When was the last time your team did some team building? Take a moment to reflect on that question. If it’s been a while, or if you can’t even remember the last team building activity you did, you’re not alone. In today’s fast-paced work environment, team bonding often takes a backseat to pressing deadlines and demanding projects. But here’s the catch: neglecting team building can hinder your team’s growth and stifle its potential.
Research consistently shows that effective team building activities can have a profound impact on team performance. A research study highlighted the positive impact of team building on team cohesion. The study found that teams that participated in regular team building activities developed stronger bonds, increased trust among team members, and experienced higher levels of collaboration.
So, why is it that team bonding often gets overlooked or treated as an afterthought? Perhaps it’s the misconception that team building is all about icebreakers and trust falls. The truth is, team building is a strategic endeavour that goes beyond mere fun and games. It’s about creating an environment that fosters positive team cultures and fuels long-term growth.
In this blog, we’ll explore the art of optimising team building frequency to find that perfect balance for your team’s growth. We’ll delve into research, draw from our expert insights, and provide you with practical tips to assess your team’s needs and plan ahead for impactful team building experiences.
So, if you’re ready to unleash the full potential of your team and pave the way for a thriving and motivated workforce, lets discover how to strategically integrate team building activities into your team’s DNA and unlock a world of enhanced collaboration, productivity, and success.
Practical strategies for optimising team building frequency:
1. Assess your team's current state:
Begin by evaluating your team’s current dynamics, strengths, and areas for improvement. Consider conducting surveys or organising team meetings to gather feedback and insights from team members. This assessment will help you understand the specific human skills to focus on and goals of your team. Dive deeper into assessing your team with this recent blog.
2. Set clear objectives:
Clearly define the objectives you want to achieve through team building activities. Are you aiming to improve communication, enhance collaboration, boost morale, or develop specific skills? Setting clear objectives will enable you to tailor your team building efforts accordingly. Like any good plan, it should come complete with goals that are SMART (specific, measurable, acceptable to you, realistic to achieve, and time-bound)
3. Adapt to the team's stage of development:
The art of mastering the frequency of team building is to align with the stage of your team’s development. As teams go through different phases, their needs and priorities evolve. For example, a team in the forming stage requires more frequent team building activities to foster trust and establish clear communication channels. In contrast, a team in the performing stage may benefit from less frequent but more focused team building efforts aimed at enhancing specific skills or addressing specific challenges. In this recent blog we discuss the best team activities for each stage of team development.
4. Mix it up:
Vary the types of team building activities you engage in to keep things fresh and engaging. Consider incorporating both structured and unstructured activities, such as workshops, team outings, retreats, charity team building or virtual team building exercises. Experiment with different formats and approaches to cater to diverse preferences and learning styles within your team. More on this below!
5. Integrate team building into your teams DNA:
Instead of treating team building as a separate event, integrate it into your team’s routine. Allocate regular time slots for team building activities, such as dedicating the first 15 minutes of a weekly meeting to a quick icebreaker or incorporating team building exercises into your quarterly planning sessions. By making it a regular part of your team’s schedule, you can ensure consistent engagement and progress.
6. Seek employee input:
Involve your team members in the decision-making process when planning team building activities. Encourage them to share their ideas, suggestions, and preferences. By incorporating their input, you can create a sense of ownership and engagement, leading to more meaningful and impactful team building experiences.
7. Evaluate and adapt:
Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of your team building efforts. Monitor the impact on team dynamics, collaboration, and performance. Collect feedback from team members and assess whether the objectives were met. Based on this evaluation, make necessary adjustments to the frequency, format, and content of your team building activities.
So…How often should my team really engage in team building?
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how often a team should engage in team building activities, several factors can guide the decision-making process.
Research suggests that regular team building activities can be more effective than infrequent ones.
However, it’s crucial to strike a balance. Team building that occurs too infrequently may not provide enough opportunities for team members to connect and bond. They may feel disconnected from each other and lack the sense of unity that is essential for effective collaboration.
On the other hand, team building that happens too frequently can become counterproductive. If team members are constantly engaged in team building activities, it can lead to fatigue and a decrease in productivity. They may start to perceive team building as a distraction from their actual work, resulting in a lack of motivation and focus.
As experts in the industry for over 29 years we believe structured team building should occur every 3 – 6 months while non structured team building should be part of the weekly routine.
Lets break that down; examples of structured team building would include:
- Team building programs
- Team building workshops
- Charity team building
- Volunteer programs
- Wellbeing workshops
- Team outings
- Virtual team building
- Conferences, seminars, or industry-specific events where your team can network
Remember, the choice of structured team building activities should align with your team’s objectives, preferences, and the specific human skills or areas you want to focus on. Customising the activities based on your team’s needs will ensure maximum engagement and relevance.
Non structured team building is all about providing opportunities for connection into your weekly routine. Examples include:
- Buddy systems
- Friday night drinks
- Book clubs
- A quirky question at the beginning of each team meeting ie. Tell us about a stranger you still remember. What made them memorable?
- Creating an employee WhatsApp or Facebook group
- Starting a social committee
- Weekly potluck morning teas
- Walking or exercise breaks
- Interest-based groups or clubs ie. Footy tipping comp
Remember, the key to non-structured team building is to create opportunities for informal interactions, shared experiences, and building relationships beyond the formal work setting. These activities should be flexible, enjoyable, and aligned with the interests and preferences of your team members.
FREEBIE TIME
To support your team’s growth and provide you with actionable steps, we’ve created a free culture calendar that you can download. This calendar offers a curated collection of team building activities and ideas for both structured and non-structured team building. It includes suggestions, tips, and reminders to help you maintain a healthy team dynamic and foster a positive work environment. Simply click the button below to access your free culture calendar and start optimising your team building frequency today.
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