Nothing engenders efficiency and result delivery like a feeling of connectedness and team culture among workers. As a result, the continued productivity of any company or organization becomes threatened when staff members do not see themselves as members of the same team. If you’ve noticed a disconnectedness among the personnel in your workplace, there’s nothing to worry about. Below, we’ve put together a couple of activities here that will help forge a strong bond among your company staff and keep everyone on the same page.
Mini-Tournaments: Everyone loves some competition, and having colleagues work side-by-side as teammates—while competing against other co-workers—has proven over time to be an effective team building activity. Furthermore, psychologists have found out that winning together; or even losing for that matter, creates a strong bond between participants. So to foster amiability in the workplace, organize a volleyball tourney, a ping pong contest, board games competition (Chess, Jenga, Scrabble) etc.
Mic Night: “I can’t sing to save my life”, “My voice is so terrible; people would pay me to keep quiet”; these are common things people say when asked to sing. In truth, they are just shy to climb the stage and “make a fool” of themselves in front of all their co-workers. However, people tend to bond over displays of weakness and vulnerability, and having your workers climb the stage to goofily belt out a verse of their favorite song is a good bonding exercise. Those who are reluctant to sing can take the stage to tell jokes or share an embarrassing moment or two.
Volunteering: Taking part in some charity work as a group will bring about a collective sense of altruism that will definitely carry on into offices and boardrooms. From something as small as volunteering to clean a street or two on a weekend to bigger volunteer projects like visiting an orphanage or an elderly nursing home with gifts and groceries. Working on, or giving towards charitable causes is another good way to create an atmosphere of togetherness in the office.
Cookout: Here’s another great idea. This one is sure to bring even the most antagonistic workers together and get them rolling like old pals. No one can reject the offer of a good meal, and holding an outdoor cooking event with all the staff members in attendance will definitely bring everyone closer. To up the ante, you may consider throwing in a cooking competition to test each person’s culinary skills.
Kayaking: We kept the best for the last. Nothing will make colleagues feel more like friends than getting on flat sailing vessels, paddling furiously to get ahead, and getting drenched in the process. This exercise will create memories that will be discussed in the office for weeks after.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of team building activities, but they offer a good starting point for managers looking to create a stronger bond among their workers. Before deciding on an exercise to embark on, consider your workers and figure out which activities are most suitable. Start from there and improvise as you go on. If you are stumped and don’t know how to go about it, there are some companies that provide team building services. Reach out to them and let them do their magic.