A cohesive team of employees that work well together means that your team is productive and efficient.

By developing and working through team-building activities, your team can work together to develop trust and establish stronger bonds, promoting collaboration and communication.

Proactively build a cohesive team utilizing some (or all!) of the following measures:

• Organize a company picnic!

The weather is getting nicer every day, so plan a casual barbecue or picnic event at a local park. Consider catering the event so no one has to volunteer to cook or clean up. Also, make it a family-friendly event, allowing employees to bring their significant others and children or pets. Plan activities for the kids so the adults can engage with each other on a personal level.

• Get out of the office

Host a field trip once or twice a year to get out of the office and into a neutral location. Research fun ideas that will allow your employees to interact as friends, rather than co-workers, such as a trip to a local museum, sports event or other local attraction.

· Volunteer together

Give back to your community while building a more cohesive team dynamic! Coordinate with a local non-profit organization to have your group take part in a volunteer effort. You could even offer to match employee donations to the organization as an added incentive for participation.

• Start a “lunch and learn” series

Giving employees the opportunity to speak their mind during “lunch and learn” or “brown bag” events is also a great way for everyone to learn more about each other. As an added incentive, as your team practices giving presentations in a low-pressure environment, they’ll become more comfortable at public speaking.

Making team building exercises a habit will bring your team closer together, while building a bond between team members that will serve well for interoffice collaboration and productivity.

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