A successful and efficient company relies on its employees’ ability to work well together even in demanding and high-pressure situations. This, however, doesn’t always happen naturally. It pays to send your employees to a once-a-year team-building activity on a sunny beach paradise so everyone can unwind and be even more effective when they get back to the office.
Team building is a must-have for every company because of the plethora of benefits it provides. What are these benefits, you ask? In this post, we rounded up the top 8 advantages of team building that employers should know about:
1. Promotes Collaboration
Collaboration is all about knowing one another’s strengths and trusting each other with responsibilities that are in line with those strengths. Certain team-building activities let people do exactly that, so when a situation arises in the workplace that requires collaboration between people with unique specializations, the team is more prepared to handle it.
2. Increases Creativity
Einstein once said that imagination will take you everywhere. And true enough, companies that do come up with breakthrough products and services are often the ones which employ the best minds, who aren’t afraid to let their creative juices flow.
3. Improves Communication
Everyone wants a friendly and open work environment. When people are comfortable and happy talking to each other, things can move forward at a much faster rate. Ideas and opinions are also thrown around more freely, which leads to innovation and more effective problem-resolution.
4. Uncovers Hidden Qualities
You can’t find out everything about a person just from their resume. In team-building activities, you might be surprised to see the quiet guy who works in the dark corner of the office yelling out commands to the rest of the group like a natural-born leader. Or you may notice the company joker adopt a more serious attitude in the face of high-pressure situations. These are all things the right team-building activities can bring out.
5. Teaches Employees to Embrace Diversity
Most companies today employ people from different cultures and countries, where they may speak different languages and have different special holidays. Instead of creating a barrier between employees of different backgrounds, why not have a team-building activity that celebrates this diversity? One good example is incorporating meals that showcase the different specialty dishes of other countries in your company outings.
6. Sparks Friendly Competition
A little competitive spirit has been shown to increase productivity in the workplace, so why not incorporate some competitive games as part of your team-building program? Not only will some of the employees earn some bragging rights from winning, but they’ll also develop friendly competition as opposed to acquiring an aggressive and mean-spirited stand.
7. Builds New Relationships
It’s normal for people to want to talk and get to know each other better in team-building activities; an office setting may not provide them the same opportunity to do so. New friendships can also be formed during team-building events, which can make the workplace a more satisfying and fun place to be in.
8. Increases Motivation
When employees win on a team-building exercise, it builds up their momentum and improves confidence. Also, employees develop more of an appreciation for the company when they see that the organization is willing to invest in them. Don’t hold back on sending your employees to some of the top destinations for team building, such as a private beach resort in Batangas or maybe a hot spring in the southern part of the Philippines.
Every Company Should Invest in Team-Building Activities
Scheduling a team-building event at least once a year can reap plenty of benefits for your company. Not only does it lead to improved workplace performance, but you also end up with happier employees and a friendlier work environment that everyone appreciates.