Tikkurila is a leading Nordic paint company. It has offices in several countries and a global distribution network.

Our team is responsible for marketing the Tikkurila brands Alcro, Beckers and Tikkurila. Our team includes members from Finland, Sweden and Estonia.

A multinational team with few meetings: how to make it work as a team?

Our team was set up a year and a half ago. Face-to-face meetings are rare in an international team anyway, and during the pandemic there have been none. New members have also joined the team during this period. Our biggest challenge is to help a team from different countries to work as a team.

I chose SmoothTeam on the recommendation of a colleague. I found the approach interesting: it's both playful and useful, helping the team find ways to work even better.

The simulation involved everyone, even the sceptics

Some of our team members are very sceptical about team events - "how can we spend hours playing?!" Fortunately, the simulation managed to get everyone on board. It was not only fun, but also practical training and development for us as a team. Everyone commented afterwards that the simulation was useful and enjoyable. For me, as a team leader, it is essential to get everyone involved in what we do as a team.

A simulation revealed what each of us needs at work

In the simulation, I learned that although we know each other quite well, we each think of ourselves differently from our colleagues. SmoothTeam revealed hidden and previously unrecognised qualities and values in each of us.

It was also valuable to hear everyone commenting on what you need. These don't come up very well in regular team meetings, although our employees are usually quite open. The simulation sparked a new kind of openness.

What is the shared vision of the team?

After the simulation, we agreed on some practical changes to our team's meeting practices. Some of us don't work together on a daily basis, and understanding the common goal and how it relates to the company's vision helps us to align our work and work as a team.

A good team needs structure, openness and diversity

A well-functioning team should have a well-defined structure. This means that everyone knows who decides what and how - and also how much they can decide. Unfortunately, some links are missing.

Transparency is another key issue. It is important to know that you will always have the support of your colleagues and team leader.

The third key issue I would like to mention is diversity: there are different people on the team with different strengths. These three key factors help to create a good spirit, so that the team also enjoys being together. That is the fourth essential characteristic of an excellent team.

I strongly recommend SmoothTeam especially for international teams

SmoothTeam is great for international teams! It also works for new teams and when new members have joined an existing team.

It was important that we were able to combine fun and practicality. It doesn't have to be either/or: you can do concrete, practical work together while having fun. It's a great combination, and one that gave us a lot of great insights. SmoothTeam helped us to get to know each other better, and it also gave us ideas on how to develop the team in the future.

Svea Paju
Marketing Manager, Brands
Tikkurila Oyj