8 team-building activities to build employee loyalty
In recent years, the workforce has been hard to attract and retain. Companies must therefore redouble their efforts to stand out as an employer. Beyond salary, people want to feel good at work.
What if team building could help? Discover ideas for activities that can easily be organized to improve the well-being of your team, both in person and remotely.
What is team building?
Team building is an English term meaning "team building". More precisely, it is about activities organized by a company to reinforce the cohesion between its employees. It is an excellent way to develop the company culture.
The goal is to strengthen the bonds between the company's workers and allow them to develop collective skills. According to Cersa, this helps create a sense of solidarity among employees. They get to know each other and recognize their commonalities, strengths and weaknesses.
4 ideas for simple face-to-face team-building activities
You know that team building activities are important to your company's culture. However, it can be difficult to organize large events on a frequent basis. So here are 4 ideas for activities you can do right in the office. Add it to your routine!
1. A team race
The advantage of this activity is that it can be organized just about anywhere. You can do a relay race right at the office or make it a longer activity outside like a canoe race, kayak race, dragon boat race, etc.
It's a great way to get everyone out of the office to spend some quality time outdoors and bond.
2. Build a spaghetti tower
This is a fun, simple and quick activity that can be done in the workplace. The group is divided into several teams of 2 to 8 people. Each team gets a package of spaghetti and a package of marshmallows.
The goal? Build the highest tower in 15 minutes.
In addition to lightening the mood in the office, this activity will require employees to work better together in order to act with thoroughness and speed.
3. The human node
This activity is ideal for larger teams. The group is divided into two standing circles, shoulder to shoulder. Everyone reaches out with their left hand and grabs the hand of someone standing on the other side of the circle. The same thing is done with the right hand.
You must then try to untie the knot, without anyone letting go of each other's hands. The first team to form a circle with everyone facing each other wins.
4. The blind researcher
For this activity, you will need to make at least 2 teams of 2 to 5 people. Then one of the team members is blindfolded. The other team members must guide this person to objects that have been previously hidden. The team that collects the most objects wins.
This activity will aim to improve communication between team members.
4 Ideas for virtual team building activities
If telecommuting is part of your company's daily routine, that's no reason to put team building on hold! Here are 4 ideas of activities that are well done in virtual mode and that will allow you to create links.
1. Escape game
The escape game is a group activity in which you have to solve puzzles in order to find clues that will allow you to escape from a room or a virtual situation. You've probably heard of it before; this type of game has gained a lot of popularity in the last few years. It is a great way to develop team spirit.
The good news is that more and more companies are now offering virtual options!
2. 2 truths, 1 lie
This activity requires no preparation and is usually played in 10 to 20 minutes. It is ideal for teams of less than 10 people. Each team member must tell 2 truths and 1 lie, while the rest of the team discusses among themselves to guess which little anecdote is not real.
3. Virtual Telework Bingo
Even though it is more difficult to develop relationships with our colleagues from a distance, some crazy things happen in the daily life of telecommuting. For example, the appearance of a pussycat or kitty during a teleconference meeting, or a colleague wearing a nice shirt with jogging pants, etc.
In this virtual bingo, the more you witness these funny moments, the more chances you have to win.
4. Mario Kart Tour
Does your team need a mental break? Challenge your colleagues to a game of Mario Kart Tour. This application can be downloaded from the appstore of your cell phone.
What are the advantages of team building
Gallup studies - and many others - have repeatedly found a direct link between an employee's sense of belonging and the effort they will put in. So it would seem that having happy employees contributes directly to your company's success.
The benefits of team building are numerous. In the short term, you will improve the atmosphere in your workplace. In the long term, team building will contribute to the success of your company.
Improved communication and collaboration
Doing activities in a pleasant atmosphere allows us to get to know our colleagues when they are more accessible and relaxed. We learn more about their personalities as well as how they communicate. The more we know about each other, the better we collaborate, the fewer conflicts we have... and the more productive we are!
The numbers speak for themselves: according to ExpertMarket, a close-knit team is 20 to 25 percent more productive, while Gallup studies report that women who have a best friend at work are 63 percent more likely to be engaged in their work.
Employee retention
Did you know that 79% of people leave their jobs because they don't feel appreciated?
In recent years, it has become essential to the success of a company to show appreciation to its employees. Organizing activities for them not only shows that you care about their well-being, but also contributes to creating a sense of belonging.
Investing in team building is in everyone's interest!