Strengthen your team cohesion? Challenge accepted!

Reading time: 7 minutes

The beach, the sun, the blue sky, a deckchair... Ah, the vacations! We think about it, we dream about it

But here, it's not flip-flops and spritz, it's suit and office!

I know, it's ugly!

And it is not the colleagues who will help! He comes back from Asia and bombards everyone with souvenir pictures... She is not better, she is still in her romantic weekend in Rome...

In short, we will have to redouble our energy and efforts to boost everyone until the summer!

So it's time to turn on the "team building" button, to give everyone a boost

Yes, to keep morale and team spirit up, you have to maintain it. It doesn't just fall from the sky!

Don't panic, we'll give you all the tips you need to make it through the summer.

Enjoy your reading...

Team cohesion: "one for all, all for one

Bravo, you have recognized the motto of the musketeers of Alexandre Dumas!

It reflects quite well this team spirit, of solidarity that we all hope for in our lives, at work or elsewhere...

Indeed, when facing life's challenges, we are stronger when we are united than when we are alone. It is an obvious fact, everyone knows it.

However, we have to admit that the atmosphere at work is not always up to our expectations: we can quickly find ourselves working alone in our corner...

However, being able to rely on each other is probably the most valuable asset a team can have in achieving its goals.

As a reminder:

Team cohesion or team spirit refers to the strength of the bonds uniting the members of a group. It is the set of factors acting on these members so that they remain welded together and encourage them to cooperate with each other.

Team spirit: the master asset for the company

In companies, the search for this team spirit is a classic management exercise: "team building".

Having a close-knit team is the guarantee of a good working atmosphere. And that's what everyone needs to be at the top of their productivity and efficiency!

All the specialists in the world of work say it: succeeding in building a strong and united team is part of success, whereas having a group of individuals, even very successful ones, isolated and fragmented leads to failure.

If everyone is focused on their own results without stepping back and connecting to the work of others, then there is a high risk of drifting away from the original expectations.

Sure you have a group of individuals, but they are not an effective team.

Let's clarify the differences: a group is a collection of people thinking individually, while a team is a group of people with common goals and objectives, working together to form a collective intelligence.

A team will be able to support each other and communicate together, which increases its chances of being more efficient... It forms a kind of collective intelligence capable of taking the right directions, the right decisions. If the team is not too homogeneous, we can also see a complementarity being forged, allowing us to overcome all obstacles.

Having a good team cohesion means above all working in confidence and complicity. When a team develops a collaborative work based on trust and collective intelligence, then this "dream team" promises great achievements.

Companies have understood this and organize seminars, trainings and other integration weekends to reinforce this cohesion and team spirit!

Games, sports challenges, cultural activities, dialogues, everything goes to get the holy grail!

Tips for building team cohesion  

Create a climate of trust, don't leave anyone out, be positive with everyone, listen to and seek out the most isolated...

This is what we could ask a manager to do to make a success of his team building... Well, let's be honest, Rome was not built in a day, we should not try to rush things; let's also give the team time to see the chemistry being made!

But a little help isn't too much, is it? You have to find the right balance between patience and time constraints...

1. Focus on small teams

Often, a small group develops a better cohesion than large teams. People get to know and like each other more quickly.

In groups with a small number of people, it is easier for members to interact directly with each other.

2. Set and assign goals and roles for everyone

Set clear objectives that will allow everyone to have a common vision of the tasks to be accomplished.

Define roles for everyone! Each team member must know what he or she is responsible for and what role he or she has in the common work.

This is often the task of managers, but it can also be the result of a team brainstorming session.

3. Motivate your employees

Listen to everyone's expectations. Whenever possible, allow plenty of time for them to express themselves.

Building a good team cohesion requires succeeding in providing what will allow everyone to surpass themselves and to flourish in their work...

What are your team's strengths, needs and obstacles?

Don't hesitate to offer them training or reflection modules to upgrade their skills or power skills.

4. Transparency and communication

Be clear in your requests, in your expectations.

Avoid misunderstandings that bring stress and discord.

Create a climate of trust by being transparent about your expectations and possible deadlines. Explain your choices and the reasons that led you to make them.

Establish an atmosphere of dialogue, do not hesitate to seek consensus.

If you have any doubts, share them with your team to decide together on the strategy to adopt.

Be sure to pass on all information about the work to be done, the rules of the game and the tools available to everyone.

5. Celebrate your team's successes

Everything is possible: congratulations, fake cups or photos of the best employee of the month, gifts of all kinds or bonuses, days off, etc.

The success of some must become the success of others! Make it joyful! "Enjoy & celebrate!

Make sure you have a positive feedback culture! An interview with positive feedback feels good, don't just be concerned with passing on the areas for improvement or negatives.

A successful common goal? Find a common reward to offer!

This will strengthen the motivation and identity of the group.

6. Organize moments of conviviality

If you can, plan some social time with your team.

Sports events, team building, lunches, gift exchange, escape room, charity events... Find the formula that suits you best, and especially that fits your budget.

This kind of event will strengthen the bonds between each member of your team... We talk about everything in these moments, but we also exchange on the work and sometimes the relaxed atmosphere allows us to better communicate certain organizational messages that we would not have communicated as well in normal times.

Sport at work, a team-building tool  

To recreate a bond, nothing is better than sport!

Physical activity at work is a good solution to boost the team cohesion of your employees.

Sport allows for group activities and requires a certain amount of communication.

Important values are transmitted through sport: respect, tolerance, team spirit, honesty, solidarity, discipline, surpassing oneself...

Sport also favors effective communication, especially in team sports: no victory without a team that knows how to make itself understood.

This way, back at the office, the exchanges between collaborators will be better!

Sport will also invisibilize hierarchical barriers by putting everyone on an equal footing for the time of a practice or a match... And that is good for everyone.

Example: Respect and trust through martial arts

Many team sports can be used to strengthen team cohesion: soccer, rugby, basketball, etc.

However, these sports require a dedicated field and not all companies can organize meetings and outings during working hours.

You can also do group sessions of gym, yoga, cardio to energize the teams... Exercises done together or in interaction will give very good results too.

We think less about pushing the tables to install a tatami and take out the kimonos!

However, martial arts are ideal sports disciplines to mix collective and individual practice . These sports bring many interesting qualities and virtues for your employees.

Respect and complicity are part of these qualities: if we take the example of judo or karate, when two employees practice together, they are equal, there is no more hierarchy, there are only two fighters who practice in mutual respect of the rules of the art.

Getting on the tatami means respecting the opponent, the teacher and all the other participants. This forges a certain group discipline and a collective spirit.

The katas, a kind of training choreography in judo or karate, can be done alone or in groups. What a way to reinforce the collective spirit!

In aikido, each one will take turns playing the aggressor or the aggressed to help the other one to progress in his learning of movements and holds. This implies the development of a certain confidence and a "letting go".

You work on yourself: you push your limits, you learn to trust and you accept to follow strict rules.

And of course, it's great to be able to express your energy through the fight while imposing limits...

That's all for today, we wish you every success in this beautiful mission: to strengthen the cohesion of your team.

Be patient and you can reap the benefits of your efforts.

Small advantage, the employees don't ask for more than to help you... There is nothing to do, we are social animals and we like to make good relationships everywhere we are.

So, hurry up and plan some events before the summer...

And if you need help, you know how to contact us!

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