Individuals require human connection to thrive, and the workplace is no exception. As a result, when business owners prioritize team bonding, they can increase employee satisfaction and engagement, foster trust, and boost productivity.
For businesses in every industry, the last few years have been a whirlwind of change. Team bonding has been especially difficult to achieve due to the uncertainty the Covid-19 outbreak brought. As a result of the global pandemic, many business owners had to change their practices to prioritize the safety of workers who remained on-site or began working remotely. Additionally, the number of remote workers tripled during the pandemic.
As a result, organizing office parties and get-togethers required more ingenuity. Regardless, it is critical to maintain a positive attitude and a strong will, even if employees are not physically together as they were previously. That is why, even from afar, you must do everything possible to make your team feel appreciated and cared for.
Below, you’ll find four ways that will help you strengthen your bond with your team members.
What Exactly is Team Bonding?
The process of strengthening relationships among team members is known as team bonding. Employees can begin to understand each other on a personal level by participating in fun activities together. As a result, they increase trust and communication.
Team bonding is about developing strong social relationships that allow employees to work more effectively together. There are many things that an employer can implement to create special connections with the employees. Regardless of the conditions, whether remote working or with physical attendance, there are plenty of options for fostering team bonding. You can create a combination of virtual team-building activities for remote employees with activities for the people working in the office.
For example, organize a meeting and set up a virtual coffee chat, virtual karaoke, virtual employee wellness sessions, or virtual exercise sessions for employees working from home and at the same time do the same things for employees working in the office. Make fun activities that involve each employee regardless of their location.
Get to know your team
Take the time to socialize with the people on your team. It is not required to be associated with work stuff. This doesn’t mean knowing just their names and job titles. Instead, during lunch break, talk with them. Get to know about their passions and hobbies outside of work. It will allow you to see them as individuals rather than just as a “working team,” which will help you form stronger bonds with each team member.
Organize a movie night
Organizing movie nights with cheesy pepperoni pizza, salted buttery popcorn, or nachos and spicy salsa can be a great way to get your team members to bond with one another. You can schedule these nights monthly or more sporadically. Remember to compile a list of potential movies to watch after gathering suggestions from your team members.
Happy hour
A team happy hour is an excellent way to get your team members to know one another. People can relax and be more open to talking when they leave the office and enter a more casual setting. Think a little out of the box, going to the bar next door for happy hour isn't the only option.
You could, for example, host a paint-and-sip happy hour. During this event, an artist walks participants through the steps of creating a painting while they snack and drink wine. You can go to a paint-and-sip location or do it yourself by putting together canvases, mocktails, cocktails, wines, iced tea, coffee, and snacks. Employees can take their masterpieces home or hang them in the office at the end of the event.
Celebrate everything
Celebrating your employees is one of the most effective ways to foster team spirit. Take any opportunity you can to pause and publicly recognize team members, whether it's a birthday, promotion, or work anniversary.
Even small gestures, such as saying "happy birthday" during an all-employee meeting, can have a huge impact. You could also take the team out to dinner to celebrate someone's new position or award a certificate to an employee for their first full year with the company. Celebrations are one of the most effective ways to strengthen team bonds.
Final thoughts
Building a unified team is easier than ever, thanks to the many options and creative ideas you can implement, like movie nights, virtual coffee chats, or a fun happy hour. Team bonding exercises boost employee morale, increase productivity, and foster positive company culture making the workplace a better place for everyone.
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