Collaboration and teamwork are the cornerstones for every successful organization. However sometimes achieving these results through the day-in, day-out routines of work can be difficult. Everyone has their role, their space, and their objectives. Depending on the size and scope of your staff, you may have employees that don’t interact at all; or at the very least don’t intermingle beyond the professional tasks at hand. Creating opportunities for your team to engage their co-workers in a different light, a different perspective, and in different experiences beyond the walls of your office can go a long way in developing higher levels of collaboration, communication, and ultimately productivity. This is where team building events come in. However, merely scheduling an after-hours outing, or skimping on the details won’t provide those synergistic effects you’re looking for. Here are a few keys to getting the most out of your next team building event.
It’s crucial that everyone is working in the same direction. At the office, while everyone is motivated to do the best work they can, the variance of roles and responsibilities can create a disconnect in prioritization. Allow your team building event to put everyone on the same page with one path to the same goal. A cooking class or competition is an excellent example of this. Each team gets to work together toward the same outcome, instead of being segmented.
Communication is vital in every facet of an organization. It builds trust, it is the foundation of leadership, and it makes teams more effective and efficient. Cooking classes and competitions are great opportunities to work on communication skills from both ends. Whether it’s strategizing a recipe, providing status updates, or anything else; communication is at the forefront of team building.
Taking your employees out of their element, and out of their comfort zone allows them and their co-workers to experience a different side of their personality. It also reveals many unknown skillsets. Recognizing these skills and accomplishments outside of an office setting is a great way to improve morale.
While everyone has a different level of competitiveness in them, a cooking class is an excellent way to encourage your team to do their best. Some may have no idea what they are doing and surprise themselves; others may want to rise to the occasion and be the best. Fostering these different levels of competition and celebrating the fun achievements can be a refreshing and eye-opening experience.
Louisiana Culinary Institute, along with its facilities and resources offer the perfect environment for promoting teamwork, collaboration, communication, and comradery. The expert team at LCI will work hand-in-hand with you to design and develop the perfect team outing for your organization.