Team Building is a term used to define activities that help to improve labour relations. They encourage teamwork and cohesiveness among colleagues and they’re usually organised outside working hours to convey a sensation of shared leisure and free time. Team Building is one of the key tools for the development of work teams.
What are the advantages of Team Building activities?
These kinds of events reinforce three basic pillars for employees: motivation, team and experiences. They also improve personal communication between colleagues, foster positive attitudes and build long-term employment relationships.
They help to overcome business challenges as a result of good communication and the alignment of teams in the same direction to achieve shared goals.
They reinforce team spirit, increase empathy among employees, improve emotional bonds and provide a learning experience. The relaxed atmosphere in which a Team Building event takes place also encourages the participation of all the employees and allows talents that have remained hidden to shine.
It increases motivation and positive attitudes, leading employees’ productivity to increase. If the activities are performed satisfactorily, trust increases and it becomes a stimulus for an upturn in performance in the workplace.
They promote healthy competitiveness and identify strengths and weaknesses. Team Building games require the participants to tackle problem-solving. Their cooperation and skills stimulate creative thinking and cooperation.
What kind of activities can you organise?
Before you start it’s important to define the purpose so as to choose the one best suited to what you want to achieve. Among many other goals, this may be communication, speed, teamwork or the ability to address a problem. You can also rely on a business coach, an expert in identifying the shortcomings of a team, and teach the participants to overcome weaknesses and come out stronger.
- Sporting activities: These are designed for small groups and involve game-based physical activity while working on leadership, communication, and self-improvement. They include hiking, survival, or aquatic activities.
- Volunteer work: CSR is widespread within companies, but it’s also important for this ethical commitment to extend to their employees. These kinds of volunteer activities improve the workers’ communicative and empathic skills.
- Escape rooms: These are team games that develop the logic of processes and communication, the difference being that the activity takes place against the clock.
- Visits, trips, and retreats: Recreational visits to interesting places help employees to acquire more culture and discover new realities. Moreover, trips and retreats with colleagues in which team activities take place are a good way of being together outside the office and getting to know each other a little better.
Team Building sessions should shun the concept of work, so fun is an essential factor. Employees want to feel more comfortable with their colleagues, so it’s important not to force them to do anything they don’t want to do. Ultimately, what you should strive to do is integrate the concept of leisure into working life.
At Claire Joster we believe in the benefits of Team Building and we have the best experts in personnel selection to help you to find your ideal team. Contact our specialised consultants!