Team building is a challenge that startups and large businesses face alike. Enterprises employ teams instead of individuals to get jobs done. They do it because teams can accomplish tasks in less time and with greater efficiency.
Here are some common and uncommon team building tips that can help enterprises overcome challenges and get the best out of their employees:
#1. Goals and vision
Different employees have different goals and visions. One employee’s professional goals may be 180° different from another’s. Their approach to the job they are assigned to may also be different. This often creates a stumbling block for a team to perform up to its full potential.
The best way to overcome such roadblocks is to create common goals and visions. Training, workshops and
#2. Roles and responsibilities
It’s essential for an organization to define roles and responsibilities for each members of a team. Or else, there will be confusion among team members over what they are supposed to deliver.
The skillset and past achievements of an employee help an organization decide whether he’s capable of playing a professional role. Sometimes, employees have their own preferences. It’s always wise to sit with team members before assigning them specific job roles. Simply, briefing them about the roles won’t do any good. Team leaders need to clarify those roles and educate team members how to perform those roles.
#3. An action plan
After defining common goals and vision and clarifying the roles and responsibilities for each team member, an organization needs to create a feasible action plan. Creating an action plan is an integral part of team building.
An achievable action plan must be inclusive. It should distribute the work among all team members properly, so that everyone has a valuable input to add. Large organizations have people specialized in devising a formal action plan. But in a small business, action plan layout and its implementation depend on staff meeting, regular coaching and following up on team members.
#4. Supplementary skills
Team bonding marks the success of building a team. Employees bond with each other over work. Supplementary skills can bring them close and increase the productivity of teamwork. Let’s say one person in the team is a 3D developer. His knowledge in developing 3D models can be best supplemented by a graphic designer.
When one team member’s skills and expertise supplement another’s, the team functions better and takes less time to complete the tasks assigned. In such a team, spontaneity can be observed. Managerial intervention is seldom needed and the team works in its own flow.
#5. Communication is key
Teams often fail to perform because of lack of communication between team members. It’s imperative for the management to bridge the communication gulf between members so that inter-team communication becomes smooth.
For steady communication, group leaders need to conduct brainstorming sessions involving team members. It’s been found that when team leader/manager asks team members for ideas, they open up and consult with each other.
Using cutting-edge tools is a must. Such tools have customized features to facilitate communication. Employees can log in, view what other team members are doing, communicate with them in real-time and make changes. This type of communication is effective and purpose-driven.
#6. Event ideas
Engaging employees in team building activities has its benefits. Through corporate events and workshops, enterprises can engage employees. This way, team building becomes a fun-filled process.
Events must have brand signature and appealing motif. Popular team building event ideas include, but are not limited to volunteering, pro bono gigs, group dinner and karaoke night. For more ideas, enterprises can turn to large brands, who organize several team bonding events such as poker tower, paint balling, dropping eggs to each other.
#7. Rewards and incentives
You need to show your employees that you value them. Giving them rewards and incentives is the best way to do so. Reward them not only for their work but also for building a positive company culture. That’ll motivate them to effectively communicate with other people in the team and perform better as team members.
#8. Emotional intelligence index
Lately, enterprises are devising ways to measure emotional intelligence. Studies have shown today’s employees have a higher emotional intelligence quotient than yesterday’s. Young employees are mostly millennials and they prefer a work environment, where they are valued, recognized, assisted and cared for.
Understanding the key aspects relating to employee’s emotional intelligence is critical to build a productive team and eliminate workplace uncertainties. If the emotional intelligence index (EII) is high, organizations need to take several team building measures. It’s recommended for them to personalize the whole process.
#9. Flexibility and engagement
A 2013 report on workplace flexibility shows companies with a high flexibility index generate an increased level of employee satisfaction, engagement and productivity. Millennial employees love such a work environment. The infographic below shows the impact of enterprise flexibility on the positive aspects of team building:
Organizations can extend flexibility to several areas outside work hours, work location and attire selection. They can offer flexible work arrangement to acknowledge employee autonomy. Decision making is another area where flexibility can be extended to. Team leaders should involve everyone at the time of making a decision.
#10. Mistakes as learning resources
A productive team is one that considers mistakes as learning opportunities, not opportunities to blame one of its member. A team’s learning curve is more expanded than that of an individual, because it has people with different areas of expertise.
They can interpret mistakes in different ways, gauge the possible outcomes had the mistake not been committed. This ensures better results in the future. In fact, teamwork significantly eliminates the odds of mistakes. So, reevaluating mistakes and programming employees to do the same is imperative for team building.
Summing up
We’ve discussed several tips here in this article. Note none of these tips is difficult to follow. But what an organization is going to get by following these tips is phenomenal. It can create efficient teams, comprised of members who are eager to learn and able to deliver projects within deadline.
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