Teams

Even when everyone’s in one office, bringing team members together isn’t easy. It takes time, creativity, and initiative. With virtual teams, though, it can be tougher to form real bonds. Here are our favorite ways to make that magic happen. 1. Fun Chat Channels People will use the company’s chat app to discuss things that aren’t work-related. You can make this …

In a new post for Digital Transformation Extra, I discussed what it takes to build a culture, an important topic given how the workforce has evolved. Physical Workspace Does Not Define Company Culture An organization’s culture centers on shared values, goals and attitudes embodying the company or institution. However, bringing people together in a single location does not ensure a rich …

Purely focused on collaboration, PGi is immensely proud of our innovative portfolio and the best customer care team in the world. Best in the world? Sounds ambitious, huh? Guess, what the folks at the Stevie International Business Awards agree! The PGi Expert Team was awarded a Gold Stevie International Business Award (IBA) for “Support Team of the Year.” PGi’s Expert …

Uber, the world’s largest ride services company, has captured headlines around the globe recently. With the resignation of Jeff Jones as president and CEO Travis Kalanick’s public apology after being filmed swearing at a company driver who complained about rates being cut, the company’s dirty laundry has been left out to dry for all of us to see. The company …

Dogs have long been named as “man’s best friend” – and for good reason. Their loyalty, trust and overall dedication to their owner forms a bond that rivals even the truest of human companions. But besides being loving companions (and the best thing to grace this earth), dogs can also help you become a more productive, focused and dedicated team …

All too often, we get wrapped up in our own lives and forget to show gratitude for the people around us who make our lives (and jobs) easier every day. Simple acts of gratitude can go a long way, especially when it comes to recognizing your coworkers for all their hard work and efforts. So, before you head off to …

When you think about it, we spend more time each week with our coworkers than we do our families. At a minimum of around eight hours a day we are in an enclosed space, working alongside team members who all have different personalities and quirks. And sometimes, these personalities and quirks can clash against unspoken office guidelines, often creating tension …

Employees are a sort of “case study” for a company. They can spread positive news about the business to their outer networks, provide valuable brand awareness and ultimately, keep the company honest in terms of leadership. Plenty of leaders encourage employees to speak up, give feedback, pitch new ideas or be a watchdog for unethical behavior. But can employees actually …

Far too often employees can fall into a trap of being unmotivated, unproductive and just plain disgruntled with their jobs. These symptoms are a cause of a virus that can easily turn your employees into Workplace Zombies. Learn more from PGi about how to prevent the virus in your workplace: PGi Survival Guide for Workplace Zombies from PGi Step 1: Motivate …

When you hear the term “team building” what comes to mind? Standing in a circle playing Two Truths and a Lie? Ropes courses? Or a company picnic with field day games? Yeah, I’m cringing a little too. But there can be a real benefit to team building activities, if they are done right. Team building activities help with facilitating positive …

Our IT team at PGi commits to three things for success: our philosophy of agile, our framework of scrum and our team of skilled workers. Today, though, it’s nearly impossible to find great IT workers unless you’re willing to really work at it. About half a million IT jobs currently sit open, and because of the rapid pace of new …

One of today’s most prevalent trends in the workplace is the emergence of the virtual team.  More and more people are working outside the office, while still being held accountable for the same responsibilities, workloads, and deliverables as before. These teams of teleworkers often face much more complexity than traditional teams due to the differences in schedules, time zones, and …

Inspired by the notion of giving thanks in November, we surveyed our customer base to gauge attitudes and unearth insights on the way knowledge workers feel about their teams. Nearly 500 professionals from a variety of industries and a variety of company sizes replied. And guess what? Teams have a lot of be thankful for. In fact, we’d like to …

It’s time to dim the lights, curl up under a blanket and turn on your favorite Halloween flick. If you’re a Millennial, parent of a Millennial or have been coherent for the last 22 years, then you know Hocus Pocus is a Halloween classic. Every October, I grab a bowl (or a cauldron) of miniature candies, light some candles and invite …

When PGi first launched iMeet Agenday, thousands of app users downloaded the tool to manage their multiple hectic calendars, join their meetings with a single touch and stay productive while on the go. Today, the tool is so much more than an individual download. Enterprises everywhere are leveraging the powerful features in iMeet Agenday to help hundreds of thousands of …

I have a saying I like to use in the workplace from time to time. Or, rather, it’d be more accurate to say I have a saying that I like to paraphrase: “Get positive, or get the [redacted] out.” I used to have this written on the board in my office but it turned a few too many heads. In …

In a recent survey, PGi found that 79% of respondents had the ability to telework at least one day a week. This is a huge victory for flexible work advocates everywhere, but it also means that we’re seeing an increased number of either fully or partially remote teams. The added challenges and barriers facing virtual teams mean that managers have …

Water-cooler chat: A brief, marvelous moment in the workday when employees share office buzz and tales from the weekend outside of their cubicles—and a must-have for virtual team building. Bonding, constructive criticism, knowledge sharing and innovation are the fruits of such spontaneous communication. But when your workers’ only interactions are online or on the phone, how do you capture the …

There is no question that working within a group has its difficulties, and in many cases people might opt to accomplish tasks on their own in order to avoid any inconvenience. However, collaboration is essential for creative success, and being a part of a team is fundamentally inescapable as life is all about learning to work within various groups. Whether you’re …

Virtual happy hours, remote office tours, online show-and-tell—everyone loves to get creative with virtual team building activities to bond and play from afar. So what’s the best virtual team building activity you can do? Create a plan for better communication. Sure, it’s not as exciting as beating your boss in a video game or as funny as your icebreakers, but …