage a growth mindset: Encourage a growth mindset in your workplace. This means encouraging your employees to embrace challenges and see them as opportunities for growth, rather than setbacks.
6. Celebrate progress and achievements: Don’t forget to celebrate your employees’ progress and achievements along the way. This can help keep them motivated and engaged in their work. Not every employee needs the same type of support or recognition. Use the knowledge you have of your team to celebrate them in the way that will best encourage continued progress.
7. No Employee Left Behind: We often concentrate on the team members with the most room for improvement. While this may seem like the best approach, in today’s hyper-competitive job market, we must insure every employee knows we are committed to their personal growth and development. That being said, DO NOT FORGET YOURSELF! We can get so busy helping those around us that we forget to create, monitor, and share our goals with our team. 

It’s important to remember that goal-setting is not a one-time event. It’s an ongoing process that requires ongoing effort and commitment. It’s okay if we fall off track or face setbacks – the most important thing is to get back on track and keep working towards our goals.

So, as the new year approaches, take some time to engage with your employees and help them set and achieve their goals. Encourage open communication, offer support and resources, and celebrate progress and achievements along the way. And remember to cut yourself (and your employees) a break if you fall off track – the most important thing is to get back up and keep working towards your goals!

If you don’t have anyone to discuss your goals with or help hold you accountable, feel free to reach out to me directly and I would be honored to take part in your process. It would be great for me too. I’m always open to external support to help me stay on track!