Bonding beyond the workplace
‘There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t yet met' – W.B. Yeats
Workplaces often provide an interesting backdrop to the student of human behaviour, especially in the social context. From the gregarious to the introvert, from the busy bee to the seemingly idle, from the intense and determined to the apparently flippant, from the know-all to the problem solver – every workplace has its myriad mix of employees, with their quirks. Yet, the cohesive workplace, with its engaged employees, bonding across cross-functional teams, is also a reality, as is evident across successful enterprises.
Human beings are creatures of emotion. Discipline and training may help keep emotions, especially the volatile ones, under control, and managers are trained to handle and manage conflicts. While a professional attitude is essential at workplaces, common interests and personal connections create and build a cohesive workforce, poised and ready for challenges and success. A team that lacks emotional closeness/bond can never reach the full measure of its potential.
Work offers little opportunities or time necessary for building deeper relationships. The pressures of deadlines, the stress of commutes, the demands of family and friends make bonding difficult and the co-worker/colleague/associate/boss usually remains a stranger who we interact with daily but know little about. And, this becomes more apparent in multi-generational, diverse workplaces where communication is more in the nature of directives and instructions. Bonding beyond work helps foster a healthier, conducive work environment, making it easier to handle the challenges and conflicts at work.
Formal team-building and bonding activities have been in vogue for quite a few years now, with the impact of such games/activities and benefits thereof being multiple. Bonding beyond work takes it a step further. Whether the bonding happens at a coffee shop, a karaoke session or over a game of cricket or football, the rapport built at such informal activities forges and reinforces connections between members who might otherwise have remained strangers.
Socializing outside the workplace & engaging in activities totally not directly related to work helps employees across diverse groups discover common interests and forge new bonds, developing connections they might not have been able to establish. The result is a cohesive, integrated and rejuvenated workforce, with greater tolerance and lesser conflicts. Employees often wish to take off to nearby getaway spots for a weekend. Encourage it. The informal setting, away from work, helps people de-stress and relax. Monsoons in India are ideal times for bonding in the arms of nature. Whether one is trekking through verdant forests or climbing hills, whether one is biking to the nearest waterfall or enjoying river sports, the shared activities foster trust, encourage communication and promote camaraderie.
More & more organizations need to encourage and bonding beyond the workplace, be it over a shared love for new cuisines, vintage films, a thrill for speed and adventure or a desire to make a difference in the lives of the underprivileged. And watch the team spirit, collaborations and creative juices flow. After all, it is tough to remain annoyed with someone who you heard warbling off-key at a karaoke; or one who offered a hand and shared the thrill of climbing to the top to stand amidst the clouds with you.