Corporate team-building activities are becoming more popular as more companies recognize that putting random employees in the same office and expecting them to get along on their own is unproductive.
Furthermore, developing people skills that go beyond the responsibilities of individual employees is critical. Even the most skilled group of employees can fall short of their goals if they lack communication and teamwork.
However, preparing for and finding a place for team building might be daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. Here are some pointers to help you plan and organize memorable and pleasant team-building events.
What Is Team Building?
Team building is the process of developing a cohesive group that works toward a common goal. The importance and major goal of team-building events is to build a strong team through forming alliances and partnerships. Establishing such partnerships through team development significantly benefits businesses and organizations.
Team development can include planned activities or corporate bonding concepts led by team members. Managers can also engage the services of an external resource to facilitate the activities if given the necessary budget and objectives.
Advantages of a Successful Team Building Activity
Boosts Efficiency
Team building can boost a company’s efficiency by motivating employees to work together toward a common purpose and achieve individual and group objectives. Teams become more driven to give their all if they are engaged and sense team spirit.
Enhances Communication
Team development can lead to increased group understanding and open communication. Extracurricular activities allow team members to interact more naturally and bond with each other. This can help to improve employee engagement and healthy relationships.
Promotes Creativity
Removing teams from their usual work setting allows them to approach work difficulties with new eyes and better ingenuity. Individuals and teams can benefit from a new perspective and energetic mindset to find innovative solutions to short- and long-term difficulties.
Builds Trust
When a company has recently formed teams or divisions that collaborate closely, you may use team-building activities to foster a culture of trust among employees. As a result of successful team-building exercises, employees may acquire new-found confidence in one another.
Improves Morale
Employee morale improves during team-building exercises since they often involve fun and games. Completing a playful activity with coworkers will help them recognize their shared values. Furthermore, it can improve company morale and make employees feel valued.
Tips for Planning a Successful Team Building Activity
Establish your objectives.
Goal-setting is vital to any team-building event because it gives participants a common objective to pursue as a team. Goal planning also enables individuals to identify their areas of weakness and assists them in determining how to improve their job performance.
Create a budget strategy.
After determining a list of priorities, it is time to establish a budget. Creating a fair budget before the event will prevent any financial issues from impeding the smooth operation of the team-building activities.
Target particular problem areas.
Team building activities are highly beneficial for employees if management uses them to target problem areas for specific employees. For instance, teamwork can help employees develop the social skills necessary to avoid confrontation.
Select the most appropriate activities.
After determining the objectives of the team-building event, you should have a firm grasp of the activities that will support these goals. Choose activities that are enjoyable and encourage employee collaboration.
Choose an ideal location.
As recommended by the experts from Kootenay Lodge, the venue is one of the factors that can make or break your team building activity. It should be a location that can comfortably accommodate every participant. Avoid sites that lack sufficient space or are inappropriate for planned activities.
Engaging Activities for Team Building
- Volunteering
Volunteering in a group for a worthwhile cause is a wonderful way to improve group relationships. Volunteering at a soup kitchen, building a Habitat for Humanity home, and delivering holiday gifts to children’s hospitals are all examples of location-based services.
- Canoeing/Kayaking
Do you want to get some fresh air and sunshine? You should kayak to the nearest lodge or river in the spring or summer. Nothing beats the adrenaline rush of working together to achieve a goal, which is what canoeing and kayaking symbolize in terms of collaboration.
- Sightseeing
Sightseeing is one of the most pleasurable ways to spend a day away from the city’s hustle and bustle. Charter a bus and transport your staff to a new place every quarter or whenever you have the funds for team-building activities.
- Sports Fest
Hosting a sports festival is one of the most effective ways for a company to promote team spirit. Many organizations conduct annual sports festivals during the summer. Such activities help employees become more productive while fostering a culture of cooperation and advancement inside the organization.
Key Takeaway
A well-planned corporate team-building event may energize your staff, develop colleague bonds, and create lasting memories. This article has discussed the several advantages of participating in corporate team events. It highlighted the guidelines for organizing corporate team activities and provided examples of initiatives to bring your corporate team together.