8 Strategies Employees Can Maximize Their Team Building Experience

According to an Aon Hewitt study in 2018, 71% percent of Filipino employees are engaged in their work.

Yet, HR personnel notices that there are employees who are lazy and counter-culture. These are some of the symptoms of employee disengagement.

Good thing, there are different ways to motivate an employee‒including team building.

If you’re on your way to your company team building, how can you make the most out of it?

Break the Ice

If you work in a corporate setting, chances are you don’t know everyone in your company. Not to mention that corporate shots and LinkedIn profiles can give off a stiff aura.

Ice breakers, such as Human Bingo and Two Truths and Lie, allow you to know your colleagues better. Finding out bizarre or hilarious facts about your workmate leads to better communication. And when you can communicate better, you are able to build a closer work relationship.

Plus, better communication also results in efficient employees.

Learn to Communicate

Effective teamwork in the office requires communication. That’s because communication builds cohesion in the workplace. And when there’s cohesion, it’ll be easier for businesses to achieve their goals.

According to Samantha Gluck, “A cohesive team that communicates well with others creates an environment where people feel free to express new ideas and creative solutions.”

Thus, it is important for employers to find an avenue where employees can develop their communication skills.

Give Them Authority

Good leadership and authority creates empowered and accountable employees. This means employees who get things done without excuses.

In fact, there is a correlation between leadership and empowerment. According to a post by Joseph Folkman:

“If employees trusted their manager and felt the manager ‘had their back’ and would support them, employees were more likely to feel empowered.”

This is where effective communication skills come in. A manager who’s effective in two-way communication and open for change drives empowerment.

 

Moreover, employees feel empowered when given the authority to make a decision. As Folkman puts it:

“The more control people have over their work and how it is done, the higher their sense of empowerment.”

However, it is important that leaders recognize whether an employee is capable of making good decisions. Otherwise, their empowerment can dissipate.

Encourage Them To Contribute

There are times when you’re invited for a meeting, felt the urge to speak up, but chose to do otherwise. You’ll feel that your voice is not valued.

If you happen to lead a team during team building, encourage your members to take part and contribute.

You can do this by assigning tasks to different team members. Ask for their feedback and invite questions. In case you’re having difficulty making them weigh in, use your power of persuasion. Let them agree to something right from the start.

When you make your employees own their idea, the more that they feel involved.

Practice Fair Treatment

During your team building activity, it is best to let go of hierarchy. That way, your employees will feel that each one is important in the success of their team. This is also one of the best strategies to make new employees feel that they belong.

Be open to their ideas and allow your team to be themselves. Doing so can build trust and openness in the company.

Try Outdoor Activities

A change of scenery creates an atmosphere for natural conversations. Which is why it is ideal to conduct team building activities outdoor.

Moreover, recreational areas allow employees to relax during break time.

If you’re looking for a team building location, you can opt somewhere nature is prominent. You can go glamping, learn something new like surfing, or do some zip lining.

After all, your team building can also double as vacation time for your employees.

Do It Regularly

If one team building event can boost employees’ morale, what more when it’s done at least once a year?

According to Jennifer Britton, “Trust and understanding of the team is usually higher each successive event.”

Thus, it is ideal to conduct team building on a regular basis. Other than having a break from work, regular team building can also keep the momentum going.

However, it is best to consider the amount of time you can commit for team building. It is also advisable to hire the same facilitator to give added traction to the event.

Enjoy and Have Fun

Team building should be fun and engaging for the employees.

Ask yourself: Given our company culture, how would fun look like for us?

Your activities should be relevant to your employees. Plus, it should to better work performance.

That’s why it is advisable to design your team building activity with a facilitator.  Doing so can give your employees the most leverage, as well as lessons that they can bring and apply at work.

Whatever your role in the company is, team building is meant to improve your attitude in the workplace. With the tactics mentioned above, you’re sure to have an effective team building activity in the future.