A deeper dive into team building: Keys to generating workplace cohesion

Bringing together a group of people is never an easy task, especially when you have folks from a wide variety of backgrounds. However, unity in the workplace is essential to organisational success. So, how do you unify individuals from all walks of life? The answer lies in effective team building that puts everyone on the same page and unites them in working toward a common goal.

In this article, we’ll discuss why team building is vital to any organisation, the ways in which it can be used to create unity and practical methods for fostering a healthy, united working culture. Let’s dive in.

Understanding the importance of team building

Many people overlook team building as an unnecessary exercise or aspect of workplace culture as simply a waste of time. But, the reality is that a workforce that doesn’t nurture its interpersonal relationships at work is less productive and more likely to fail than a team that has strong bonds.

Team building is essential for creating a cohesive workplace culture that encourages and supports collaboration between teams and individuals. Without these foundations and the ability to work together as a group, employees are more likely to feel disengaged from their colleagues and work, making them more likely to leave an organisation in search of greener pastures.

What does team building look like in action? In essence, team building is any activity or conscious process that a group of people engages in or undertakes to improve their interactions with one another and how they co-operate.

Team building is essential for effective communication across an organisation.

How it helps to generate workplace cohesion

Team building allows employees to forge invaluable bonds by giving people dedicated spaces or opportunities to get to know each other and collaborate. These relationships are vital because they allow people to feel comfortable communicating openly and honestly, which helps reduce instances of misunderstandings and conflict that can be incredibly destructive and divisive.

Workers with a strong “team player” mindset are also more likely to be invested in their work and their fellow team members. This investment means they’ll be more dedicated to maintaining harmony within the workplace and will be proactive in ensuring that everyone is on the same page and “playing nicely.” It’s this solidarity that separates successful organisations from failed ones.

Strategies for creating a cohesive culture

Team building activities can improve communication, collaboration, trust and problem-solving skills. Below are some adventures or projects for your team to participate in, as well as how they improve workplace cohesion:

• Escape room: Band your teammates together in a fictional high stakes scenario that requires problem-solving to beat. Escape rooms are a great way of allowing people to see where their coworkers’ strengths lie, be it number patterns, geometric puzzles or anagrams.
• Obstacle course: Have your colleagues collaborate to overcome literal obstacles. These courses help team members demonstrate empathy by assisting people who might not be as fit, strong or flexible. Such a course can also give people the opportunity to put their trust in each other.
• Two truths and a lie: Ask everyone in your team to state three facts, two being true and one being false. The rest of the group has to figure out which is which. This lets colleagues test how much they know about their coworkers and will allow them to learn more.
• Show and tell: By giving everyone a chance to present something they’re passionate about, team members can learn more about one another on a deeper, more intimate level, which can strengthen relationships.

Interested in improving your workplace’s collaboration and cohesion? Check out our team building course, or contact us to discuss how we can help your organisation.