Corporate team building is gaining traction as big business works to maximise employee performance to accomplish daily tasks and long term goals.
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Rather than hope staff build rapport through impromptu conversations at desks or between meetings, businesses such as NAB and Telstra are seeing benefits in organising team-building activities outside of the workplace.
And, with organisations such as the Black Dog Institute and Vic Health reporting mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, are costing Australian businesses between $11 and $12 billion dollars each year through absenteeism, reduced productivity, injury and compensation claims it’s understandable corporates are keen to boost staff morale through structured events that focus on exercise and wellbeing.
To help build and maintain overall morale and engagement, business is engaging external trainers to work with internal HR personnel to highlight and engender the emotional intelligence and resilience required for individuals to work together with a team focus. And it’s not all about fun and games, said Jane Crulci from Compass Group that organises team building sessions at Melbourne and Werribee Zoo.
The vision is that through the experience of this program, there will be an increase of employee morale and well being.
- Michelle Martin, Telstra
“Businesses are looking for somewhere unique and inspiring to really get their teams away from their desks, out in the fresh air and away from their normal routine. That’s where imagination sparks, ideas start forming and relationships start with people in their team that they may not otherwise work with,” Ms Crulci said.
Taking employees out of their “normal” working environment was important to team building success, she said, as it puts all on an equal level while giving them the opportunity to experience something out of the ordinary.
“Team building activities have been a great success and we are seeing an increase in businesses looking for something different and that is where we come in with our unique experiences. There aren’t many other opportunities in which you can have a ‘race around the zoo’ team-building exercise while hearing lions roar and siamangs sing.”
A chance to get out of the city and get close to nature is what appealed to National Australia Bank, which recently had 350 staff take part in personal wellness sessions at Melbourne Zoo.
“We wanted somewhere with a difference and away from the corporate world,” said Dayle Stevens, NAB general manager of support service technology. “Because it gave the attendees a chance to be away from the city in a unique Melbourne environment. (We had an) expert presenter talking about the impacts of environment, diet and exercise on your physical and mental well being."
In the sessions staff received “information about life choices and the impact they have on you and the people around you”. However, with long-term outcomes still to be realised, Ms Stevens could see immediate benefits in workplace training sessions that focused on staff well being and morale. She said the bank had received “100 per cent positive feedback” for the event and location.
For Telstra, the goal to build employee morale would start from the top with team leaders taking part in workshops that focused on their skills to build resilience and exercise for physical and mental wellbeing.
In the sessions staff received “information about life choices and the impact they have on you and the people around you”.
- Dayle Stevens, NAB
The telco chose Werribee Zoo to hold two leadership workshops that included an overnight stay at a safari.
“Telstra is delivering a personal leadership program to all senior and executive leaders over the next 18 months. As part of the program the leaders spend 24 hours at Werribee zoo, staying overnight in the slumber area, and participating in activities that take advantage of the natural open spaces of the zoo,” said Michelle Martin, Telstra’s connected leadership program manager.
“Of the elements that we were looking for in this workshop was the ability to take the leaders away from their normal corporate environment. We were looking for removal from the city, outdoor environment with quiet and seclusion. We were also seeking camping style accommodation to get back to basic and connect with the environment, whilst disconnecting with the technology and the busyness of the city.”
To help foster team partnerships each group was kept small with just 18 leaders, which, Ms Martin said, allowed for “increased self-awareness, improved quality of relationships”.
“Themes of the program include ‘slow down to speed up’ and also to ‘disconnect to connect’. The program will set the tone for leadership at Telstra – it is about giving permission for a new way of leading, and creating accountability that starts with our senior and executive leaders, which drives a surge of change throughout the organisation. This program will give way to a more deliberate focus on the qualities that underpin our personal leadership and customer-focus capabilities,” she said, adding that learning how to disconnect from work and relax was fundamental to boosting employee morale and benefitting wellbeing.
“It’s about supporting our senior and executive leaders in developing a more personal orientation towards leadership, our people and our business through increased self-awareness; understanding impact on others; and perspective to see the bigger picture.”
While this was the only program Telstra would hold this year, plans are underway to deliver it on a regular basis to all executives and senior leaders in the next 18 months.
“The vision is that through the experience of this program, there will be an increase of employee morale and well being, of not only the participating leaders, but also the employees they lead,” Ms Martin said.
NAB is also committed, Ms Stevens said, to hold more sessions to keep building team morale. “This year we plan to hold seven in my area, but there is potential to hold 12 through the year,” she said.