Strengthen Employee Ties with these Four Strategies

by Stacey Mc Grath, Digital Marketing Executive with Intelligo Software who provide Corporate HR Software and Payroll Software

In any business situation where a company is made up of different people with varying goals, drives, opinions and other factors, more pressure is placed on team leaders who can bring together this variable group of people. This is important for companies as a great team is the lifeblood of any business, but they need to work in synchronised harmony to achieve the goals of the organisation and ensure things get done. A great team is only viable when employees motivate, support, collaborate and communicate well with one another. If you find this is something your team struggles with, here are some practical strategies to strengthen employee ties in your business.

Getting to Know You
In a bigger company, many workers can go about their duties without knowing their co-workers very well, if they even know them at all. The more extensive a business then becomes, there will be a higher chance of disconnect amongst employees and teams. The spirit of togetherness and teamwork rises within employees only when they are given the opportunity to interact with their co-workers on a regular basis. As a team leader, it’s essential to focus on encouraging your employees to get to know each other better, which will then strengthen employee ties. This can be done in many ways and all depend on the size of your workforce, a few ideas include:

– Getting to know new employees features on Internal sites.
– Establish sports and social teams to organise events.
– Encourage open workstations where possible.
– Host monthly company catch-ups to allow workers to mingle.

Many Heads Make Great Ideas
Collaboration is an essential factor for businesses to focus on developing. It can help to generate better work, reduce wasted time and strengthen employee ties. Brainstorming is commonly seen as a platform for developing ideas and collaboration, but many don’t realise that it is an exceptional team building strategy as well. As new and innovative ideas flow, it encourages greater communication amongst the team. Listening to all members of the group and absorbing their views allows their confidence in this matter to grow. Such a strategy can often lead one small idea to develop into a more critical approach for your business. So, conducting routine sessions will boost creativity and employee engagement.

Bring Fun to Work
The words “work” and “fun” are rarely used in the same sentence, but for many, fun times in work can be an opportunity to engage or talk with co-workers outside the monotony of daily duties and conversations. It also creates an environment of happiness and friendship among workers which then bleeds into other aspects of the business building a sense of teamwork. There are ways you can add a fun element to the day without disturbing work routine.

Some examples include:
– Decorating Workstations
– Walls of Fame or Appreciation
– Internal Sports League
– Lunchtime Socials

Focus on Work-Life Balance
You might be wondering how balancing work and life is a strategy to strengthen employee ties. Allowing employees space and time to handle important aspects of their own life on par with essential duties of work results in motivated employees and therefore you get a happy team. Likewise, they are less distracted and more flexible to workplace needs as they arise. When members of a group are content, they radiate positivity and harmony which is infectious to other team members.

The expression goes, ‘teamwork makes the dream work’. That is why strengthening employee ties is a critical component of your all over HR and managerial strategy. By doing so, you will be amazed at the progress you will make in strengthening employee ties and creating a culture that empowers employees to participate in working together and better for your business.