Building Better Teams: June Edition
Source: Omar Tursić on Unsplash
Ah summer, it’s good to be back in the sunshine season! We’re thankful your conscious business and brand are spreading light all year round, but there’s something so special about longer days and warmer weather – and it’s my honor to get your team excited! Growing up in Minnesota, June has always been one of my favorite months. The weather is comfortable and it’s not too humid yet. I loved running in the dewy mist rolling around lakes, trees shadows keeping me cool until about 9:00 am when the sun reached over – feeling free and at one with nature. Mind, body and soul.
That same free and connected feeling is something you want to capture in your business and culture year-round. Pay attention to the energy of June and think about how you can incorporate that into your team after this month ends. Whether parents on your team are excited or stressed with kids done with school, you’re missing or celebrating a coworker’s vacation or visiting with family and friends for a wedding or reunion, this is a month to expect some schedule changes. Communicate with those around you to stay accountable and responsible for your projects but keep finding ways to weave in relaxation as you support your team’s holistic health.
Respect Vacation
Even if it’s not an unusual year with a global pandemic it can be tough to justify taking a vacation, and this is something we should think about not just during summer, but all year. If you’re a perfectionist, micromanager or early in your career, it can be uncomfortable to take a break and even to start a conversation about it. Here’s the thing: we can’t continuously run 100 mph. Taking a break is good for you and your team members mentally, physically, spiritually – holistically.
The best way to avoid burnout is to take time to invest in yourself, your passions and to relax. When our image of success is constant busyness and productivity, this might sound counterintuitive, but it's critical in the long run and benefits your health and the health of your business. Living conscious business values at The Good Camp means we have no-questions-asked time off because it helps us be a better team. We’re only human after all.
That said, it’s understandable to not have the level of flexibility that we do. But listen close, you should still take the vacation you can. Talk with your boss and team about what level of tuning out makes sense. If you can avoid your email for the week, do it! If you need to occasionally check in, set limits on the work you’re going to do on vacation. Most importantly, get everyone on board and respect everyone’s time the same. Let’s build a better business culture together!
Source: Joshua Stitt on Unsplash
Respect Everyone Always
June is a month to expand perspectives as it’s Effective Communications Month and Pride Month among other themes. However, just because this month has these dedications does not mean the work stops July 1. As a conscious brand and business, your audience expects you to commit to respecting everyone and expanding your impact and message to always be more inclusive.
Most importantly, you need to do this authentically. Authenticity is at the heart of marketing, business teams and conscious business (or at least it should be). Have you ever seen a brand change their logo for Pride Month only to resume business as usual? Exploiting advocacy is not authentic and people recognize that. Especially if your team or brand is working to improve a social issue, it’s important to be active in the fight for change year-round.
At The Good Camp, we have a mission to respect everyone we work with, internally and externally, always. Likely, your company and HR team members have provided some guidance on what is expected as far as your interpersonal conduct and protection of certain classes. Living a conscious lifestyle is about internalizing the values of respect though, being an active ally for the LGBTQIA+ community every day and standing up against hate that marginalizes anyone.
Thus, whatever campaigns you start or posts you create related to the themes or special days of this month, incorporate them into your ongoing action plan. Change doesn’t happen in a day and if something going on this month matters to you, be ready to stand for it every day. We’ll make business more inviting, inclusive and better this way.
Source: Irina Iriser on Unsplash
What’s Going On In June?
National Months
While I just touched on Effective Communications Month and Pride Month, there’s plenty more going on this month. For some reason, it seems that health is often on women’s minds but is not a priority for men. While women may have a team of care providers for different aspects of their well-being, encourage the guys in your life to take the same care as June is Men’s Health Month.
I mentioned it’s getting warmer, so enjoy hikes and bonfires this Great Outdoors Month! It’s also Perennial Gardening Month and National Fruit and Veggies Month. For our animal lovers, it’s National Adopt-A-Cat Month!
National Days
June is packed with great days related to monthly themes as well. Start your first Saturday with a run in the woods for National Trails Day. Share about your environmental initiatives on June 5 – World Environment Day. Support efforts to clean our planet’s water resources on June 8 – World Ocean Day. Show your audience how your team is getting outside or appreciating our wild animals on June 15 – National Nature Photography Day.
Celebrate Juneteenth to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S. on June 19. The next day, show love for the father’s on your team and in your life. Father’s day is the third Sunday of the month so it’s June 20, 2021. Also, you’ll enjoy the most daylight of the year in the Northern hemisphere for the summer solstice marking the first official day of summer. The solstice takes place between June 20 and 22 depending on the year. End the month with good karma by participating in Hug Holiday Day on June 29.
More Ideas
While there are many important and special days this month for your conscious team and business, here are a few ongoing weeks you can engage with. The first week of the month is National Gardening Week, so get those green thumbs ready! The last week of the month is Lightning Safety Week – and the Lightning Safety Council provides daily topic guides to inform you all week.
Last, June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and connected to many aspects of women’s life. It’s no wonder that this month is so popular for weddings! Celebrate any of your team members who are tying the knot!
June Conscious Business Calendar created with Canva
Team Challenge Ideas
Of these monthly themes, key days and weeks, there’s sure to be events this month connected to your business and the impact you want to make in the world. Our team has some ideas on how you can challenge one another at work and at home to live aligned with your conscious values and contribute to building a better team. Choose one or several, here are our ideas:
Thank you for your hard work to improve our world and society by investing in conscious business practices, staying true to conscious brand values and educating yourselves and the community. By building ethical practices into everything we do, our products, processes and relationships improve. Your commitment does not stop here but we’re excited to see how you’re cultivating a conscious culture and hope you continue to share your journey with us on social media and beyond. For one, for all, for earth!
#thegoodcamp #buildingbetterteams
