The importance of team building has been acknowledged by huge businesses like Adobe and Samsung and reported on numerous times by major publications such as Forbes and Business Insider.

The benefits of successful team-building, then, are undeniable. However, it can be hard to justify investing thousands in team-building events. What benefits can you expect to see and how does that translate into monetary success?

Team-building is about more than just creating a good vibe in the office. Successful team building results in many perks from improved company culture to reduced absenteeism.

In this article, we delve deeper into the impact team building can have on your business.

How does team building benefit your business?

Too often, business owners and managers fail to acknowledge exactly how team building activities can positively impact their company.

That’s why we put together the following list to remind you exactly why big businesses like Google and Shopify, as well as remote teams like Buffer, are investing so much in team-building. 

1. Develops interpersonal relationships

Team-building exercises are great for developing internal relationships within your team. As an employer, it’s your job to facilitate an environment that encourages interpersonal bonding.

But why is it so important and how do you benefit?

It’s simple. Employees who get along are proven to be more productive, more inspired, and more engaged at work, resulting in greater overall output.

Can’t employees build relationships themselves without the need for managerial involvement?

Sure, friendships will be formed at the office, although, these relationships are likely to be segmented into small groups and dictated by shift patterns, workplace layout, and gaps in the chain of command.

That’s why employers should take the lead in organising opportunities for employees to cross paths with personnel whom they may not otherwise have had the chance to meet.

2. Reduces stress and boosts productivity

As competition increases, companies are burdened with the pressure of outperforming their competitors. This pressure filters through your chain of command and has negative impacts on your workforce.

“Sixty-one percent of workers say they’re burned out in their current job, and 31% report high levels of work stress.” (Career Builder, 2017)

Employees who have formed good relationships with their colleagues are likely to experience reduced stress and perform better at work.

Reduced stress within your team has monetary benefits too. Burnouts at work is a leading cause of absenteeism and it can interrupt workflows and impact project turnaround times.

Stress might push valued employees to leave. Not only is this detrimental to company morale, but recruiting new employees and onboarding them is a costly process.

3. Enhances the company culture

You only need to look at successful companies like Google, Hubspot, and Apple, to understand the importance of great company culture.

But what does it mean to have good company culture? 

The idea behind good company culture is to unify your workforce towards a common goal. This goal should be easy to understand and should be understood by everybody from the office janitor to the company CEO.

So why do large companies think company culture is so important? 

Well, employees with a shared goal will be more inspired, enthusiastic, and committed to their tasks and responsibilities. This results in improved output, a better quality of work, and higher morale.

Furthermore, good company culture is like a magnet for talent. People are going to want to work for your company. As a result, your HR team will now be exposed to higher levels of talent that were previously unavailable.

4. Closes the gap between the different chains of command

Inevitably, all businesses will experience a disconnect between their employees and managerial staff, a distance that’s likely to grow as the business expands.

One of the aims of team building activities is to close this gap in the chain of command. A study by EY in 2016 found that “Only 46% of employees say they have a “great deal of trust” in their employers.”

A lack of trust between employers and employers can damage company culture and impact communication between departments. As your business grows, it becomes increasingly important to keep communication channels well-greased.

5. Builds a safe environment for creative processes

It’s obvious: We’re more likely to feel confident expressing our ideas with those we trust. This is especially important for creative environments—you don’t want a poor team dynamic to impede creative processes.

By organising team building activities, you can improve the relationships between your employees which enables them to trust each other and feel more confident making suggestions.

Doing so makes meetings and brainstorming exercises more fruitful and can lead to game-changing innovations later on.
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6. Incites competitiveness between employees

What’s wrong with a little healthy competition? 

Nothing, that’s what. In fact, encouraging your workforce to be competitive can reap some great benefits for your company.

Stirring up some competitive spirit can build a level of comradery within your team, resulting in employees who are more driven and engaged with their roles.
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7. Helps you to identify special skillsets within your team

Team building exercises are a fantastic way of identifying unique skillsets within your team, skills you may not otherwise have acknowledged.

Team building games can encourage employees to exhibit their decision making or leadership skills in a fun and casual environment.

Understanding the traits of each team member is extremely useful for managers and can make allocating tasks and responsibilities easier. These insights are also useful when considering possible promotions and bonuses.
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Grow your company culture with an unforgettable offsite team-building experience

Companies, big and small, are increasingly acknowledging the importance of strong interpersonal relationships and how they contribute to improved baseline revenue.

The internet is chock-full with tips and examples for how to start building your company culture, many of which are outright cringe-worthy.

The most authentic and effective way to facilitate team bonding is by organising an unforgettable offsite team-building retreat. The major drawback to this is that it requires a considerable amount of time and effort to organise.

That’s where Surf Office come in—we help companies sky-rocket their company chemistry in a way that’s genuinely exciting, effective, and stress-free.

The team at Surf Office use their in-depth local knowledge to organise memorable, cost-effective retreats for your team, so you can continue doing great work while we plan everything for you.

Don’t let the technicalities of organising a team-building retreat prevent you from experiencing the benefits.

Interested? Contact the Surf Office team, today.