Building relationships and creating a good working atmosphere are essential aspects of leadership. If you're wondering how to achieve all this, let's find out together!
The leader’s employees are their priority
Many people know the phrase, "When you become a parent, you no longer belong to yourself." The same can be said for leaders. As a leader, you have to set team goals, monitor progress toward them, and make difficult decisions. The loyalty of your subordinates will not come out of nowhere — you must take care of your people, showing that they are your priority. Make sure all your employees are fed first, and then start eating yourself. There is something parental about leadership, but don't go overboard with family associations. Not everybody likes it and they are not to blame for this. Still, if you want to learn more about the topic, you can read the Leaders Eat Last summary.
The significance of a shared mission
A shared goal is the most powerful factor in building strong bonds between team members. Your employees will not be highly motivated if they only care about paychecks and company lunches. On the other hand, it is your job as a leader to keep your employees' morale up by making them believe in something more. With enough work, you can reach the hearts of your subordinates, because the desire to "belong" is a common human feeling. All of us, even if we are not revolutionaries or warriors, want to serve a higher purpose in one way or another. So, use it in order to make teamwork in a company more efficient.
Use motivational quotes
Put up motivational posters around the office. Add inscriptions about the importance of working together. Repeat them as a credo in your general meetings. It all sounds silly, right, but somehow it works if you do it wholeheartedly. You should create the most friendly and comfortable relationship between your subordinates. To achieve the greatest effectiveness of your team as a coherent mechanism, you must recognize the importance of every cog. Show that the personal ambitions of your employees can go hand in hand with the company's goals. When your team has a common goal, it will lead them through adversity to a shared bright future. So, start by saying something like “We're in this together” at the beginning of your team meeting, and go on!
Let everyone enter through the same doors
We all remember the principle "Don't ride in the same elevator with Miranda" from The Devil Wears Prada. Some offices use separate entrances for personnel of "different degrees of importance." This approach is outdated. Many companies specifically encourage their employees to come through the same entrance, regardless of their status or salary. This way, small talks can occur, which will be much more effective than scheduled office team building. Most importantly, this approach will increase employees’ sense of belonging. If you’re not convinced, give The Culture Code summary a try to provide you with all the information you need.
Respect your employees’ and teammates’ feelings
Your secretary walks into your office in tears. What do you do? We all sometimes don't know how to respond to other people's feelings. For starters, pay attention to your peers in these situations. Don't pretend that nothing is happening because to maintain a healthy work culture, you need to make everyone feel heard and understood. Second, don't say phrases like, "Don't be angry" or "Don't worry." Keep water bottles with you that you can offer to your coworkers in cases of mental breakdown. Most importantly, just listen. Explore this topic more in our Radical Candor summary.
Boost team spirit by working together
We all know how important it is to organize team-building events, but then we sit down and realize that we have no ideas on team building. Corporate events in the old sense of the word are long outdated. However, you can throw a themed party with a clear plan and distribution of responsibilities. Make everybody work when doing team building activities for big groups. Assign people responsible for the table, games, location, and props.
Play Mafia
Many companies and educational institutions have started using the game of Mafia as a way of team building. And surprisingly, it works incredibly well. You don't even need to gather in the office for a good game — use modern technology and play Mafia via Zoom or Discord.
Make everyone take a photo of their desk
When you work in an office, you can constantly see your colleague and their workplace, building an impression of them. But for many who work online, this opportunity is absent, taking with it a sense of presence. Try organizing regular challenges like "Messy Table." Have all your coworkers take pictures of their tables and upload them to a private chat room. Someone's desk will be loaded with a bunch of cups; someone else will show off their pin board with project plans. All this will help to build a clearer picture of your colleagues and form a better connection.
Name ten things
This popular game can help you get to know your coworkers' values better. All you have to do is set a topic and then let everyone name ten words on that topic as quickly as possible. It can be as simple as naming the ten worst names for your firstborn child. Even if your coworkers say something silly like "Perforator, Gilbert, Muffin, and Chloride Phosphate", you'll at least get a good laugh and grow closer.
You can find a lot of corporate event ideas. However, while chasing interesting office team building ideas, you should not forget the main thing: you are still at work, which should be approached responsibly. As a leader, you must not only fulfill your immediate work tasks. You must also create a shared mission and lead people, often prioritizing their feelings and emotions over your own. Create the best conditions for your employees, and they will repay you with good work
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