Performance standards across every industry are ever-evolving. It is the biggest reason organizations try to improve themselves to thrive in the competitive drive and achieve a top-notch position. Teamwork plays a pivotal role in helping organizations achieve success. Effective collaboration happens if the team members share a great rapport, work with a common motive, and collaborate instead of competing. It is where team-building activities come into the picture.
Team building activities are a sure-shot way of developing familiarity, comfort, and trust between the employees. It contributes to enhancing the quality of work and profitability. But it can only happen if you plan the team-building activities the right way. If not planned properly, they can waste time, money, energy, and resources.
Here is how to plan team building activities the right way.
1. Define your objectives
First and foremost, understand why you need team-building activities. What are you trying to achieve? Do you want to tackle the lack of communication between your employees or make the new joiners comfortable? Are you planning activities to improve the skills of your team? Knowing your target helps you plan activities that can address the issues of the team.
Do not work to improve every aspect of the workforce. Plan your activities to improve specific areas.
2. Plan activities aligning with your goal
Once you know your objectives, the next step is determining the team building activities that align with them. A good thing to do here is to ask for inputs from the employees. Plan activities they love instead of planning the old, dull, and cliché team-building activities that bring no value to the organization.
Think of something different that fosters positivity, boosts trust and morale, and serves your core purpose. For instance, if you want to make the new employees feel comfortable, plan fun icebreaker games that are interactive and boost communication.
3. Think collaboration, not competition
Planning intense games for team building can backfire on your plan of getting your employees together. A good team-building experience depends on collaboration, not competition. Hence, think of games or activities that bring the employees together, not pitch them against each other.
One good way to foster values, empathy, morale, and build a good team is by conjugating team-building activities with corporate social responsibility, like Odyssey Team’s DIY Helping Hands that help amputees worldwide.
4. Give your employees long-term value
Giving rewards like discount vouchers to your employees brings joy that stays for some time. Plan activities that provide long-term value to them.
While telling them about the team building activities, tell them how it benefits them in different ways and brings value to them. Plan activities that allow your employees to grow professionally and personally.
5. Keep shuffling team members
Whether you decide the team or let your employees decide among themselves, make sure you keep shuffling the teams often.
The idea behind it is to make your employees know their colleagues from different departments and get comfortable with them. If your employees keep playing in the same team with the same members, they won’t connect with other employees. Shuffling teams will help them foster better connections with everyone, which will also help them in their work.
6. Consider the venue
While the most obvious choice is within your office premises, consider planning the activity at a different location. Think of a fancy venue, such as a resort located at the outskirts of your city that has a relaxed atmosphere.
Thinking of a venue other than your office will help your employees unwind and relax together.
The bottom line
Team building activities intend to bring the organization together and reinforce the growth and development of the firm. Use these tips to plan the exercises the right way and make the most of them.
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