When it comes to team-building, some people might wince at the thought of awkward small talk, forced fun, or group karaoke nights. Yet organizations can benefit from targeted team-building exercises that teach employees new skills, goals, and ways of collaborating.
In fact, according to research from Gallup, team-building can boost productivity by 12.5% and reduce turnover by 15%. This is particularly important for organizations that are scaling and growing.
But in today’s business landscape of remote and hybrid work, companies need to be creative with their team building. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why that is, some of the benefits, and what types of activities work best.
You need to build to grow
There’s no question a team that works well together is more effective, productive and successful. But team building at work can be difficult, especially when traditional team-building activities usually don’t work.
So to avoid being the Michael Scott of your office, here are some creative ways – and reasons – to keep your team-building fun and engaging.
- Escape room challenges, zip lining, and improv classes. New experiences with your team can create a positive work culture, which benefits your company as a whole. By choosing something that’s unique and a little adventurous, you can encourage employees to collaborate in new ways and boost company morale.
- Team retreats, mini hackathons, and board game nights. Sometimes the most impactful team-building experiences happen organically. In fact, forcing leadership values or useful insights can ruin the purpose of team-building. Instead, sharing an experience or working towards a common goal can naturally and more successfully foster bonding among team members.
- Casino Night, NASCAR racing, and virtual reality scavenger hunts. Far from being a waste of money and time, team building is an investment that can deliver tangible benefits for your business. It’s like a tune-up for your workforce’s engine to keep it running smoothly and efficiently.
- Gratitude activities, Lunch and Learns, and volunteering. Many team-building exercises are one-and-done activities that people quickly forget. That’s why it’s important to create meaningful experiences, and opportunities for sharing knowledge, that will keep enthusiasm going long after the exercise is finished.
And growing is the goal
Every organization needs a positive company culture to succeed, as a high-stress or “toxic” work environment will only sap productivity, contribute to health problems, and increase employee turnover.
When business leadership invests in team building, it sends a clear message to its employees: “We value you.” And while team-building may not provide a roadmap for how to grow your company, it can boost your ROI; which is good for your company culture and your bottom line.