Building Better Teams: May Edition

Source: Rahul Pandit on Unsplash

Welcome conscious business owners, marketers and change-makers! I think this post may brighten your day. With spring in full swing and summer on the horizon, May is a special month to invest in your team and community impact. Get outside, enjoy flowers and fresh air and – most importantly – put your values and the good of humanity first. 

Through all you do, lead with love and be intentional about living your mission like our team at The Good Camp. While this Building Better Teams series offers ideas to engage and connect your partners at work, remember to share about what you are doing with your audience, too. This will help you stay up to date with what hashtags are trending and what others are talking about on social media, but also remember that conscious business is not about giving back for a day – it’s about making full business processes and activities good for people and the environment.

May Flowers

You’ve heard the saying April showers bring May flowers, right? For this month’s metaphor, we’re going to think about the showers as the challenges you’ve overcome so far this year and the flowers as the things to celebrate! Appreciating the balance of rain and sun gives life its beauty, just as valuing both the struggle and triumph is important for your business. From proms to graduations to buying new houses to wedding ceremonies, Spring is a time of hope and rebirth – for us and our planet. In fact, Renewal Day is May 4 and provides the perfect time to welcome new beginnings.

Through your conscious business and with your team, think about what you have to celebrate this month. Find the flowers! With a small team, it’s easy to focus on one project after another but that is why it is especially important to celebrate victories, successful campaigns and each other. Ask what is going on in everyone’s lives and take time this month to enjoy an organic snack break together. On the business side, think big and strategize about how your team can grow this year.

Source: Emma Simpson on Unsplash

Mind Matters

While you’re checking in and celebrating one another, take time to care for each other’s mental health, too. May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and mental health is an essential component of everyone’s well-being. Taking time to de-stress, process change and pursue passions matters. In an increasingly technologically-driven society, it’s easier than ever to become overwhelmed.

On that note, let’s chat about mental illness. When I was in high school, I served as the Vice President of mental health non-profit H.E.A.R.T. – Helping Every At Risk Teen. Our organization worked to break stigmas surrounding mental illness to allow everyone to be their true selves and live authentically. Everyone has mental health and needs to care for their mind and psyche with the same intention as for physical health. However, not everyone has a mental illness.

That said, mental illness may be more common than you think. Be kind and considerate to one another always. According to NAMI, one in five U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year, yet in 2019, only 43.8% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment. It is important and good to talk about mental health care and seeking help. As an active advocate and ally, encourage friends, family and team members when appropriate to seek professional guidance. People are not their illness, and you want others around you to shine.

At The Good Camp, we start meetings with a breath in unison and have no-questions-asked time off. While this may or may not work for your business team, do what you can to create safe spaces that care for the holistic health of others. Make mental health top of mind in May!

Source: Elizabeth Jorge on Unsplash

What’s Going On In May?

National Months

Aside from Mental Health Awareness Month, May is home to several other themes relevant to your conscious business and consumers. To care for other areas of health, it’s Global Employee Health and Fitness Month and Correct Your Posture Month. Consider a Flexispot desk with sit to stand or other features to maintain healthy posture at work – it’s definitely been a game-changer for me! 

When thinking about diet, it’s Mediterranean Diet Month and Celiac Disease Month. Calling all gluten-free businesses – take this opportunity to educate consumers about Celiac! If you think back to summer 2020, you’ll remember the Mars-like appearance of the West Coast. It’s also Wildfire Awareness Month. And for our creative friends, get your cameras at the ready for Photography Month, too!

National Days

Similar to other months, many important national days for conscious businesses tie together with monthly themes. Start the month by delivering a may basket to a neighbor or family member on May 1, May Day! Celebrate your ethical production on May 8 for World Fair Trade Day and consider ordering some organic cookies to keep the party going through May 15 – Chocolate Chip Day. Show trees some love on May 16 and appreciate your rescue dogs on May 20. Commit to safety for humans and animals on May 21 – it’s American Red Cross Founders Day and Endangered Species Day. 

Wrap up the month with organic grapes for Wine Day on May 25, Creativity Day on May 30 and Smile Day on May 31. The last Monday of the month is always Memorial Day so be sure to honor those who have paved the way for progress and positive, sustainable business, too.

More Ideas

As a conscious team, you recognize the importance of investing in children – as individuals and with many ideas, they are the future! Support Children’s Mental Health Week the first full week of May and encourage exploration through Reading is Fun Week the second full week of the month. To return to those May flowers, take a stroll in the woods May 2–8 during Wildflower Week with your team or family.

May Conscious Business Calendar created with Canva

Team Challenge Ideas

Since you’ve marked the days that matter most on your personal and business calendars, it’s time to set an intention for the month. We’ll share a few challenges for you to choose from but remember you don’t have to focus on every area. Challenge your team to grow in attainable ways to practice better business and to live your mission.

May your month be filled with mindfulness, renewal and celebration. Keep up the great work you do for the environment, humanity and animals in our world. By learning and investing in better business and people, you make your processes more productive and impactful. Together, we’re all in the good camp to make a difference!

#thegoodcamp #buildingbetterteams