“Team Building” – It can evoke cringe worthy images of big bear hugging with comparative strangers, whooping and high fiving for the tiniest affirmation, full on tears after divulging a secret in the heat of the team building moment or being the only outsider chosen to partake in activities with the office clique, there are any number of reasons why people are so reluctant to partake in team building activities.
However as humans we are, in the main, social creatures. We have family units, we form friendships and bonds with people so why can’t we embrace team building?
There are so many reasons why we should welcome team building and look to the positives that will enhance us as people, enhance how we interact with others and improve our working environments. The knock on effect for the business is tangible as employees develop higher confidence levels, morale and stronger communications skills amongst a plethora of additional attributes.
Here are some reasons why Team Building is important.
Teamwork, Building Better Teams and Boosting Team Performance
Working together in teams allows you as a staff member to better understand you and your colleagues’ strengths, weaknesses and interests. This can help your leaders and managers put together better performing teams by choosing complimenting and contrasting strengths.
Socialising, Improved Relationships and Company-wide Integration
Socialising, building new relationships, strengthening existing ones in the work place is what’s it’s all about. It’s one of the best ways to increase morale, enable different employees to work collaboratively together and in that can help you and your colleagues to be more innovative and increase problem solving ability.
Increased Morale, More Productivity and Greater Efficiency
Nothing breaks up the day to day of everyday work life than a team building event, this naturally creates higher morale among staff which leads to more productivity and efficiency as you and your colleagues are likely to be more engaged with one and other. You will also have gained a better understanding of one and other and your roles within the workplace. Your leaders and managers will have the opportunity to see for themselves your skills in working collaboratively in a non-work and fun environment.
Creating an Office Culture, Team Spirit, Fun, Motivation and a Happier Working Environment
No one wants to work in a miserable, boring or unfriendly environment. By participating in team events you will create bonds that you previously may not have had with colleagues, you will have friendlier relationships with your colleagues and you are more than likely to have created more open communication – this all works together to inject a happier culture for you to work in.
Communication
We are all better people if we can communicate effectively, especially when we have taken the time to get to know and understand our colleagues. Team building breaks down barriers, allows you to view colleagues in different ways and therefore have a greater understanding of one and other. Good team work creates synergy, enhanced effectiveness and positive environments.
Team Building is not a modern phenomenon, nor is it unique to the corporate world, it is in fact integral to society at all levels and in all sectors of life, however as we spend more time at work than almost anything else (bar sleeping ) it is very prevalent.
Here are some thought provoking comments to take away with you…
- “There is no ‘I’ in TEAM” ~ Anonymous
- “A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle” ~ Japanese proverb
- “A boat doesn’t go forward if each one is rowing their own way” ~ Swahili proverb
- “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success” ~ Henry Ford
- “One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team” ~ Kareem Abdul Jabbar
- “A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself and his contribution to praise the skill of the others” ~ Norman Hidle
- “You don’t get harmony when everybody sings the same note” ~ Doug Floyd
Let FPSG help you meet your recruitment goals by contacting us on
0870 050 0525 or hello@fpsg.com
Author: Jane Hammond
