The Importance of Building Team Dynamics

One of the most popular and sure-fire way to improve dynamics is through team-building exercises. Indeed, there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to team-bonding exercises, as long as they achieve the following.

Building team dynamics in the office is important, yet it is often overlooked. According to the recent Employer of Choice survey conducted by Careerbuilder Singapore, good employee perks and other non-monetary benefits are one of the most important factors influencing a jobseeker’s career decision. Though the definition of non-monetary benefits differs from person to person, good working relationships within the office is widely considered to be an important aspect.
 
One of the most popular and sure-fire way to improve dynamics is through team-building exercises. While there are many types of activities to engage your team, from annual offsite retreats to monthly bonding sessions of paintball, they all have the same objective. Indeed, there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to team-bonding exercises, as long as they achieve the following:
 
Encourage interaction

With team-building, communication between co-workers can improve significantly. It encourages interaction, especially inter-departmentally. This allows for the different sections of the organisation to understand each other better on a more personal level. Once employees gain an insight into each other’s needs, barriers to working together will naturally be broken down.
 
One important thing to note – team-building activities are meant for everyone. This way, both upper management and employees will get to know each other better.
 
Create a sense of commitment

A sense of loyalty towards a company cannot be developed overnight; it has to be cultivated over time. Employees who feel they have the support of their co-workers and bosses would naturally find it easier to feel belonged. A cohesive team does much in decreasing the company’s turnover rate. In the long term, this saves you, as an employer or HR professional, both money and time.
 
During the duration of a team-building exercise, your team will get to understand and experience the power of cooperation.

Promote Productivity

Fun team-building activities allow your employees to break away from the grind. Time away from their desks would also lift up employees' morale as well as increase their level of engagement. This is good news for you – a positive attitude naturally translates to greater productivity.  


Create work-life balance

‘Work-life balance’ is a common buzzword these days. This balanced lifestyle is much desired, because it is certainly no fun to dedicate 85 per cent of your waking hours to your work emails and projects. Simple activities such as weekly company lunches and corporate social activities give some semblance of a work-life balance and promote a ‘feel-good’ factor among employees. Having a good work environment also helps to position your organisation as an employer of choice, thus attracting new talent for the company.  

One idea to consider when planning for team-building activities is to incorporate the participation of employees’ families and spouses. This opens up opportunities for co-workers to know each other on a more intimate level, and is also a great way to create quality time for families.

Businesses should not just start and end at the office; social activities held outside are important too. Regardless of the size of your company, it is time to consider incorporating team-building activities into your corporate plans. The benefits of team-building activities are much more far-reaching than one may think, and will leave a positive impact on many aspects from morale to productivity. Thus, it is definitely worth spending more time, effort and money on planning for them.