A THOUGHT FROM JENNIFER

Way Forth is a remote company. And, although we can (and do) cultivate culture, collaboration, and collegiality from our remote locations, we have two problems:

1. We know the value of in-person collaboration, and

2. We actually like each other!

To address these “problems,” our team meets up in person every six months, and these gatherings are highlights of my year! Not only do I get to hang out with these fabulous people, but we also learn, realign, challenge each other’s thinking, laugh (a lot), and eat amazing food—together. 😋

Building a team like this doesn’t happen by accident, and it’s impossible without trust.

Trust is one of our core values, and it is foundational—both in our team and in how we serve our clients. If you’re a leader thinking, “Ok, trust is all well and good, but what does that look like practically?”

Justin Taylor, a project strategist on our team, shares his story of four ways he establishes trust on his teams. I hope it helps you think of ways to lay a foundation of trust on your team as well.

The Way Forth Collective team at our October 2023 gathering in Breckenridge, CO.

POINT TO PONDER

What benefits have you seen on your projects when team members have trusted each other vs. when they haven't?

We'd love to hear your thoughts! Reply to this email to share them.

WORK SMARTER

Maximize Slack for Stronger Communication, Collaboration & Team Culture

Slack is an amazing communication tool that has reduced our team’s email usage 100 times over, made task integration with PM tools faster, and even contributed to shaping our team’s culture. It’s true! But most of that has happened by using the more subtle features many people may not think to use.

Our team has implemented these three game-changers:

1. Status: Communicate without saying a word,

2. Remind me: Triage unexpected requests, and

3. Random channels: Build a virtual water cooler.

Want to learn more about how we utilize these three features, plus a few bonus tips on how to effectively set up Slack for the first time? Read the whole article on our blog

A RESOURCE WE LOVE

Building Trust In Your Teams

By Jennifer Hamel, PMP

This month, you get two resources for the price of one. If you’re interested in learning about (or advocating for!) how trust is imperative for effective an efficient teams, here are two books I recommend:

BRAIN BREAK

Go For A Mindfulness Walk

By Liz Presutti, PMP

One of our favorite ways to relax during a busy week is to take a mindfulness walk around the neighborhood or a local park. If you've never tried this before, here's how to get started:

1. Go outside in nature to the place where you want to start your walk.

2. Take a few deep breaths to relax and unwind.

3. Begin walking at a slow, unhurried pace. Start with a 10-minute walk if you've never tried this before.

4. As you walk, use your different senses to make observations:

   • What different colors can you see?

   • What sounds do you notice? Can you hear the sound of a leaf crunch under your feet or a nearby bird or animal?

   • Do you notice any smells, like pine needles or freshly cut grass?

   • What can you touch? Pick up a couple leaves or seed pods and notice their texture.

5. End your walk with a few more deep breaths before you head back inside. Last, check in with your emotions and notice how you're feeling. We hope you're more relaxed now!

Your friends,

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