How to build connection to mitigate conflict online

Teams can still be together while apart.

 Coaches have had a complicated time navigating the pandemic with cancelled tournaments, limited training opportunities and adjustments to ever-changing safety protocols which impact the way they develop their teams. A significant challenge has been establishing and growing inter-personal connection between and amongst athletes which is crucial to any team’s functioning.

Gone are the days of team dinners or spending time getting to know one another at tournaments or meets. Even school sports have taken a hit and teammates can no longer hang out at lunch hour or after school. The teams that are practicing have to adhere to strict protocols without any kind of lingering before or after practice. And there’s the problem. What’s left?

Online connection building. This easy way to build and maintain relationships on your team can create an enormous difference once you are back together. It can also provide the much needed social outlet most athletes crave and miss dearly. Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Use breakout rooms. Having large groups online is hard. Providing your group with opportunities to hang out in small breakout rooms gives everyone a chance to get to know one another. Breakout rooms break up cliques. They are automated and allow for athletes who wouldn’t normally spend time together to do so in a surprisingly intimate way. How else would you get to meet your teammate’s pet cat or see their little brother walk by on the way to the fridge? 

2. Use Connection Builder activities. Setting up small group conversations around a topic that is intentional, you can get to know your teammates outside of the sport. Some of my fav topics are: Tell us what you wanted to be when you grow up when you were 8? What do you look forward to each day when you wake up? What do you do for self-care? Doing these types of activities can help position your team to manage inevitable conflict. The better you know someone the easier it is to work through problems when they come up.

3. Make on-line team building a training priority. One of the most important pieces of work any team undertakes is team building. You know the adage - teamwork makes the dream work. Coaches have a captive audience right now with fewer competing priorities. Take advantage of this time by establishing weekly on-line team meetings with the purpose of relationship building. Have activities prepared ahead of time and make these events as mandatory as team practices are.

4. Pay attention to the quiet ones. There is a significant body of research emerging from the pandemic about the impact of social isolation on young people and this is certainly true of athletes who are accustomed to a structured routine. Some are struggling – perhaps suffering depression and anxiety. If you have a team member who is opting out of meetings – get curious, reach out and see what’s up.

I’ve enjoyed a steep learning curve over the last ten months, learning best practices of online team building. If you’d like to hear more – I’ve created this Free Resource to help you get started.

Download my free resource: How To Build a Team Connection Online

Book your free ½ hour clarity session with me here. I’d love to chat about your team!