Tag: distributed teams

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Employee engagement employee retention Human Resources

Introducing Billy: the birthday bot for Microsoft Teams

Celebrating birthdays and work anniversaries. What a normal thing to do! But as companies went remote and then hybrid, it got lost in the process. Celebrating birthdays fosters team bonding, brings some fun and positivity in the (remote) workplace. It’s one of the most efficient initiative to implement when it comes to improving employee engagement.

Billy was installed by hundreds of companies on Slack and celebrated thousands of birthdays. This is from this enormous success that our team decided to help Microsoft Team users as well. We’re proud today to be introducing Billy: the birthday bot for Microsoft Teams.

The Power of Celebrating Milestones in the Workplace

Research consistently shows that celebrating employee milestones has a profound impact on their job satisfaction and overall engagement. When employees feel appreciated and valued, their morale and motivation soar, leading to increased productivity and retention rates. Recognizing birthdays and work anniversaries is an opportunity to show employees that their contributions are valued and that they are an integral part of the team’s success.

Meet Billy Birthday – A Bot that Spreads Joy

If you’ve been using Slack, you may already be familiar with Billy Birthday. This delightful bot has been brightening up workplaces by celebrating birthdays and work anniversaries with a touch of fun and excitement. With its charming personality and interactive features, Billy Birthday has become a favorite among teams looking to foster a sense of camaraderie and celebrate milestones in a memorable way. From personalized greetings to virtual celebrations, Billy Birthday has proven to be a simple yet effective tool for bringing teams closer together.

Expanding Billy Birthday to Microsoft Teams

We’re thrilled to announce that Billy Birthday is now available for installation on Microsoft Teams! As one of the most popular collaboration platforms, Microsoft Teams offers a vast user base and a familiar environment for teams to come together. By integrating Billy Birthday with Microsoft Teams, we aim to extend the reach of this beloved bot and enable even more teams to celebrate birthdays and work anniversaries with ease.

How to Install and Use Billy Birthday on Microsoft Teams

Getting started with Billy Birthday on Microsoft Teams is a breeze. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you get up and running:

  1. Open Microsoft Teams and navigate to the Apps section.
  2. Search for “Billy” in the App Store and click on the installation button.
  3. Once installed, you can access Billy Birthday by typing “@Billy” in a channel or direct message.
  4. Follow the on-screen prompts to set up preferences and customize the bot’s behavior.

With Billy Birthday seamlessly integrated into Microsoft Teams, you and your team can now enjoy a host of features designed to make milestones even more special.

Testimonials and Success Stories

Don’t just take our word for it! Here are a few testimonials from companies that have experienced the magic of Billy Birthday:

  • “We are happy to have Billy installed on our Slack, the employees are delighted to receive a little attention on their birthday.” – Sarah, Office Manager @ smallable.
  • “Billy Birthday has been amazing. It’s very intuitive and easy to configure my preferences. I had no problems dealing with Billy Birthday and I loved the functionality of uploading an xls file to import birthdays.” – Victor, Hapyness manager.

Conclusion

Celebrating milestones in the workplace is not just a formality; it’s an opportunity to create a positive and inclusive work environment where employees feel appreciated and valued. With Billy Birthday now available on Microsoft Teams, you can now elevate your team and elevate your culture! Install the app with this link.

Categories
Employee engagement Remote work

How to use Microsoft Teams to automate birthday celebrations

In today’s fast-paced world, finding efficient and creative ways to celebrate birthdays can be a challenge, especially when distance separates us. However, with the power of technology and the versatility of Microsoft Teams, you can automate and personalize virtual birthday celebrations like never before. In this article, we’ll explore how you can leverage Microsoft Teams apps to make remote birthday celebrations truly special. Let’s dive in!

Set up automated posts with Billy Birthday

To ensure no birthday goes unnoticed, integrate Billy Birthday with Microsoft Teams. Start by creating a dedicated birthday channel or chat within Teams. Then, leverage Billy Birthday’s app features to set up posts that notify team members, colleagues, or friends about the birthdays or work anniversaries. By automating reminders with Billy Birthday, you ensure that everyone has ample time to prepare and join the celebration with the perfect gift in hand.

