“Certainly, it’s been the best experience in one of these types of classes I’ve ever had.”
– President, Yulista Services LLC
Modern work teams face challenges and stressors at ever-increasing levels that can strain the team dynamics necessary to get things done. One recent LinkedIn survey found that 74% of women and 61% of men say they are “very or somewhat stressed for work-related reasons” such as not having enough time to get things done each day. Pressures to adapt to new technologies create additional challenges — digital transformations often create skills gaps, cultural differences, communication problems, and conflict among talent, according to Statista survey research.
Further complicating team dynamics, organizational structures are flatter, more interconnected, and more complex than ever. Team members bounce between remote and in person interactions and work increasingly in egalitarian, cooperative structures which rely on interpersonal relationships to get things done. Revolving leadership due to mergers and acquisitions can upend momentum and disturb morale. Business pressures to contain costs and increase revenue during economic downturns can leave teams feeling stretched beyond capacity, fearful of lay-offs, and resentful of demands placed on them by their peers.
The increased acceptance of remote work has eased some burdens while increasing others — remote workers report feeling burned out, incapable of establishing effective boundaries, and worried if their contributions are invisible compared to their in-office counterparts. Conversely, in-office workers struggle to trust that their remote colleagues work as hard as they do, contributing to a general “crisis of trust” that can lead to “increased attrition, lower productivity, and stalled innovation,” according to Harvard Business Review.
Against this backdrop, effective team building that improves communication, trust, connection, sense of purpose, and collaboration is critical. The most productive companies take steps to ensure teams collaborate efficiently and effectively, according to Bain & Company research, in recognition that “teaming is more important than simply bringing in great talent, because most work gets done in teams.” There is much to gain and lose across business outcomes, employee engagment, and retention, depending on whether a company effectively prioritizes the health of its teams and the individuals who comprise them. For example:
Our human capital services team has worked with teams ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to massive public sector organizations to small non-profits to:
Many consulting firms offer team building solutions that are little more than fun exercises that skim the surface and fail to help teams address the root underlying problems that repeatedly affect team cohesion and effectiveness. Our Ph.D. staff of experts in Sport and Performance Psychology, Organizational Behavior, and Industrial and Organizational Psychology bring a wealth of insights and decades of experience to form a proven approach that is evidence-based and enjoyable.
“It has been very eye opening. I was a little bit skeptical coming into the last two days. There’s been a lot of self-reflection and team reflection that I did not anticipate. Some of the exercises were a little bit hard to take. It’s hard to take a really introspective look and be faced with the truth of some of those preconceived notions you have about yourself. But to have someone guide you through that process to actually do a true reflection, to help you identify those areas that you’re good at, but also those areas where you have weaknesses, [and] give you the tools that you need to improve, I would absolutely, hands down recommend it to others.”
– Senior Director of Human Resources, Yulista Holdings LLC
HigherEchelon tailors curriculum and workshops to address issues and concerns specific to your organization. When appropriate, we conduct front-end assessments and diagnostics to help pinpoint specific issues. We then work with you to develop a list of specific objectives for your team building workshop. Ultimately, we facilitate transformative experiences for your organization so that your team is equipped with the practical tools and skills they need to become a high performing unit while maintaining a fun and friendly atmosphere. Want to ensure the training sticks long term? Our executive coaches will work with your team in one-on-one and group coaching sessions to achieve lasting results over time.
We can’t wait to learn about your team and the specific challenges you face. Get in touch today to learn how we can partner together to achieve organizational excellence!
Call us at 866-488-9228 or fill out this form to get started.