INSPIRE
Remember the last time you joined a new team? If you’re like many people, you were likely experiencing a combination of excitement and uncertainty. As names are exchanged and routines explained, quiet questions swirl:
- How will I fit in?
- Will they recognize my strengths?
- Can I trust this team and can I be vulnerable with them so they can trust me?
- How are we going to get along and get important work done?
These questions, likely never spoken out loud, shape how people step into a new community. And here’s the good news: you don’t have to leave those questions unanswered.
Wouldn’t it be nice if every teammate came with a simple guide to help others understand how they thrive?That’s the idea behind The Culture Connection Guide… a simple, intentional way to help people connect, collaborate, and contribute more effectively from day one.
CONNECT
I’ve used a version of this tool with several teams now, and I’m always struck by how often people come back to it. It’s simple, but it sticks.
Not long ago, a teacher I worked with several years back gave me a small gift filled with dark chocolate. When I smiled and said, “Oh, you remembered my favorite!” she replied, “No, I still have our book of favorite things.” She went on to explain that she had even shared the idea with her extended family, and it became a way they cared for one another more intentionally.
That moment reminded me of something powerful: when we know each other better, we care for each other better. What a simple way to show up for each other and send signals of value. And when we value each other, our collaboration gets stronger.
Over the years, I’ve refined this idea into two versions that leaders can use with their teams:
🌟 Lite Version: A Few of My Favorite Things — a fun, relationship-focused snapshot
🌱 Full Version: The Culture Connection Guide — a deeper look at how we connect, collaborate, and contribute
When I was a principal, I would send out these Google Forms at the start of the school year. With a merging tool (I used Autocrat – see tutorial here), I could generate one-page PDFs for each person. These went into a shared Google Drive folder and, some years, even became printed booklets. Over time, they became a go-to reference for everything from celebrating birthdays to navigating team dynamics.
AMPLIFY
The true power of this practice isn’t in the form itself… it’s in the culture it creates. When people feel seen, valued, and understood, trust deepens and collaboration flourishes.
As a leader, you can make that happen. Imagine starting the year with every team member’s voice captured, celebrated, and shared. Better yet, think about walking into a team meeting and already knowing how each person best communicates, what energizes them, and how they want to be supported. That’s the foundation for a team that doesn’t just work together, but thrives together.
To make it easy for you, here are the tools ready for you to copy and make your own:
- 🌟 A Few of My Favorite Things (Lite) – Google Form Template (View or Copy)
- 📄 Download A Few of My Favorite Things (Template)
- 🌱 The Culture Connection Guide* (Full) – Google Form Template (View or Copy)
- 📄 Download The Culture Connection Guide (Template)
*note: The full version includes The Working Genius areas (see Unleashing Our Genius: How One Framework Elevated Our Team). If you’re interested in that tool, I’m a certified coach and can help. Or feel free to substitute this portion with another strengths assessment.
Take a few minutes to set this up for your team. It’s fun and you’ll be surprised how often you and others will come back to it.
Because being curious about the people we serve—their quirks, strengths, and stories—we create a culture where everyone can thrive.
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