Our team of about seventy people is a relatively small part of our company, which has over three thousand employees. While many of our engineers are well-known among peers in software engineering or customer support, there are simply too many of us—and them—to remember who belongs to which group and what everyone does.
To address this, we asked all our engineers to add a common tag to the end of their profile names on Zoom—e.g., (TEAM). This small change had an outsized impact.
A Common Identity
We are a global team spanning multiple time zones and countries. While our software engineering peers in Poland might not personally know our Australian engineers, the (TEAM) tag immediately signals our presence. It establishes our identity and reminds others that we are part of a cohesive group.
In large all-hands meetings with hundreds of participants, the (TEAM) tag makes us stand out. Even if other teams have greater numbers, their lack of alignment in presenting themselves visually means we often appear more united. The effect is even more striking in smaller meetings. When eight or ten of us join a call with two dozen attendees, our presence is unmistakable. This has led project managers and account executives to comment on—and thank us for—our “massive” presence.
Building a Reputation
Our team is relatively new, created after a reorganization to enhance operational efficiency and reliability. Establishing credibility is crucial, and I firmly believe that consistently showing up is the first step in building a strong reputation.
The (TEAM) tag helps cement this image. Over time, colleagues begin to associate our engineers with reliability and support, creating a lasting impression that extends to the entire team. This subliminal connection—that (TEAM) members are dependable and always ready to help—lays the foundation for trust.
Of course, reputation requires more than just showing up. Our engineers strive to embody a helpful, collegial attitude, always willing to go the extra mile. Without this, the effect could backfire.
Attention to Detail Matters
Details are important. Just as uniforms in the military or sports convey identity and professionalism, our (TEAM) tag serves as a quick visual identifier. However, maintaining consistency in the tag format was a challenge. Despite clear instructions, we initially saw a variety of implementations: (TEAM), (Team), ( TEAM ), and even plain TEAM.
As an SRE team, this inconsistency reminded me of code reviews. Just as we enforce standards for variable names, code formatting, and organization, we should hold our visible identifiers to the same level of rigor. Allowing incorrect formatting, especially in something as visible as a Zoom tag, sends the wrong message. It undermines the professionalism and credibility we aim to project.
Attention to detail is about more than aesthetics; it communicates that we care about doing things right. As the adage goes, “How you do anything is how you do everything.”
Conclusion
What started as a simple effort to ensure visibility during meetings evolved into something far more impactful. The (TEAM) tag not only fosters a sense of unity but also helps build our reputation as a reliable, professional, and detail-oriented group. It’s a small detail with a big message: we show up, we care, and we deliver.