meQ Tip: How to Build Team Empathy

Successful, collaborative, high-performing teams have one thing in common: They’re able to connect and empathize with each other.

Support strong connections among your team by helping them find out what they have in common. When teammates understand one another beyond job titles and daily tasks, trust and collaboration grow. Follow the activity below for a few minutes during an upcoming meeting to help foster team connections.

One simple way to support strong connections is by helping team members discover what they have in common. This quick activity can be incorporated into an upcoming team meeting and requires just a few minutes, yet it can have a lasting impact on team morale and empathy.

How the Activity Works

• For in-person meetings: Invite team members to pair up for five minutes and find one thing they have in common.
• For virtual meetings: Create breakout rooms with two to four participants and give them five minutes to connect.

Once time is up, bring everyone back together and invite each group or pair to share a commonality they discovered. The goal isn’t to impress, but to listen, learn, and recognize shared experiences.

Conversation Starters to Get You Going

Providing prompts can help participants feel more comfortable and spark meaningful dialogue. You might start with questions like:

• What is your favorite dessert?
• What do you like to do in your free time?
• What’s a surprising fact about you?

You can also tailor prompts to your team’s culture or season, such as favorite hobbies, travel experiences, or simple daily routines.

Why It Matters

Finding common ground humanizes our coworkers and reminds us that everyone brings unique perspectives and shared experiences to the table. Even small moments of connection can strengthen empathy, improve communication, and create a more supportive team environment.

Consider making activities like this a regular part of your meetings to continue building trust and connection across your team.