Automate Virtual Surprises and Gifts

Even from a distance, you can surprise the birthday person with automated virtual gifts and surprises. Microsoft Teams offers various integrations and connectors that enable you to automate the delivery of e-cards, virtual gift cards, or even personalized video messages. Set up scheduled deliveries or trigger these surprises based on specific events, such as when the birthday person joins a virtual meeting or opens a Teams message. These thoughtful gestures make the birthday person feel cherished and bring joy to their special day.

Conclusion

Thanks to the power of Billy Birthday and the versatility of Microsoft Teams, remote birthday celebrations can be streamlined, personalized, and full of joy. By leveraging automated reminders, personalized messages, virtual surprises, you can create memorable experiences for the birthday person and everyone involved. Embrace the capabilities of Microsoft Teams and make each virtual birthday celebration a moment to cherish.

In this digital age, distance may physically separate us, but technology connects us in meaningful ways.

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Remote work

How to use Giphy in Slack

Utilising Slack, Teams or any other messaging software is now common for everyone. It’s not just reserved to startups or technology companies. Today we’ll take Slack as our main example. In order to master communication via Slack, you need to master the use of certain apps or extensions. The one I use everyday is Giphy, a GIF extension for Slack that makes it easy to search and publish GIF in channels. Why ? Because it’s either really funny, or illustrates perfectly what I want to say (better than a small emoji) or even because an image is sometimes worth a thousand words. That’s why we’ll see how to use Giphy in Slack.

1. Setting Up Giphy in Slack

First let’s see how to set up Giphy in your Slack workspace if you don’t have it yet. It’s a quick process, you need to visit Giphy page on Slack app directory (link here). Then click “Add to Slack”. 2 clicks later, you’re good to go! Giphy is now installed successfully.

Talking about Slack app, if you want to celebrate birthdays in Slack we have something for you and we just wrote an article about it: How to use birthday bot?

2. Using Giphy in Slack

Now that you’ve set up the extension, we’ll see how to use Giphy in Slack.

Note that you can send GIFs in any conversation using Giphy, either in public channels, private channels but also in direct messages.

Now how to search for a GIF ? Enter in the text prompt:
/giphy my search message
Then press enter, don’t worry the message won’t be posted like this. You can notice the “Only visible to you” mention.

ou’ll see a proposal of GIF and you’ll be offered 3 options: Send, Shuffle (to find another one), Cancel.

It’s time to play with the shuffle button until you see a GIF that you like.
Click send when you’re ready and that’s it. Your GIF is now posted for everyone to see it.

3. Best Practices for Using Giphy in Slack in a professional environment

Even though Giphy is mostly safe for work, I’d recommend a few best practises to make sure you’re acting in an appropriate manner in a professional environment.

First avoir offensive GIFs or images that can shock other people. Avoid of course the ones that are crude or sexually suggestive.

Make sure you don’t post too many GIFs or it can get overwhelming.

Those rules can seem basic but we’d better read them once in a while to make sure we’re not missing one.

Conclusion

We’ve seen how to use Giphy in Slack, from installation to usage, you’re now a pro!

Mastering the use of GIFs in Slack is important to make a point and to ease everyday communications. Also, it’s just fun, right ?! If this article was helpful, please drop a comment I’d be glad to read your mention.

Categories
Employee experience Remote work

How to Celebrate Your Birthday on Slack

Introduction

Slack has become one of the most popular communication platforms for teams, with its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with other apps. One of the best features of Slack is its ability to bring people together, even when they are working remotely. Celebrating birthdays is an important part of any workplace culture, and Slack has made it easier than ever to do so. In this blog post, we will explore some of the ways you can celebrate your birthday on Slack.

Creating a Birthday Channel

One of the easiest ways to celebrate your birthday on Slack is to create a dedicated channel for the special events. This can be done by simply creating a new channel and naming it something like #celebrations. Once the channel is created, you can invite your colleagues to join in and share their wishes. You can also use this channel to post pictures of your celebration or any other birthday-related content.

