Team building events are nothing new and lots of companies have utilised them for staff bonding and various other work enhancements for years. The concept was originally used by larger blue-chip organizations that had many departments which maybe did not interact very well. The benefits where quite dramatic in lots of instances and so smaller companies decided to jump on the band wagon as well. However, business has evolved a great deal over the last few years and there are now more niches than ever and more home-based and internet businesses entering the markets.According to results from a number of team building and corporate entertainment companies, these smaller businesses are increasingly using these bonding activities to bolster their teams.
The findings were released by a group of team building companies in London, England. They have suggested that business based at home or entirely online suffer from lack of team bonding and effective methods of communication, even though they frequently have quite small staff numbers. There is a tendency to email each other information or questions, rather than sit down to discuss issues face to face. Also, these types of business often have a number of hubs in different locations and the workers from each rarely meet up in person. Additionally, home and internet business employees tend not be that active in their job and are one of the most at risk categories for suffering weight problems and heart disease.
The group who released the findings documented a 30% increase in the number of team building days booked last year by home and internet based businesses (the most popular being corporate cooking events) and suggested this is down to an increased focus on work efficiency. Lots of bigger businesses are seeing the rewards in both staff productivity and reduced days off from getting their staff active and having fun. This is something the smaller companies realize they should be emulating. As well as team building events, many companies are increasing their spend on hospitality events such as Henley Regatta hospitality days in an attempt to improve staff job satisfaction.