Team Building Is Dead

United we stand. Divided we fall.

Together we are what we can’t be alone.

-Dropkick Murphys

 

CareerPunk is about individuality but it’s also about collaboration. Building a great team is the number one way to build team morale, and instill a sense of community at the company. But just because you have the team members in place doesn’t mean you’re going to capture the same magic as Black Flag on their debut album. That’s why managers should be investing in team building. It’s only dead if you let it be.

Contrary to its literal definition, team building isn’t just assembling the parts. It’s discovering the best ways they all fit together while strengthening the bonds/foundations already in place.

Team building can be anything from a quick half day “get together” to a week-long company retreat; an after work happy hour to a crowded conference room of god-forsaken “trust falls.” [Shoot me now, please.] Each of these ways will bring your employees closer together and help you get to the bottom line much faster. And as cheesy as it sounds, team building will help each team member with their own self-improvement, giving you a more well-rounded staff, long-term.

How Does It Feel To Go To Work?

This question is answered by the employee every day while working.  And their response has a surprising effect on their performance. Generally, when employees are satisfied with their work environment, they are more productive. When companies are creating attractive environments in which workers feel connected with their work and colleagues, employees double their efforts to produce outstanding work. As such, creating feelings of communion among workers is essential for increasing employee engagement and productivity.

An Employee Perspective On Company Team Building

Many team building sessions can be quite dreadful. Bosses point us to a room, where we are closed in for hours and undergo a litany of exercises, tests and sharing with colleagues we may hardly know.  This situation is uncomfortable enough to make us want to call in sick the next time team building training is scheduled. Let’s break the mold of team building and think outside the office box.

Team building is something that takes place when we may not even realize it. So what if we pursued activities that raised the stakes! Were fun and exhilarating at the same time. For example, it requires a group effort to steer a raft in the right direction. Activities like this expose us to new natural environments where everyone is on the same playing field. And when your team is riding level 5 rapids contending with death itself they may even feel a more comfortable making some suggestions on how to improve work operations. Or not.

 

How To Ensure We Capitalize On Opportunities With Coworkers?

Stagnant career pathing isn’t pathing at all, which causes great employees to go elsewhere. People with high potential must be offered options that enable them to grow and develop. But employees grounded within strong prosperous teams naturally become aware of the value they have and the role they play amongst their colleagues. This can lead to proactive career pathing by the employees themselves.

Focus on the employees. The companies with the happiest employees are also the most productive. It’s not always about the Benjamin’s either. Contrary to the popular belief, money does not buy happiness at work. There is very little correlation between earning more than $50k -$70k a year and happiness at all. For most people happiness is a low level of stress, a relationship of trust, and a sense of importance.

If happiness comes from trust and value, what can you do to promote these qualities with your team? Hiring the right people is the first step. Helping them engage in a way that builds their trust and reinforces their value is the second. #teambuilding