Using a Slack Birthday Bot

Celebrating birthdays is not a built-in feature of Slack (see our other article about “does Slack notify birthdays“). You can use an app on Slack to celebrate your birthday. You can use Billy (The Birthday bot) for instance, simply install it in your workspace and you can set it up to post in the channel of your choice (the #celebrations one for instance). This way it will post the wishes reminder for you.

Virtual Celebrations

If you are working remotely, celebrating your birthday on Slack may be the best option. You can set up a virtual celebration by scheduling a video call with your colleagues and using a conferencing app like Zoom or Google Meet. You can also use Slack’s built-in video calling feature to connect with your colleagues and celebrate together. You can use this time to play games, share stories, or just catch up with each other.

Conclusion

Overall, there are many ways to celebrate your birthday on Slack, whether you are working in the office or remotely. Creating a dedicated channel, using Billy Birthday, and scheduling a virtual celebration are just a few of the ways you can bring your colleagues together to celebrate your special day. Celebrating your birthday on Slack is a great way to build team morale and strengthen workplace relationships.

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Remote work

Connecting with a Remote Team: A Practical Guide

Working with remote teams can present unique challenges, but it can also be a rewarding experience. With the right tools and strategies, connecting with remote teams is not only possible but highly beneficial. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to foster strong connections and collaborations with your remote team.

Establish Clear Expectations


When working with a remote team, it’s important to set clear expectations from the start. Make sure that everyone on the team is aware of their individual roles and responsibilities and what is expected of them. Make sure that everyone is held accountable for their performance by setting deadlines and goals that are achievable and measurable. This will help create an environment of trust between all members of the team and make it easier to work together smoothly.

Communication Is Key


Communication is key when it comes to connecting with a remote team. It’s important to have regular check-ins to ensure that everyone is on track and up-to-date on any new developments or changes in plans. Use video conferencing or chat platforms so that your team has an opportunity to connect face-to-face at least once a week. Setting up virtual office hours where everyone can come together for an hour or two each week can also help build camaraderie among your remote staff members. Make sure that everyone feels comfortable speaking up during these meetings so that all ideas are heard, shared, and discussed in an open forum.

Incentivize Collaboration


Encouraging collaboration between your remote staff members will help foster stronger connections within the group. Offer incentives for collaboration such as rewards for completing projects together or recognizing individuals who excel when working as part of a team. You could also consider offering bonuses for completing tasks ahead of schedule or creating collaborative learning opportunities where your staff can learn from one another while working on projects together. These types of incentives will help encourage strong collaboration within the group which can lead to improved results overall!

Special tip from us

The best effort / impact to boost communication and team cohesion is to install Billy Birthday Slack app. Posting celebration messages regularly has a huge impact on the teams.

Connecting with a remote team may pose some unique challenges but it doesn’t have to be intimidating or overwhelming! By establishing clear expectations upfront, implementing effective communication strategies, and incentivizing collaboration you’ll be able to create stronger connections within your remote team quickly and easily! With the right tools in place you’ll be able to optimize productivity while fostering strong relationships among all members of your team! For more details about managing a remote team, checkout our article about 3 tips for managing a remote team.

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Employee engagement

5 Must-Haves to Increase Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is essential for any business to succeed. It is important to provide an environment that employees feel supported, encouraged, and motivated in. Here are five must-haves to increase employee engagement that can help create a positive work environment.

  1. Open Communication – Good communication between managers and their employees is paramount in fostering a positive work environment. Managers should make sure they are actively listening to their employees’ concerns and feedback and responding in a timely manner. This will show the employees that their opinions matter and will lead to higher levels of engagement.
  2. Flexible Work Schedules – Offering more flexible work schedules can help increase employee engagement by giving them more control over when they can take time off or complete tasks on their own schedule. Allowing employees the freedom to decide when they want to work makes them feel valued and respected by their employers, which leads to higher job satisfaction and productivity.
  3. Clear Expectations – Establishing clear expectations from the start is key for creating an environment where employees know what is expected of them and how they can reach their goals. This will help keep everyone focused on achieving the same goal while still allowing individuals some autonomy over how they get there.
  4. Team Building Activities – Team building activities are a great way to build relationships among coworkers as well as foster collaboration between departments or teams within the company. These activities give everyone a chance to bond outside of work, which helps create a friendly atmosphere that encourages people to come together in order to achieve common goals.
  5. Recognition – Recognizing your team’s accomplishments is an important part of increasing employee engagement, as it shows appreciation for hard work and dedication while motivating others to strive for excellence too. Whether it’s something small like sending out a “thank you” email or something bigger like hosting an awards ceremony or sending a public shoutout/kudo, recognizing your team’s efforts will show them how much you value them and foster a sense of community within the workplace.
    There are also simple things to put in place such as birthday celebrations or work anniversary messages. Billy birthday can help you automate these last 2 examples. Its honestly one of the best effort/impact ration for your employees. It has a free plan for small businesses and startups.

