A strong team is the cornerstone of any business and yet, very few brands invest heavily in team bonding. And when they do, some of the activities chosen are not the most exciting and neither do they promote much bonding. But why bother with team activities?
A strong team bond means that your business will benefit. But it is more than just camaraderie.
#1 Improve communication
Communication is not just about sending an email or picking up the phone – it’s about collaboration too. And that means having a strong team who shares thoughts and ideas.
A strong team is a positive one, even when there are problems that need ironing out. So when someone has a concern, they can express it, be listened to and their opinions are taken seriously.
And then there are issues and problems to be dealt with. A team with a strong bond are ‘movers and shakers’, actively seeking solutions and willing to try new ideas.
Quite often, businesses invest in team building exercises that place their team at the pit face of a seemingly insurmountable challenge, very much like Seasoned Cookery School Team Building Courses.
Who would have thought that a cookery course could improve communication and problem-solving skills? But when you are given scant instruction but must produce a dish, and under competitive conditions, it polishes communication skills no end.
#2 Focus on goals and results
And this is how a cookery course could bring a stronger team bond. As a team, they must produce something edible for the team lunch but with a few ingredients and not much know how or skill, how will they reach this goal.
In everyday business life, a team will have goals and results they must reach. To get there, there needs to be a plan, liked a detailed recipe of success.
Setting a team plan takes vision, as well as an understanding of how effectively to use the limited resources at their disposal.
It is also about understanding their own strengths and weaknesses in the process, and the opportunities and threats that could come at them from as yet, unidentified sources.
#3 Contributions
It’s a common gripe – “so and so doesn’t do much” – and it is infuriating. When team members perceive an imbalance in the effort and input between its group members, dissatisfaction surfaces.
There are many reasons why some team members may not pull their weight – they are uncertain of what to do, not feel valued or are unsure how to put themselves forward.
A strong team will recognise this and will try to bring all team members along with it.
#4 A supportive team
Again, a common issue in many businesses, departments and offices across the country – the lack of a supportive team atmosphere is disheartening, slowing down progress to a slow chug. Occasionally, the team stagnates completely, shattering into pieces.
An excellent team is one that supports each other but in order to get there, people need to get to know each other slightly deeper than a superficial level.
Maybe a cookery course? Maybe eating together and socialising after the team event would be the first steps in creating the strong team your business needs?
#5 Welcomes and accepts diversity
We are all different, all unique, with different skills and different outlooks. It is this diversity within a team that strengthens it but only if differences are welcomed and tolerated.
From differing personalities to a mix of ages, cultures, skill levels and abilities, when differences are made part of the strength of the team, bigger and better things can be achieved.
This is because a team that is different and accepts this, understands its own strengths (and weaknesses).
#6 Improve leadership
Team bonding is not just about ‘playing nicely together’. It is about developing people.
Who is a natural leader with the talent they want to develop? Who has their eyes on gaining other skills?
How well do you know your team?
#7 Better organised
Problem-solving, moving a project forward and realising goals takes a concerted effort. It also takes organisation.
Organising as a team is not just about a leader assigning roles and then monitoring these – micro-managing shouldn’t be needed in a team – but as a team with enhanced communication and collaboration skills, they will have an inbuilt sense of team organisation.
#8 Fun!
Team building should be lots of things – challenging, placing people at the end of their comfort zone, competitive, skill-building – but in this heady mix, we forget one vital ingredient that helps a team to rise: fun.
Seasoned Cookery School have helped client whip up fantastic dishes whilst bonding as a team, and all in a picturesque setting.
