Unfortunately, there are too many offices out there that cite work as their only priority. When the fact remains that in any workplace, building friendships and camaraderie among staff can have endless benefits. Being able to let loose and socialize with your coworkers is not only useful for office morale but can also be a ton of fun. Having a group of people who enjoy working together is essential to a happy and efficient workplace. What's more, this can be achieved via some simple activities.
So for all those eager to usher in some positive energy at their workplace, The Week offers ideas for bonding experiences among colleagues.
Workplace: My hideout
Communal Lunch
Everybody eats, so why not eat together, and get to know each other in the process? As they say, there's no bonding quite like the one created over some good food. Designating a certain time for lunch and having everybody come out of their cubicles or rooms for a well-deserved break and some lively chatter over lunch at least twice a week can really help staffs get acquainted to each other.
Decorate Your Office
Not everybody like white walls, white ceilings, and soulless lighting. Just because it's an office doesn't mean it can't have any personality. When you spend such a significant amount of time in one space, it's important that it reflects not only the culture of the company but also the people who make it run. So giving employees the freedom to express themselves and decorate their space is a great idea.
Get Together to Give Back
Working together on a charitable cause that the people in the office care has been proven to be a great way to bond. There are some companies who even facilitate volunteer outings with local non-profit organizations. A great way to kick off this process is having the team decide, as a group, what type of volunteer activity they would like to participate in. Volunteering as a team is another way of bringing people together while also doing some good in the world.
Take a Good Old-Fashioned Field Trip
Sometimes, the best way to get to know the folks you work with is to just let everyone interact freely, without a formal plan. An annual field day, complete with food, music, silly games (that are all optional), and prizes could do just the trick. There's some evidence that a key part of feeling closer to someone is experiencing the same thing at the same time. So encouraging the team to get to know each other free from the confines of their cubicles could be the first step to creating shared memories.
Work Day Out
Here, every other month one or two, staff members will plan some kind of activity that the entire staff can participate in. These plans, however, need to be more interesting than just another run-of-the-mill get-together at the restaurant. So it could perhaps be a day out wall climbing, karaoke, pottery classes or a documentary screening. Not only do these social events allow co-workers to have some time away from the office but it also gives them the chance to create their own fun.
Compete Together
Teams naturally feel closer when they accomplish things together. When coworkers become collectively inspired to achieve a goal, it can make for some of the best bonding experiences. Thus competing in regularly organized interoffice competitions, such as futsal, cricket or volleyball is highly recommended. They could also come together to create presentations or host functions. Though this might rob some time off work, the camaraderie built because of it will be worthwhile.
