Bonding with your coworkers helps keep office morale, and builds a trustworthy relationship between you and the people you work with. Team-building activities help give a sense of cooperation around the office, and get people to open up to build working relationships with each other.
Team-building, or now commonly called hangout sessions, are meant for coworkers to release their stress, and build trust with each other. Managers often host team-building events and activities in and out of the office, and having a hangout session in the office requires a lot of preparation.
When your employees need a little boost in morale, have a simple team-building activity around the office to get everyone to destress. These can be as simple as an office party, a fun seminar for collaborations, or just a time for everyone to eat and chat.
Step 1: Schedule your hangout session at the end of the week.
Schedule your team-building at the end of the week so everyone can go home rested, and ready for the weekend. If you schedule your team-building activities in the middle of the week, expect that no one in the office is in the mood to work afterwards, decreasing productivity.
By scheduling at the end of the work week, you also get to control the amount of work that happens throughout the week, so everyone can get ready for the team-building activity once the week ends.
Step 2: Make sure all the work for the day is done.
No one can really relax and participate in the team-building process when they’re stressed out about the unfinished project they have on their desk, or that presentation that’s due by the end of the day. Make sure everyone has finished the work that they needed to complete for the day before you start so everyone can put their focus on the hangout session.
Make sure everyone has their work done, as you wouldn’t want to leave anyone out as they finish up some work they left behind. As much as possible, tell everyone about the team-building activity in advance so they can plan their schedules ahead of time.
Step 3: Clear out a space, and make sure it’s clean.
The office is typically a cluttered environment, as files, documents, and equipment are all strategically located around the workplace. Clear out a space for your hangout session, or work around the office by moving aside some furniture, or turn the breakroom into your team-building area.
Most of all, make sure the place is clean. To keep the team-building proceeding successfully, maintain a clean area where people won’t be disgusted at dirt and debris. Vacuum up any debris particles from the carpet, and wipe down surfaces to remove the grime and dust. You can’t work on cooperation when everyone is sneezing from the dust, after all!
Cleaning can be such a chore, especially as everyone enters into weekend mode. When your coworkers are in the mood to hang out and relax, no one really wants to start cleaning the office. Instead, get a reputable office cleaning company to prepare your office for you! Luce Office is a Singapore-based company that specializes in office cleaning – satisfaction guaranteed!
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Step 4: Get everyone involved in the activity-planning.
One person can’t just decide for everyone, as everyone has different preferences and opinions on what they would like to do for the team-building activity. Some people may want to have an all-out party, while others prefer more of a dinner party style.
Part of being an effective leader is to listen to all your employees and what they have to say. While you may be the overall planner for the event, you may have employees that have good things to say about your hangout sessions, and what they would like to happen to increase employee morale.
Step 5: Do a potluck, or order enough food for everyone to enjoy.
Food is an essential part of any hangout session. You can get everyone planning on what they would like to order for the team-building activity, or save up on company costs by getting everyone to contribute to a potluck-style feast!
A potluck is a great way for employees to show their food preferences, as well as share a bit of their culture in a diverse office environment. Food connects us, and allows us to share experiences with others. The most important thing is to make sure everyone has a bite to eat, and that there is enough food for all the participants to enjoy.
Step 6: Keep it professional.
Of course, keep the hangout session professional – these are your coworkers, after all! Ensure your best behaviour, even in a party, and take note of the work that needs to be done next week so no one is behind on their tasks.
An office party or hangout session, whatever you’d like to call it, can be helpful in building trust among coworkers, but it is not a place nor time for anyone to show their wild side, or disrespect anyone from the office. Keep the event professional, and everyone can have fun bonding!
