Contributed post
Teamwork, and getting along, is essential in an office for a few reasons. For one, life is pretty miserable for those who don’t get along in the office. They have to see each other every day, and tensions can soon come to the fore. It’s hardly the work atmosphere most of us crave. Not to mention that many work projects are team efforts. If members can’t work together, how can they produce results?
In truth, getting along as a team has a significant impact on earning potential. As well as being a waste of time, office disputes can impact work quality. And, that’s sure to become apparent to customers. With that in mind, you should want your team as tightly knit as possible. When you work together, you earn more together. But, how can you ensure you all stay close? Considering the following activities will help.
Nights out
Arranging work nights out is crucial. Even if this isn’t your kind of thing, as the boss, you have a responsibility to make it happen. Bear in mind that you don’t have to pay for all the drinks across the evening, though you may want to start by buying the first round. After that first drink, you can guarantee that no one will think twice about getting their own. Expenses like these aren’t much in the grand scheme of things, but they could make a huge different to the team.
Once you’re out, make an effort to chat about things which aren’t work-related. If things are slow, play a questions game to get the ball rolling. Once the drink’s flowing, and everyone’s relaxed, you’re sure to have fun. Do this every few months to keep the connections strong.
Team building days
The only trouble with nights out is that there’s no way to make them compulsory. As such, you may get the same, already acquainted, people turning up. To take team building even further, then, it’s worth paying for a few activity days during work hours. There is more money involved here, but this is also more efficient, as it includes everyone from the team. By letting them all loose somewhere like the Bawtry Paintball Fields, you can even separate individuals into teams. By putting staff together who don’t often seem to communicate, you can bridge gaps and build friendships. Other choices here include sports days and activities such as laser shooting.
Morning meetings
Remember, too, that not all bonding has to take place outside of the office. By hosting a morning meeting, you can ensure that everyone comes together as a team at least once a day. Use this time to share what each of you is working on. Any team members who need help can take this opportunity to set questions to their team members. Then, working together, you can host brainstorming sessions to overcome issues. Get into the habit of doing this at least once a week, and see how much of a difference it makes to team morale.