Building Dream Teams Through Teambuilding
It’s safe to say that we’ve all been “the new employee” at some point. Starting a new job is a stress-riddled feat - You don’t know where the coffee creamer is, you keep forgetting the code to the bathroom, and possibly worst of all, you have to memorize the 20+ names of your new peers if you hope to get ANY questions answered.
The search for quality employees has become an increasingly formidable task.
The search for quality employees has become an increasingly formidable task. Meanwhile, average retention rates in the US continue to edge downward. So how can we, as employers, ensure that our teams feel supported and unified from the start and continue to feel that way throughout their tenure?
Since the start of the 2020 pandemic, many workforces have had to navigate a constantly changing office landscape. Likely related was a record decrease in overall employee engagement and collaboration. As a result, companies everywhere have sought ways to keep their employees happy and productive in their roles, including solutions such as investing in new technologies, benefits packages, and, you guessed it, teambuilding.
Teambuilding is hardly a new concept. Historical studies focussed on the value of teams in the workplace date back as early as 1900. While the concept’s popularity has waxed and waned, it’s back in a big way in 2022.
Enter: Teambuilding; A New Renissance.
Following 2020, countless new studies have shown the significant benefits of renewed emphasis on teambuilding, such as:
Increased collaboration and communication. It can be challenging to get to know our peers under the best circumstances. Even simplistic games and activities allow us to get to know one another organically. When we feel familiar with one another, we’re far more likely to reach out to one another for collaboration. We are even better equipt to resolve conflicts between ourselves and our peers.
Innovation. Employees who feel isolated or insignificant aren’t likely to put effort or thought into crafting new ideas and processes. Creating and nurturing a collaborative work environment will make your organization a safe place to brainstorm, and out-of-the-box thinking is often the key to coming up with innovative new concepts.
Increased employee engagement. It’s human nature to seek and embrace inclusion. Engaging in teambuilding gives us an avenue to feel like we’re a part of something. Employees who feel accepted and included in their place of work are far more likely not only to stay with the company but to embrace the collective successes and obstacles of the group as their own.
Increased employee recommendations. Most people (especially the ever-growing millennial workforce) don’t want to work in a stuffy, hyper-professional, or impersonal environment. Fostering a supportive climate that features fun and collaboration will make current employees more likely to recommend your organization as a great place to work.
Improved company culture overall. Investing time and energy into teambuilding will show employees that you care about their overall wellness and engagement with the company and their peers. Working toward a common goal (even an inconsequential one) makes us feel bonded in our shared mission, allowing us to feel positive perceptions and understanding toward one another and the organization.
We know that it can’t be ALL “fun and games.”
Business can be a tumultuous landscape to navigate. There will still be conflict and dissatisfaction from time to time, but regular teambuilding is a great way to get ahead of issues that could arise and make employees feel more comfortable to approach you for guidance when they do.
Simply put, When employees feel cared for, they care more - and employees who care are far more likely to invest in an organization's success and the success of its leadership.
Let’s get building!