How can a new employee feel like they belong to the team even before their first day on the job?

Experts at LähiTapiola tried out the SmoothTeam simulation to address team-building challenges related to growth and change. Data Protection Lawyer Suvi Väänänen and Compliance Officer Katja Järvensalo, who participated in the simulation, share their experiences and insights.

Situation: We have the skills, but do we know each other? 

LähiTapiola’s compliance and data protection functions had grown and been reorganized. With the addition of new experts and changes to team structures, it became apparent that not everyone knew each other as well as they used to.

The challenge wasn’t a lack of expertise, but rather that the team members weren’t yet familiar with each other’s strengths, work styles, and personalities. To support day-to-day collaboration, the team needed to take some time to come together so they could better take each other’s differences into account.

Solution: Getting to Know the Person Behind the Job Role

The team decided to try out the SmoothTeam simulation. Both Suvi Väänänen, who joined the team in February, and Katja Järvensalo, who has had a longer career at LähiTapiola, found the simulation to be a refreshing alternative to traditional Post-it workshops. Smooth facilitation and the digital platform allowed participants to focus solely on what mattered: the discussion.

The main benefit of the simulation was getting to know colleagues specifically as people, not just as representatives of their job roles. When everyone’s responses and views were openly shared with the group, the different personalities quickly became apparent, even among those with whom there hadn’t been time for more in-depth one-on-one conversations.

The simulation also proved to be an excellent tool for onboarding. One of the team’s newest members was able to participate in it even before her first official day on the job, which made integrating into the work community significantly easier. Suvi, who joined the team earlier this year, was also deeply impressed by the others’ openness and respectful communication:

“This sped up the process and helped me feel at home in my new workplace right from the start!” – Suvi Väänänen, Data Protection Lawyer, LähiTapiola

What has changed in everyday life?

• The barrier to reaching out was lowered: Getting to know each other made it more natural to ask for advice, ask for help, and invite someone to lunch.
• Highlighting Strengths: The team gained a concrete understanding of how the different members’ strengths complement each other and how their own team can fill in the missing pieces.
• trust their own work and that of the team: The participants found their perceptions of themselves as employees confirmed.

To whom do the LähiTapiola team members recommend the simulation?

Based on Katja and Suvi’s experience, simulation works particularly well for building trust and helping people get to know each other more quickly in situations where:

• the team grows or the organization changes.
• New employees are joining the team.
• Remote or hybrid work has reduced the number of face-to-face encounters in everyday life.

   

Although the simulation is particularly effective at accelerating team building among new teams, they have also proven to be a valuable tool for established teams that want to strengthen an open and inclusive work culture or discuss complex topics in the workplace, such as interaction, motivation, or high-pressure situations. 

Suvi Väänänen, Data Protection Lawyer
Katja Järvensalo, Compliance Officer