Try team building strategies that actually work

It’s time to set your goals for the New Year. If you are a business owner or a manager, improving employee engagement is likely at the top of your list. Evidence shows that boosting employee engagement can increase your team’s productivity, improve morale, and even prop up your bottom line.

A Gallup study found that companies with highly engaged employees showed 21% greater profitability. These businesses made employee engagement a central part of their business strategy, and it paid off. Businesses in the top 20% for employee engagement experienced a 41% reduction in absenteeism and 59% less turnover.

So, saddle up your team and start planning those trust fall activities every month, right? Well, not exactly. Team building is critical to your business, but you have to do it the right way. Forcing your team to participate in activities that are unappealing to them can backfire. You have to find ways to make team building feel organic and motivating. Try a few of these strategies:

• Use real work to motivate your team. Your team may not come together to build a LEGO block tower faster than your human resources department. But they will band together on a new client account or business initiative. Creating strategy, planning and delivering a product together is the best way to inspire teamwork.

• Have fun together. Mandatory team building activities can cause frustration and anxiety for your employees. If you want to increase socialization and friendship in your office, take the pressure off. Choose an event that everyone can do (like visiting our racetrack) and encourage employees to choose to be there on their own. You can’t force people to have fun. They have to want to participate. One visit to our track and your team will have a blast.

• Keep things simple. Many team-building activities feature role-playing, games or skill-driven activities that can be hard for some people. These activities can cause anxiety, embarrassment and feelings of anger. While some people may love puzzles in an escape room, others might feel that the event is frustrating and demeaning. Our track is the perfect fit. Everyone can race a remote car around a track. No one has to feel embarrassed by their skill level or frustrated.

At iDrive Entertainment, we’ve made it our mission to promote fun for everyone. Our team creates a safe, welcoming atmosphere so that you can relax and enjoy yourself. It wouldn’t feel like a team-building activity. It will feel like you are hanging out with your friends. Schedule a race today!