“You don’t build a business, you build a team and then your team builds the business.”

So what might be so important about team building? Though the outcome of team building is the creation of team bonds, team bonds are not the only outcome of team building. There are some benefits of team building that differentiate them from the benefits of team bonds.

Fostering Of A More Collaborative Culture
Such a culture can be created through a more activity-based team building activities that requires teams to work together to complete the task. The main feature such team building activities will have is allowing different people to work and rely on one another in order to achieve the team/group’s objectives. Not only will this encourage people to trust one another, but in the long term create a closer and collaborative working culture. This is beneficial to the organisation on a whole, given that individuals who work closer together might help cover for one another’s pitfalls and allow for more innovative ideas to be developed.

Creating A Greater Understanding Between One Another
Effectiveness of any team or group is based on the level of group processes within the team and is subjected to several other factors which include team chemistry and transactive memory. Team chemistry refers to the fluidity of interactions between each team member. This can be enhanced through experience of working with one another and being able to understand each member’s working style better. Transactive memory on the other hand, is the knowledge and common understanding of each individual member’s strength, followed by task assignment that matches their ability. Through enhanced team bonds, team chemistry and transactive memory will be boosted, which could eventually translate to better team outcomes.

Developing Deeper Motivation To Work For Team Goals
Considering the social aspect of any human interaction, humans are naturally inclined to social goals and in a close group setting, could refer to group goals. When individuals are placed in a team, they are likely to work hard for the team goals, as much as they would for their personal goals. Considering this, with stronger and deeper connections being fostered within a team, they are more than likely to be more connected to the group goal, and work harder to achieve it. Therefore, fostering team bonds is likely to result in desirable organisational outcomes.

Inculcate sense of belonging, or a desire to belong
Besides creating a collaborative culture, such team building activities could create the ground for developing an inclusive culture within the organisation. Every organisation develops a different culture that is dependent on practices and traditions that individuals within the organisation promote. However, with greater exposure and more frequent interaction, any organisation would be able to create a unique culture for themselves. Developing a strong culture is likely to increase an employee’s sense of belonging to the organisation. With that, they are more likely to be motivated to pursue organisational goals.

These are desirable outcomes that can overall benefit an organisation or company’s objectives. As the current landscape moves into one that is more team based, it increases the importance of having effective teams. A group of individuals being put together, will not necessarily lead to the ideal outcome. It is through the positive influence of effective group processes, that a team may achieve their objectives. Through team building and creating lasting team bonds, the desired outcomes will surface and serve larger overarching goals.

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