As a business coach, I have a front row seat when it comes to viewing challenges that business owners are facing. I hear first-hand from leaders in business who reach out for help on their issues, and the recurring theme right now is a need for effective team building.
Having a feeling of “disconnect” appears to be a major issue across businesses that have branches or satellite offices. Divisions that operate as silos also often feel detached from the greater whole. In addition, teams that work flexi hours, on the road or from remote locations naturally lack daily engagement. And although virtual meetings have become the rule rather than the exception, face-to-face meetings inevitably connect people on a much more personal level.
A conscious focus on effective team building has the following benefits:
Getting to know one another
Team building activities pause the day-to-day operations and offer socialising and networking opportunities. It allows employees to learn about each other in a different environment and under different circumstances. Importantly, it’s much easier to communicate with people you know. Improved communication and stronger bonds are great spin-offs of getting to know your colleagues better.
Teamwork
Most team building activities focus on proving the effectiveness of collaboration, engagement, working together and understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s also an effective way to build bridges between departments. The trick is to implement those learnings in the day-to-day work environment. However, most team building activities fail to focus on how to implement that.
Innovation and creativity
Job descriptions, systems, processes, protocols and structure is essential to business. But it can also suffocate problem solving, innovation and creativity. Team building sessions promote creative thinking and new ways of doing things. And often the most creative ideas in these sessions come from people who may surprise you. Again, the learnings need to transfer to the work environment.
Company culture
Effective team building sessions focus on values and norms. It’s important to select your team building activities and sessions carefully so that they enhance your values and culture. For example, doing competitive go-karting – where individuals race each other and cut each other off to declare one winner – is fun, but doesn’t necessarily foster teamwork.
Mental health
Business owners and leaders use team building workshops and sessions to show appreciation. In addition, it’s a way of giving employees a break from stress and rewarding them. Employees should walk away from a team building session with a greater awareness of self, and of others, which will ultimately benefit their mental health, as well as the business.
Unlocks leadership potential
Team building activities should foster leadership development. Hierarchy and job titles are left at the office and it levels the playing field. Effective team building sessions provide an environment for natural leaders to emerge and shine. It gives team members insight into the potential of employees who may ordinarily operate under the radar.
We’ve been inundated with requests to help teams. However, team dysfunction is not going to be resolved by playing patball, drum circles or ice-breaker games. Too many businesses plan fun activities for a day and then return to the office and slip back into their old ways without implementing learnings.
Team building shouldn’t be a once off event. Admittedly, an event can kick start the process, but it’s important to identify and implement rituals, traditions, and ongoing habits that promote collaboration, communication and the company culture.
If you are looking for effective team building workshops that balance fun, learnings, culture, personal growth and business benefits, let’s talk…
