How team building contributes to a better company culture

Team building is not just a buzzword in the business world; it's an essential building block for creating a positive and collaborative company culture. In this in-depth exploration, we examine the value of team building and how it contributes to a better company culture.

Why team building?

First and foremost, it's important to understand why team building is crucial for your company. Team building goes beyond superficial activities; it's about fostering trust, communication, and collaboration within a team. This leads to a healthier work environment and improves relationships among team members.

Trust forms the foundation of every successful team culture. Team building activities, whether they take place within or outside the workplace, provide a platform to build trust. In an atmosphere of openness, team members can feel comfortable sharing ideas and tackling challenges.

Effective communication is a cornerstone of team building. By understanding and appreciating different communication styles, team members get to know each other better. This leads to clearer collaboration and a better understanding of each other's contributions to the team.

Which team building activities suit my organization?

Choosing suitable team building activities for your organization is like finding the right ingredients for a recipe. It starts with understanding the unique taste and needs of your team.

First, consider the goals of your team building. Do you want to improve communication, build trust, or strengthen collaboration? These goals help in selecting activities that align with what you want to achieve.

Also, consider the personalities and interests of your team members. Not everyone is the same, so activities should be appealing and accessible to all participants. Keep in mind that activities should resonate with everyone.

Lastly, look at the available time and resources. Some activities require more time and preparation than others. Ensure that the chosen activities are feasible within your organization's schedule and budget.

Finding the right team building activities is a balancing act between your team's goals, the diversity of team members, and practical feasibility. With the right mix, you can create a team building experience that promotes collaboration within your organization.

Point HRM is happy to help determine which team building activities suit your organization.

Examples of team building activities

Team building comes to life through shared experiences that go beyond traditional work environments. Consider a joint art workshop where team members collaborate on creating artwork, emphasizing creativity and communication. Another activity could be a team outing to an escape room, challenging teamwork and problem-solving skills in an adventurous setting. Additionally, a collective volunteering experience can serve as a powerful tool to unite team members in a shared sense of community engagement. These experiences contribute to a strong team bond that extends beyond the traditional work setting.

Moreover, it is possible to conduct team building activities in the workplace. An informal coffee break where team members gather to share personal experiences can be a simple yet effective way to strengthen team bonds. Organizing monthly 'get-to-know-you' sessions where team members learn more about each other's interests and backgrounds contributes to a positive work environment. Furthermore, joint projects or initiatives where different team members leverage their unique skills can promote collaboration and create a sense of shared achievement.

Deeper team building activities

In organizations, DISC is often used as a tool for personality analysis. It helps team members understand their own behavioural style and that of others. In combination with team building, this creates a powerful synergy.

Team building activities based on DISC focus on harnessing the diverse personalities in the team. Participants not only learn about their own preferred style but also that of their colleagues. This enhances mutual understanding, strengthens communication, and promotes effective collaboration.

An example of a DISC-based team building activity is a workshop where team members collaborate on specific tasks aligned with their personal styles. This allows them to experience firsthand how diversity can be an asset to the team. Here are some concrete DISC-based team building activities:

Communication Exercise: Teams can participate in a communication exercise where they have to give and receive instructions. This can provide insight into how different DISC styles process and convey information.

Role-Playing: By engaging in role-playing, team members can step into the shoes of different DISC styles. It helps in understanding different approaches and communication styles.

Outdoor Survival Challenge: An outdoor challenge where teams must collaborate to overcome obstacles and achieve goals. It shows how different DISC styles deal with challenges and stress.

Team Cooking: Cooking together requires coordination, communication, and collaboration. It shows team members how to use their DISC styles to work effectively in a non-work-related setting.

Team building with Art: Teams can create art together, such as painting or sculpting. It promotes creativity and demonstrates how diversity in DISC styles can lead to unique contributions.

Group Discussions: Organizing structured group discussions on relevant topics promotes open communication and reveals how different DISC styles react to diverse viewpoints.

Team Challenges: Physical challenges, such as overcoming obstacles or moving objects, demonstrate how different DISC styles contribute to the team's success in active situations.

Case Studies: Teams can analyse and discuss case studies together, applying their DISC styles to problem-solving and decision-making.

Strategic Planning Sessions: When planning the strategy for a project or goal, teams can use their DISC styles to develop effective plans that consider diverse perspectives.

These examples illustrate how DISC can be applied in different contexts to promote team building and enhance collaboration.

Results of team building

Team building ensures that a team can work better together. After successful team building, people in the team feel more comfortable with each other. They communicate more easily and support each other better.

Another possible outcome is that people in the team learn how to work together effectively. They discover each other's strengths and how to assist one another. This not only makes the team stronger but also helps them generate new ideas together.

Team building also improves the atmosphere at work. When people feel good in the team, they also feel better at work. This is important because it helps retain good employees and attract new ones. If people feel better at work, it will also positively impact absenteeism. Curious about how to optimize your absenteeism management? Read all about it on the blog page: "Sick Leave Management: Tips for a Healthier Work Environment."

In short, team building not only strengthens the team but also creates a pleasant atmosphere at work.