Make time to share

Would you ever guess your technician plays the trombone or your receptionist owns the world's largest stuffed cat collection? To increase team unity, Tanya Elmore, a client care representative at Companions Animal Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn., asked team members to bare their souls at the practice's monthly marathon meetings. Team members share a fun fact about themselves, such as their hobbies or an activity they enjoyed in high school.

Tanya Elmore

The experience has been so popular, Elmore has added to the original request: Now staff members also thank or compliment the co-worker sitting next to them. "Incorporating these small gestures into our monthly meetings has increased our team spirit," she says. "And we all feel more appreciated."