What are the advantages of team building?
From increased employee retention to motivation to creating fun, there are plenty of ways team building activities can increase cooperation and productivity long term. Before planning your event, it’s important to identify your goals. Consider, what are the objectives of team building for you? For instance, a scavenger hunt may help a team focus more on collaboration and drive while a wine tasting class with a sommelier may help loosen up a team who is getting to know each other for the first time. Understanding your goals will help you choose the best team building event for your needs.
Still not convinced? We’ve listed some of the many benefits of team building along with some activity ideas. Here are 20 reasons why team building is more than just an activity:
- Increases Employee Retention
Replacing employees is expensive in terms of money and time. In fact, the cost of replacing a salaried employee can be as high as 6 to 9 months of their salary, according to the Society for Human Resource Management’s report on retaining talent. Additional costs include on-boarding, lost productivity, lost engagement, training costs, and cultural impact on the organization. The best option to combat losing employees is to increase employee retention. We believe that a team that plays together stays together. Regular team building activities make employees feel more connected and invested in their company and in their other teammates. - Creates Shared Experiences
Remember the time that Rob from sales got four strikes in a row when the team went bowling? What about when Maya from marketing did an incredible lip sync performance in a full dinosaur costume? When teams spend time together outside of work, they’re able to create shared experiences to reflect on later. Shared experiences are an important part of the bonding experience as they increase acceptance, belonging, and camaraderie according to studies from Harvard University. Creating shared memories starts by creating a team building experience that everyone can attend and take part in. - Provides Collaboration Practice
Think of any team building activity as practice. Getting out of an escape room together before the spaceship takes off might not be what everyday at the office looks like... unless you work for NASA. However, working together to solve any obstacle is like a dress rehearsal for when real work problems arise and all hands are needed on deck. And we all know a solid rehearsal leads to a much stronger performance, especially in any time of crisis. - Builds Trust
Before performers go on stage, many of them say to the rest of the cast, “I’ve got your back.” Team building activities are a great way to build trust and prove that your team has got each other’s backs. (Once you build an entire stable bridge out of toothpicks and marshmallows together, anything is possible.) When it’s time to ask a teammate for help on the job, previous experience (like building that sticky bridge) will help someone feel more confident in their colleagues and transitions them from just being coworkers to having a relationship outside of workplace roles.
- Improves Communication
During a team building activity, people who have never worked together before have a chance to work toward a common goal together. That goal may be as simple as beating another team in dodgeball or creating the best choreography in a dance off. They might communicate for the first time ever while they work on their overhand throw or step back kick together. This makes team building activities a great way to learn each other’s communication styles as you navigate challenges. In these situations, employees are expected to speak up with ideas, concerns, and mistakes. Because of the silly and low-stakes situation that everyone is taking part in, it lessens feelings of embarrassment, rejection or punishment for speaking up. - Lets People Experience Wins
Great team building activities give every member of each team the opportunity to experience an epic win. Watch your team math whiz show off her skills with a tricky scavenger hunt challenge, and your punny sales guy come up with the wittiest team name. Activities should be skillfully designed to give everyone a moment of triumph and the opportunity to win major points for their team. - Increases Employee Engagement
A great workplace has employees who do more than clock in at 9:00am and leave at 5:00pm. In between the start and end of the workday, it’s important that employees are engaged. Scheduling regular team building events provides more opportunities for employees to engage at work and ensure they stay engaged for long after. Once teammates feel connected to their colleagues and the company’s mission, engagement becomes a lot easier to maintain.A 2021 “Friends and Happiness in the Workplace Survey” by Wildgoose found that 22% of employees believe they’re equally or more productive when working alongside friends, and 21% said working with friends makes them more creative. The survey showed that 12% of people state they’re less likely to leave a company if they have a good friend there. - Boosts Motivation
Switching it up and swapping in a team building activity for a regular meeting can be the motivation needed to help employee burnout. It’s no secret that it's been a tough year (or two) and people are exhausted. To keep people motivated, take a break for a lunchtime yoga class or after work game show. - Allows People to Show off Their Strengths
Let your team members show off! Did you know that Jen the executive director knows all the words to Forrest Gump? Did you know that your new intern knows every TikTok dance and is ready to teach the team? Doing something outside of everyday work activities lets people show off their skills in a new way. It’s a great way to find new strengths in your team that don’t necessarily fit into a job description. - Allows People to Work on Their Weaknesses
On the other hand, a team building activity is a safe space for someone to recognize and work on their weaknesses. Maybe they notice they end up speaking over everyone else trying to solve the clues in an escape room. Or perhaps they know their writing skills are not strong but still want to join the company writer’s group. Use team building exercises as a way to help people tackle obstacles and further develop their professional skills.
