Qualified job seekers are increasingly looking for a workplace that provides more than just a steady paycheck and good benefits. They are also seeking a culture that fits with their vision and a work environment where they feel appreciated and welcome. One of the best ways to build this kind of environment is through team building.
What Is Team Building, and Why Is It Important?
In the past, many companies were unconcerned with the general work environment— except where it might inhibit productivity. That has changed considerably in recent years, as younger people entering the workplace are more concerned with finding a workplace they are comfortable with than with just a good salary.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic, for example, had a major effect on the job market. Right now, it is a jobseekers’ market, and many people are leaving their jobs even before they have another position lined up. For companies to compete for the best job candidates, they need to provide a work environment that meets the needs of those candidates. Team building is an efficient and proven way to facilitate that.
Team building is a means of bringing together a workforce and turning it from a collection of individuals into a cohesive, productive team. When individual workers can get to know their colleagues and form bonds that extend beyond the office, they are more likely to collaborate on achieving shared goals. Team building is an excellent way to improve communication in the workplace and enhance overall morale. If workers are happy in their jobs and with their coworkers, they are more likely to be productive.
With the increased emphasis on diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) programs recently, team building can help companies reach their DEI goals and prevent potential problems. The more diverse individuals are encouraged to interact in settings and situations less formal than the normal workplace, the better chance that people will come together and avoid uncomfortable situations. This is especially true if the workplace contains people who have not had regular contact with others who have backgrounds and experiences different from theirs.
How Does Team Building Help Enhance the Workplace?
Team building can be accomplished in many different ways. It could be something as informal as encouraging workers to collaborate on everyday tasks or as structured as an activity planned by the company or an outside facilitator. Either way, the goal is to bring together colleagues to promote understanding and communication.
Organizing a shared meal at a local restaurant or an outing to a sporting event puts coworkers in a more relaxed environment than the workplace. These activities encourage communication and may reveal commonalities that might never have surfaced in a formal work environment.
Team-building exercises can also be used to strengthen skills or encourage creativity and innovation. Certain activities can bring out a person’s creativity, which can be inhibited in a highly structured workplace. A brainstorming session, for example, can provide an opportunity to come up with an unorthodox solution to a problem. The more ideas that come out of a brainstorming session, the better it is for all involved.
For team-building exercises to work, however, they must not just be one-time affairs. It is important to make team building a regular part of the company’s operation. This way, employees feel continuously engaged and a part of a larger whole. In turn, morale improves, and the culture of the company changes to meet the needs and desires of the employees. Potential problems can be discovered and dealt with before they have a chance to fester and become more serious issues.
One of the most important results of team building is the discovery of leadership potential. Natural leaders will emerge in groups. These leaders can facilitate the smooth workings of the team and help to keep things moving in the right direction. Identifying good leaders allows the company to see who has the right skills for advancement and promotion in a more relaxed and informal setting.
Conclusion
The advantages of team building are numerous. It promotes a healthy work environment and raises morale among employees. It helps to identify potential leaders and encourages good relations in the workplace. Previously unknown skill sets emerge, and communication improves. In this environment, creativity and innovation are allowed to flourish and everyone feels more engaged and appreciated. Not only are potential problems or frictions identified more easily, but they can be dealt with before they create a toxic work environment. As colleagues get to know one another, friendship bonds and mutual respect flourish. Finally, team building can meet DEI goals and establish an inclusive workplace where everyone feels comfortable being themselves. In today’s evolving workplace, team building must be an essential part of every company.