Creating an engaged workforce requires investment from all members of the organization, from upper management all the way down through individual team members themselves! Implementing these five must-haves into your organization’s culture can help increase employee engagement, leading to higher levels of productivity as well as improved customer service—ultimately resulting in better results for your business! With these tips in mind, you can set yourself up for success by creating an environment where everyone feels supported and appreciated!

For more ideas, please check our article about the Top 5 initiatives for a better Employee Experience

Categories
Remote work

3 Tips for Managing a Remote Team

Managing a remote team can be a challenge. You have to find new ways to keep everyone on the same page, motivated, and productive. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Here are three tips that the best remote companies are using to manage their teams.

  1. Create a clear vision and set of objectives.
    The first step to managing a remote team is to create a clear vision and set of objectives. What are you trying to achieve? What are your long-term goals? Once you have a direction, you can start putting together a plan. Then, share your vision and objectives with your team so everyone is on the same page.
  2. Keep communication open.
    One of the most important things you can do when managing a remote team is to keep communication open. Make sure everyone knows how to reach you and has your contact information. Set up regular check-ins, whether that’s daily, weekly, or monthly. And encourage your team to ask questions or bring up any concerns they have.
  3. Use the right tools.
    There are lots of great tools out there that can help you manage a remote team effectively. From project management tools like Asana or Trello to video conferencing tools like Zoom or Google Hangouts, there’s a tool for every need. Choose the ones that work best for you and your team and make sure everyone is using them consistently.
    You should also install tools to keep your team your team engaged such as Billy Birthday to wish birthdays and anniversaries on Slack. Or a tool to remind people to send Kudos to colleagues. You can checkout our article Top 5 slack apps for a remote workspace for more ideas.

Managing a remote team doesn’t have to be difficult. Creating a clear vision, keeping communication open, and using the right tools will help you manage your team effectively and achieve great things together!

Categories
Employee experience

Top 5 initiatives for a better employee experience

A recent study conducted by Microsoft revealed that only 1 in 2 employees feel engaged at work. The research goes on to state that disengaged employees cost businesses between $450-$550 billion annually in lost productivity. With such staggering numbers, it’s no wonder why so many organizations are looking for ways to improve their employee experience.
The following are the top 5 initiatives your company can implement today to improve your employee experience and create a happier, more engaged workforce.

  1. Onboarding Program: Implement an onboarding program that covers the basics of your company culture, values, and expectations. Then, go a step further and assign each new hire a mentor who can help them acclimate to their new role and answer any questions they may have along the way.
  2. Employee Recognition Program: Create an employee recognition program that celebrates employees for meeting (and exceeding) goals, exhibiting exemplary customer service skills, or going above and beyond their job duties. Publicly acknowledging and thanking employees for their hard work is a great way to show them that you appreciate their contributions and it motivates them to continue putting forth their best effort.
  3. wellness initiatives: Invest in your employees’ physical and mental wellbeing by implementing wellness initiatives such as standing desks, fitness reimbursement programs, or meditation classes. Showing employees that you care about their health and wellbeing will go a long way in building trust and fostering a positive relationship between employer and employee.
  4. paid time off (PTO): Give your employees the gift of time by offering generous paid time off policies. This not only shows employees that you value their work-life balance but also allows them the opportunity to recharge their batteries so they can come back to work feeling refreshed and ready to take on whatever challenges come their way.
  5. flexible work arrangements: Offer flexible work arrangements such as remote work options, flex hours, or compressed work weeks. This gives employees the freedom and flexibility to design a work schedule that works best for them which leads to improved focus, decreased stress levels, and increased productivity.

