Most working professionals collaborate with others in some capacity, so it comes as no surprise that teamwork in the workplace is incredibly important. Traditionally, we think of teams in sports settings. However, have you ever stopped to realize that your colleagues are actually your teammates?
A team is defined as a group of people who share a common goal and coordinate their efforts to achieve it. By that definition, each day that you show up to work, you’re not just showing up to do your job, but you’re showing up to help your teammates reach their goals! But what good is a team if you don’t know how to effectively work together?
There are several activities that you and your team can take part in to help you to become a more cohesive unit. According to teambuilding.com, companies investing time in team building, especially for virtual teams, has risen by 2500% since 2020. And TeamStage states that 75% of working professionals believe that teamwork and colleague collaboration are crucial to success.
Here at MBS, we participate in a variety of activities to strengthen our working relationships. We invite you to consider implementing the following into your workplace:
Read a book as a team
Each team member recently read ‘The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace‘ by Gary Chapman and Paul White. The book includes a link to an online quiz to find out which is your “appreciation language.” You might learn things about yourself that you didn’t realize!
Sharing these results with your colleagues will help them to get to know you better. Showing appreciation for our teammates in a way that they connect with helps them feel valued, be more productive, and feel enthusiastic about working towards a common goal.
Take a personality test
There are many different resources available online, but our team uses the Principles You test. These kinds of tests not only help you to understand who you are and how you operate, but they can help others to understand how they can best work with you! Knowing this will help you to play to your strengths and organize your team in an efficient way.
Plan a non-work related activity
Gather your team together away from the workplace and make an effort to try not talk about work! Bonding outside of work can help your colleagues feel valued for not only how they do their job, but also valued for who they are as a person. Our team has enjoyed escape rooms, minute-to-win-it games, and going out to eat.
Support local events in your community together
MBS has a long history of supporting our local communities. The MBS team recently participated in Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce’s Shop, Move ‘n Groove street fair event. We had so much fun setting up a bounce house for the kids to enjoy and making snow cones for everyone who stopped by. Interacting with the community as a team in a relaxed setting was a great bonding and learning experience. It was also a good opportunity for our team members who are new to town to get better acquainted with the community.
Continue team building
It’s important to remember that team building is not a “one and done” action. Your team may feel more connected right after a team event, but you’re back into the routine of daily work, that feeling begins to fade. Therefore, you must be intentional and consistent with it. Scheduling events like these frequently throughout the year will yield the best results for lasting relationships. You will increase productivity, build trust, inspire collaboration, and promote an overall positive and healthy work environment.
We hope these tips inspire you to help your team be the best it can be. If organizing team activities isn’t one of your strengths or interests, delegate this to a team member. If you’d prefer an outside perspective for team building, we can help! Remember that time invested in improving your working relationships is always time well spent.