This month we are delving into the art and science of team building and the significant impact it can have on your business. At CoachCruiting, our mission is Getting Teams Right. We routinely recommend team building centered around understanding strengths of other team members. This is particularly critical when there are performance or morale issues afoot. We often run into skepticism when team building is even mentioned - some calling them “fluff” activities. Allow me to demonstrate here why they are savvy practices to undertake for your business. Let’s explore!
Communication lies at the core of any successful, cohesive team. Stellar teams are much more than the sum of their parts. Transparent, open interaction across an organization fosters trust, minimizes misunderstandings, and promotes a sense of camaraderie. Team building activities work to build relationships and deepen understanding of how others are wired. All of this translates to increased chemistry and tolerance when working together day-to-day.
People enjoy working with others they trust, respect, and enjoy. Over time, you will realize higher employee engagement and reduced turnover from your investment in building a close-knit team.
Helpful Hints
Here are a few practical tips for bringing team building into your business in a way that produces a substantial return on investment:
Model openness, vulnerability, and transparency from your leadership position. Act like you want to be there and enjoy interacting with your team.
Mix it up a bit. Arrange activities in a way that eases team members out of their comfort zone in a relaxed, fun way.
Define and clarify roles, basic expectations, and time frame for each activity. People respond better when they know what to expect.
Focus on improving motivation and commitment to the organization. Discover more about team members to empower them and leverage their strengths.
Recommend our 4 C’s of team building: collaboration, commitment, clarity, and contribution (Plan activities that touch on all four C’s whenever possible).
Plan a team building activity quarterly. Proactive and intentional planning works best; otherwise, the day-to-day will take precedent and team building will be neglected.
After engaging in team building activities, look closely at your key indicators for performance surges. Measuring your return on investment will incentivize everyone (including you) to embrace the importance of regular team building activities.
Next month, I will share my thoughts on employees returning to the office vs. staying remote. Feel free to reach out to me to discuss how to create and implement a team building plan for your unique staff. We would love to assist you in developing a productive, effective strategy for your winning team for years to
come.