Employees who feel engaged and valued are more likely to be productive members of your team who add value to your company. Implementing even just one or two of the above initiatives can have a positive impact on employee morale and help turn your business into a thriving workplace!

Categories
Employee engagement

Best birthday messages for coworkers

Slack is a great way to stay connected with your co-workers, but it can also be used to celebrate special occasions, like birthdays! Wishing your colleagues a happy birthday on Slack is a great way to spread some cheer and make everyone feel appreciated. Birthdays are a special time to celebrate life and show our loved ones how much we care about them. But what about celebrating birthdays with our coworkers? Celebrating birthdays in the workplace can be a great way to build team morale and make everyone feel appreciated. There is nothing better than sending a warm wish on your colleague’s birthday. Here are examples of birthday messages for coworkers:

  1. “Happy birthday! I hope all your birthday wishes and dreams come true.”
  2. “Happy birthday to someone who is forever young!”
  3. “Wishing you the biggest slice of happy today.”
  4. “Happy birthday, coworker! You make being here so much more fun. Thank you for all of your positive energy.”
  5. “Happy birthday to the world’s greatest coworker.”
  6. “Happy birthday to a unique colleague. I wish you an awesome day to celebrate!”
  7. “Happy birthday, [coworker name]! Wishing you all the best on your special day!”
  8. “[Coworker name], hope you have a fantastic birthday! You deserve it!”
  9. “[Coworker name], happy birthday! Thank you for being such a great coworker!”
  10. “All the best on your birthday, [coworker name]! Wishing you a happy and healthy year ahead.”

A very nice way to make your message original is to add a fun fact to it. Here is a page where you can access dozens of fun facts ordered per months and days. For instance you can checkout the fun facts for 22nd of April.

Make sure to add a GIF

This one is definitely my favorite:

Using GIFs is a must-have nowadays, you can find everything you need on Giphy by searching “Birthday”, here is the link. We recommend that you install Giphy app in your Slack, it makes it very easy to integrate GIFs in messages. Checkout our Top 5 slack apps for a remote workspace for more information.

Conclusion

Sending birthday wishes via Slack is a quick and easy way to show your colleagues that you care. A simple message can brighten someone’s day and make them feel appreciated. So next time one of your coworkers has a birthday, don’t forget to wish them a happy one on Slack!

Categories
Remote work

Top 5 slack apps for a remote workspace

Though working remotely has become increasingly popular in recent years, it can still be a challenge to stay connected with coworkers and manage projects effectively. Fortunately, there are a number of apps that can help. Slack integrates with a variety of apps, making it a powerful tool for remote work. Here are the top 5 of the best Slack apps for a remote workspace:

  1. Donut
    Donut is a great way to stay connected with your remote team. The app randomly pairs employees together for virtual coffee chats, and also has options for group chats and scheduling.
    Link to Donut app
  2. Loom
    Loom is perfect for recording quick video messages or tutorials.
    Link to Loom app
  3. Office vibe
    Office vibe is a good way to stay on top of team morale, and allows managers to give and receive feedback anonymously.
    Link to Office Vibe app
  4. Zoom
    Zoom is a video conferencing app that can be used for online meetings, webinars, and screen sharing. The Slack integration allows users to start or join Zoom meetings with just a few clicks.
    Link to Zoom app
  5. Billy Birthday
    This app helps you keep track of birthdays and send automatic birthday messages to team members. It’s a great way to stay connected and celebrate special occasions. Billy Birthday is a must-have for celebrating birthdays remotely.
    Link to Billy Birthday app
  6. Bonus: Giphy
    This app lets you add gifs to your conversations, making them more fun and engaging. You can also search for specific gifs to add to your messages.
    Link to Giphy app

These are just a few of the many apps that can help make remote work easier and more efficient. With these five apps, you’ll be well on your way to maintaining a productive and connected remote workspace. By integrating these apps with Slack, users can customize their workspace to fit their needs and maximize productivity.