Ever wondered how to keep your tech team happy, engaged, and performing at their best? We sat down with Sarah Rieger from Jellyfish’s DevFinOps team (our first guest!) to chat about team morale. Sarah's got some awesome tricks, like starting Zoom meetings with dad jokes and using sound effects during planning.

Guests aren’t the only first for this episode. We introduced a new segment called "Choose Your Dysfunction," where we dissect and debate tricky team scenarios. Would you rather handle a team that’s always late or one that’s fast but off-target? And what about a lone wolf senior developer versus a bunch of juniors? Sarah’s answers will get you thinking!

But hey, it’s not all laughs—there’s some serious stuff in here too like overworking and its impact on team morale. Is clocking extra hours fair for promotions? We explore that and share tips for fostering mental well-being and open communication.

Got a question you’d like answered on the show? Drop us a line at jellyfish.co/offthevpn. And don’t worry! We promise to keep it Off the VPN.

Highlights:

• Foundation First: Sarah emphasized the importance of creating a safe and comfy environment before diving into structured activities with your team. This foundational step allows everyone to feel more connected and valued, laying the groundwork for more productive and enjoyable collaborations.
• Work Culture Real Talk: Ever noticed a team member putting in way too many hours and getting praised for it? We dug deep into the implications of overworking and promotions based on hours logged instead of actual skill and contributions.
• Leadership Challenges: Balancing authenticity with leadership duties can be tough. Sarah shared her personal experiences and strategies for being real with her team while still steering the ship effectively.
  Fun Elements in Meetings: Injecting a bit of fun, like dad jokes and sound effects, during planning sessions can boost team engagement and lighten the mood. Sarah's tips are practical and easy to implement, whether you're meeting in person or over Zoom.

  Jump into the conversation:
  (00:00) Introducing our first guest, Sarah Rieger!
  (02:05) Opening the floor with Sarah Rieger and team dynamics
  (04:35) Maintaining team morale and fun in a remote work environment
  (06:19) Choose your dysfunction!
  (10:23) Managing teams with a difficult senior developer vs. junior developers
  (16:04) Teams that are too nice vs. teams that argue constantly
  (20:27) Story time: Calling out a coworker for working extra hours
  (33:19) Promoting mental health in team meetings