Thanks to one of the tightest labor markets in years, the move to curb employee turnover has taken on a new significance for many companies. Jobholders hold the cards. These days, employees are not afraid to seek new opportunities if the job and culture is not the right fit.
The latest statistics on employee turnover are surprising. According to the Work Institute, an estimated 41 million people voluntarily quit their jobs last year, up 8 percent from 2017. By 2020, that number will jump to 47 million, or roughly 1 in 3 workers.
One of the tactics many companies are using to stop employee turnover and improve company culture is by boosting employee engagement. When employees feel connected to one another, they’re more likely to work harder and stay with the company for longer.
Gallup finds organizations that make employee engagement central to their business strategy benefit in the following ways:
- They show 21 percent greater profitability.
- They realize a 41 percent reduction in absenteeism.
- They have 59 percent less employee turnover.
Corporate team building can help create that sense of community employees crave. We’ve put together some ideas for collaborative team building activities to keep employees engaged, invested, and reduce turnover.
Get Connected
Give employees an activity that allows them to get to know each other on a personal level.
Using a whiteboard, have each participant take turns writing several true and false statements about themselves. For example, someone might write, “I’ve jumped out of a plane, I play the piano, and I can’t whistle.” The rest of the group must guess which statements are true. As the activity goes on, people relax and have fun with it while learning things about their coworkers they didn’t know before.
Get Inspired
Remember in high school when sports teams would host a big pep rally to pump up the players before a big game? Why not apply the same idea in the workplace? A little team spirit can go a long way in the workplace. Host an old-fashion pep rally in the office to pump up employees before a big project complete with an inspiring speech.
Get Thinking
Gather your employees together to solve a non-work problem at a local escape room. Participants are placed in a themed room and then given a mission to find hints and clues. The ultimate goal is to find a way out before time expires. The team needs to work together to figure out each clue and work toward that larger goal.
Get Equal
Get your team working together for a good cause with a non-work-oriented activity that puts everyone on the same level. Have coworkers assist a worthy nonprofit for a day in your area. Examples include working at a homeless shelter kitchen or fixing up homes for the elderly. The added bonus of working together for a good cause could unite your team even further.
Get in Sync
A group activity like drumming can get your team in synch faster than you ever thought possible. Drumming has been used for centuries to send messages and create bonds within groups. Interactive drumming breaks down barriers and transcends the differences among us as humans and individuals. A company like Drum Cafe USA will have your team engaged and making music together in the first few seconds. Team building with drums will have your team feeling uplifted, energized, inspired. This activity will also make them feel more connected to each other.
When your staff gets to know each other well and learns how to work together, they’re no longer just coworkers. They’re a team. Team-building is an important component of your organization’s success. Consider the above team-building ideas to increase employee retention and lower your organization’s turnover rate. To learn more about group drumming to better connect your team, contact Drum Cafe USA today.
