Team building is about creating the right atmosphere in the workplace, working on communication and feedback, building common morals and goals, and so on. All of these components can vary from company to company; therefore, you should spend a lot of time identifying the specifics of your company. Nevertheless, you can go through a list of essential team-building ideas to determine which strategy you should choose.
Don't run away from a conflict
Conflict in the workplace is not uncommon. However, sometimes, the fear of conflict creates far more problems than a potential conflict would. We believe voicing our displeasure or paying attention to the issue will lead to an argument. As a result, we keep silent and store our emotions within ourselves. But they can come out in a massive wave at any time.
Become more aware of your emotions and help others do the same. How? Here’s an idea: suggest reading a book on communication together. Think of it as a low-effort workplace book club that will prompt valuable discussions. For example, the book called Supercommunicators would be a good choice (find our summary here).
Blame is not an effective strategy
When a project fails, many leaders like to look for someone to blame. The message “If only the accounting department had turned in the report on time...” triggers the following message: “But the manager didn't send all the data on time,” and so on. A chain reaction of negativity is created that undermines team spirit. Remember: shifting responsibility is not a strategy you should follow. That doesn't mean you shouldn't point out your coworkers' mistakes when necessary. Successful companies like Netflix prefer to do error work after every failure, developing their employees' missing skills and looking for a way out. Read more about how to share responsibility in a company in the book The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team by Lencioni Patrick.
Prioritize trust over financial gain
What is the most important thing about your organization? The leader, the product, the investment? No, it's your people. So, let them know that. The foundation of any corporate relationship should be trust and acceptance. When an employee sees and feels that the leader and team value them, they begin to be much more engaged. Their morale rises, and as a result, they have passion, commitment, and dedication. Learn more about the corporate team-building foundation in The Infinite Game summary.
Build a corporate relationship where subordinates are not afraid of the leader
Sometimes, subordinates see the unquestionable authority of their leader and are afraid to say they disagree. This hierarchy, in which “The King is always right,” is outdated because it is counterproductive and does not lead to anything good. Successful companies, such as Netflix, have begun to erase the boundaries between subordinates and superiors precisely for open and unbiased communication. Of course, newcomers and low-level employees will always feel uncomfortable voicing their dissatisfaction in front of their boss, but that's why a leader should build as comfortable an atmosphere as possible and encourage feedback.
Control your negative emotions when giving feedback
Giving feedback is useful and necessary, but it should also be done wisely. Many people become incredibly emotional when they are unhappy with something. For example, your colleague promised to help you write a speech, but instead, he wrote something irrational and deleted your version from all devices. Frustrating, isn't it? But now think about what your goal is. Is it to get angry at your coworker and calm down, or to talk and prevent similar situations from happening in the future? Imagine how you would speak to them, what words you would use, and what emotions you would like to avoid.
If you want to learn more about how to do this, read the Crucial Conversations book summary.
Remember that nothing ventured, nothing gained
Authentic leaders are not afraid to take risks because no mind-blowing success will be possible without mind-blowing risk. You must be open to the crazy ideas of your subordinates (put brainstorming on the list of your regular team activities). Be ready to implement daring, offbeat ideas. On the other hand, don't be afraid to fail and do some deep work on mistakes in such an event. Encourage your team to be creative and proactive because there is no room for a drop of judgment in your office. Still, it’s not the only job of leaders, so you can learn more about it through the Leaders Eat Last summary.
Search for interesting online team-building activities
Today, a considerable number of people around the world work from their homes rather than their usual offices. However, with this kind of work, the sense of being part of a team is often lost. Let people get together and play games such as Two Truths and a Lie, Mafia, or Draw & Guess. Remember that you can gather your coworkers to play Monopoly or Cards Against Humanity any day. However, this will only work if you have the right atmosphere of mutual understanding, respect, and trust within your team.
Make sure all your team members are team players who are actually willing to work together with others. Pay attention to this when hiring and during the probationary period. Also, as a leader, make sure you meet the requirements you set for your subordinates. Be a team player yourself, someone who is open to feedback and even criticism, who can support, listen, and comfort. Consider team building from many angles and build your dream team.
Credentials:
- Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash
