Give it the best chance of success with these tips

Launching a new initiative can certainly help create a healthy buzz which gets the momentum going. However, each organisation has to decide what level of effort is the right type. Here are a few key steps we believe help with launching Dewdropz.

Create a dedicated team in Microsoft Teams for Dewdropz:

As described in our getting started process, it's best to install the app to a new team for the single purpose of Dewdropz. There is nothing stopping you from adding the app to another team and it may be tempting to add it where you already have everyone in it. However, This can then lead to other conversations such as work topics being discussed and some people may not want to participate in Dewdropz pairings but still want to stay in the team. Having a dedicated team channel removes these issues and also affords people a certain level of expectation as to what to expect from the interaction.

Make it opt-in and not mandatory:

This is dependent on what you want to achieve and your team culture. In some organisations, a little nudge to get people to meet each other is beneficial so adding people directly to the team is a good option. If you have seen poor results from that before, then we suggest making it opt-in where they choose to join after you send out a warm introduction of where to join. When people choose to do something, they are more likely to stick with it and be excited about it. If people are added to the group, ensure they know they can choose to leave it if they want to (the bot does make this clear as well).

Announce it to the group:

Getting as much participation as possible always makes the program better! So it's a good idea to let them know in advance about the program. Send out a team message or a company email letting them know how to join and why you are doing it.

As you're announcing Dewdropz, set clear expectations: let people know where, when, and how often to expect intros. Very important: Make sure they know it's okay to take time out of their schedule to participate (even better if it's coming from a company leader). Get in touch with us if you would like some examples.

Nominate someone as a sponsor/champion

Like with most projects, having someone that is supporting the project's intentions goes a long way towards a successful outcome. We've designed Dewdropz with little to no maintenance in mind so this is optional and the role can be as involved or not involved as you like. In essence, this person (gently)encourages others in the organisation or group to get involved, share more and keep the momentum going. That person will also be in a good position to give us feedback in shaping the product.

Encourage people to share a picture(with permission of course) of their chat back in the team channel. It will help create a community feeling and encourages others to participate.

Don't stop at pairings...

We love that you are using our product, we really do. However, real connection is more than just the tools you use. It's a culture and we are one piece of the puzzle. So take that spirit of connectedness as far as you like for the culture of your organisation. This could include, in person gatherings(where possible), share pictures of your coffee chat sessions, reward those that participate and encourage community. We have seen various versions of this, see what works for you.

Have a tip for how your Dewdropz initiative is thriving? share it with us to include.