As a small business owner, you need to make sure your business is running smoothly. This can be challenging if your team isn’t collaborating well. Use simple team building activities to get your employees working together.
Team building strategies for small business owners
Sometimes, getting everyone on payroll to operate as a team is difficult. If your workforce seems disconnected, try these team building strategies.
1. Share employee accomplishments
Create an employee-focused space where you can recognize members of your team. For example, you might have a bulletin board in the break room or send out an employee newsletter.
With an open space for recognition, employees can celebrate each other’s accomplishments, offer congratulations, and encourage one another. And, this simple team building strategy can help your team members get to know their co-workers.
Share these milestones with employees:
- Birthdays
- Work anniversaries
- Meeting sales goals
- Good customer reviews
- Completion of coursework or training
- Promotions
- Retirement announcements
Include your business’s mission statement somewhere on your employee recognition space. Make the goals that your team is working towards visible.
2. Host a dinner
Sharing a meal with your employees is a tried and tested team building strategy for small businesses. Company-hosted dinners can be an effective way to let employees unwind and spend time together. Let the conversation flow naturally during an employer-sponsored meal.
Before planning the dinner, understand what your team members are comfortable with. Different environments will work better for certain company cultures.
For example, are your employees excited about trying unfamiliar foods, or should you stick to a traditional menu? Does your team like to dress up or wear casual clothes? Survey your staff to find answers to questions like these.
You might decide to take your team out to a restaurant. Or, you could host a cookout or potluck dinner and have everyone bring a dish.
3. Attend a professional learning experience
Foster team building by getting your employees involved in professional development activities. You could take your team to a conference, speech, or industry event. You might also bring a trainer or expert to your business to teach employees.
Find professional development team building ideas that are connected to your line of work. Your employees might learn a new skill that can improve your company’s bottom line.
You could take your team to the the production site of your products. For example, if you own a restaurant that focuses on locally grown food, show your employees where the ingredients come from.
Each team member will likely take something different away from the activity. Make sure you get your employees together afterward so that they can share their thoughts. The team can bond over the shared experience and learn from each other.
4. Volunteer in your community
Volunteering gives team members the chance to work together toward a common goal. The meaningfulness that comes with volunteer work can create a sense of unity with your team. It can also improve interdepartmental communication and employee satisfaction.
Check out local events and non-profits to see where your business could volunteer. Find volunteer team building activities that fit with your business’s values and employee interests. You might want to give your team several options and let them choose where they want to volunteer.
Volunteering has perks beyond team building. It also improves your business’s reputation and brand recognition. Share pictures of your employees volunteering on your company’s social media accounts.
5. Get physical
Getting active is a great way for your team to bond while receiving the health benefits of physical activity. Remember that while a little friendly competition can be good, keep it casual. You want to foster teamwork, not animosity.
You could form a recreational sports league that your employees want to play. For example, your employees could play softball or soccer at the local rec center. If you want to branch out, partner up with other businesses for a larger league.
Not all your employees want to do strenuous team building activities for work. Offer less demanding options for your team to participate in, such as hiking, canoeing, or biking. If you need some indoor team building activities, try bowling or a pool tournament.