Building team cohesion through play
Our partner A.Zen Événementiel answers our questions on human connection and what it takes to build a high-performing team. For three years now, Arcane Experience has worked hand in hand with agency A.Zen Evenementiel. Laëtitia Butigieg, founder of A.Zen, regularly calls on Arcane to design playful activities for the events she organises. Today, Laëtitia shares her vision of team building — as an events expert and as a partner.
What occasions call for team building in times of crisis?
Onboarding new employees, anniversaries, seasonal highlights — the occasions are many, and team building has never been more relevant. There are the “big” unmissable moments, such as end-of-year celebrations or the company’s anniversary. And there are smaller ones, just as important given their context and purpose: welcoming new employees, marking the completion of a major internal project, motivating people, bringing a team together and creating connections between colleagues. All of this has taken on new meaning lately, with people working apart and a climate of uncertainty. Onboarding new employees and creating a sense of belonging in times like these calls for fresh initiatives to keep teams together. And there are so many other opportunities to work towards a shared goal and unite people. The aim is generally the same: nurture a sense of belonging, build group momentum and strengthen the bonds within teams.
What are the benefits of digital team building ?
The first benefit of digital team building that comes to mind is the lighter logistical and financial load. No need to move everyone around or find a venue. I’d also mention how easy it becomes to bring together people based on different sites, or even in different countries. Digital team building opens up the possibility of running events more often: in person for certain occasions, and digital more regularly to maintain the connection — or hybrid formats. As for the benefits observed, digital team building delivers exactly the same ones as an in-person session.
What makes a team building session a success, in your view?
Measuring the success of a team building session and its impact on teamwork is far easier when the objectives have been clearly defined from the outset. Several factors make a team building session work. In the moment, at the end of the activity, I’d say it’s when you see the broad smiles and the sparkle in people’s eyes. That’s a very spontaneous reaction, and it says a lot about the break they’ve just experienced. The immediate effect is a breath of fresh air and a real sense of wellbeing there and then. Then there’s the effect you don’t see, the one that takes hold in the company afterwards. Calmer communication between colleagues, better group dynamics, a sense of belonging, genuine team spirit. All of this is possible when actions are regular and dovetail with other management and workplace wellbeing initiatives. It all works together. Work on team cohesion shouldn’t be a one-off, because tensions can surface at any time. Creating collective momentum throughout the year matters.
What does a team with real cohesion look like?
From my experience, here is what I observe after a team building session and within the highest-performing teams:
- Engaged body language: everyone uses the gestures of active listening and speaking. Feeling heard improves the working atmosphere, fuels momentum and motivates people.
- The most effective teams set, implement and track objectives together to increase efficiency and improve productivity. Team performance rises as a result, and the team delivers.
- Openness to learning: everyone adapts their role and responsibilities to the needs of a project or task. Mutual support and empathy are key to the success of a shared project.
- Diversity of perspectives and experience: teams with the widest range of backgrounds and opinions have the potential to be at their very best.
- Clear communication: good teams think through solutions together, take stock of the situation and get things done. That strengthens the links between teams.
- Effective management: leaders who give clear direction and encourage every team member to succeed create teams with genuine group dynamics and greater productivity.
For these points to become second nature, managers need to listen. A good leader adapts to each individual to keep that cohesion alive between team members.
