Nothing replaces face-to-face interaction for improved teamwork and office productivity. Some of our suggestions might surprise you…

By Nadia Lambo, CHRP, CHRL

When we’re involved in the day to day grind of our working lives, we sometimes lose sight of our most important assets - the people that grind with you, day in and out. The people who celebrate your successes with you, and who help pick up the pieces after a colossal fail.

So, what are we doing, as employers, to ensure our teams work together in the most productive and efficient manner? 

Here are a few simple and inexpensive strategies you can employ to get the most out of your teams:

1.     “Let them eat bread!”

Encourage departmental luncheons – bonding outside of the office environment to create a greater bond within the office. Make sure everyone in the department is invited!

2.     Make communal areas comfortable

If you have a communal space (i.e. kitchen, water cooler area etc.), try and make it as comfortable as possible (i.e. have couches, a ping pong or foosball table). A place where teams can come together and discuss problems constructively. Sometimes moving away from your cubicle can open your mind up to greater creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

3.     Connect

Communication is the glue that holds the team together. Ensure you are connecting, daily, or as often as possible, with each and every staff member in person. Let them know they are important, take them for coffee, and open up the opportunities for candid conversation. Encourage your managers to do the same with their staff. Understand their strengths and challenges and have them connect with other people in the organization where there is a mutual need.

Remember that effective leadership isn’t about being a one-person show. It means building teams that will commit to you and your organization through the good, the bad and the ugly. Effective communication and creating connections will inevitably bring success to any endeavour. Need an outsourced HR professional to assess your team building strategies? Contact us today for a free consultation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nadia Lambo is an HR consultant with LDHR and senior level manager with over 15 years’ experience in management and human resources. She has proven success working with executive teams developing and integrating the human resource function with the organizational strategy. When not working, you can catch Nadia enjoying “the now” with friends, family and a glass of wine!