The following is an article “Why Your Staff Needs Team Building Breaks” by Marc Primo.
Everybody needs time-off from the office and most companies give their employees paid vacations and sick leaves to strike that perfect work-life balance. But apart from these benefits, companies also grant their employees team building breaks that are usually conducted away from office grounds but are on official company time. While some employers may think that these periodic breaks may incur more expenses to a company’s budget, the turnaround usually spells better productivity which makes it one of the best corporate investments a company can make.
If you’re one of those bosses who thinks that team building breaks are just a waste of company time and money, or an employee who dismisses them as forced extra activities to engage in whether you want to or not, think again. Team building breaks can offer both management and employees more than just a breather from their office desks and daily grind.
It improves team communication. There is no “I” in team and you can definitely spell “mate”, “bud” and “game” in team building. Spending a few days to engage in a more casual and friendly environment with your colleagues and bosses fosters camaraderie and helps improve communication. Most team building exercises consist of bonding games that develop your employees’ regard for their coworkers’ ideas and creative process. These exercises can also impart the importance of cohesion by letting staff members participate in competitive yet friendly contests. For managers, they get a sneak peak at the soft skills of their employees and put them on a more personal level with them, which can also be good at the workplace. Good communication games to play when you’re conducting a team building event include Pass the Message, Crazy Comic, Direction Direction, and Back-to-Back Drawing among many others.
It increases team productivity. Networking is a vital aspect of any business and in team building exercises, employees are taught how to be more productive while working with other people who are not their usual teammates. Of course, it’s also a plus if you know your co-workers’ pet peeves, hobbies, or likes, which can give you an idea of how their minds work. At the office, managers can use this knowledge to delegate certain jobs and functions, and let them know who they can turn to for help regarding specific tasks. Team building exercises like Game of Possibilities, Winner/Loser, and Scavenger Hunt are good team games that opens up employees to planning, strategy and problem solving. Sometimes, all it takes is to eliminate awkward relations among employees to push teamwork and productivity ahead in the workplace.
It fosters trust among co-workers. In any business, trust and transparency are important factors that can increase employees’ morale. Team building activities are a good opportunity to promote a company’s mission, vision, and core values which not only provide employees guidelines to approved behavior while at work, but also shapes them into ambassadors of your company. Team building somehow breaks down the walls between management and rank and file and gives everyone a chance to show their true personalities. When transparency and trust are apparent, employees can better place their loyalty with the management because they know that they are dealing with real people and not just corporate suits.
Employees engaging in such work activities as team building breaks are also more inclined to develop positive motivation and can greatly contribute to a company’s culture. Most young hires today are very mindful of applying for jobs that they think have a healthy company culture aside from considering other factors like salary and benefits. Team building improves a company’s work environment, certainly a big factor in retaining or attracting employees to a company.