Facilitation’s Post

As the founder of a growing company, I've seen firsthand just how crucial team spirit is. In those early days of building our business, we faced all sorts of challenges. But one particular moment sticks out in my mind. We were up against an extremely tight deadline, and it seemed like every obstacle imaginable was getting in our way. Instead of giving up, though, my brilliant team banded together. Amazing things can happen when a team clicks — when they're all on the same page and working seamlessly together. Try these three strategies to ensure your team spirit is at its peak. https://lnkd.in/dpUBeVyx

As the year draws to a close, celebrating your team’s achievements is essential. Here are some of the engaging ways to uplift your team during end-of-year meetings: 1-Craft personalized messages to express gratitude and celebrate achievements. Acknowledge individual contributions and highlight team efforts. Example: "Congratulations to the most amazing team in the company! Your project has been elected as the best of the entire year. Let’s take the company to new heights!" 2-Reflect on Milestones: Reminisce about significant milestones achieved during the year. Share success stories, challenges overcome, and lessons learned. Encourage team members to express their proudest moments and growth experiences. 3-Host an Awards Ceremony: Create fun awards or certificates for team members. Categories could include “Most Innovative Idea,” “Best Collaborator,” or “Team Player of the Year.” Celebrate achievements and recognize individual strengths. 4-Plan a Virtual Social Event: Organize a virtual team-building session or a casual get-together. Play games, share laughs, and foster camaraderie. Consider a themed party or a talent show where team members showcase their hidden talents. 5-Express Gratitude: Thank your team sincerely. Acknowledge their hard work, resilience, and dedication throughout the year. A heartfelt thank-you goes a long way in boosting morale and fostering a positive team spirit. Remember, celebrating achievements not only boosts team morale but also sets a positive tone for the upcoming year. 🎉🌟

Last week my team, ‚Team North’, had a Team Bonding day. It turned out to be such an incredible day and I wanted to say thank you to Anna Kirkby Kevin Golightly Alexis Roberts Lauren Ranson for their amazing company! I must admit, as a leader, I felt pressure when organising it as recently read that one in three brits avoid work social events because they’re boring and a waste of time. Some of my own team members secretly admitted that it doesn’t come easy to them to fully enjoy ‘organised fun’ days as they can feel a little forced. Especially when the team is diverse, like ours, and factors such as age, gender, status, interests, nationality, all come into play so it can be challenging to meet everyone’s expectations. I thought to myself, get it wrong… and you have not only wasted a day of productivity, budget and planning time but potentially demotivated your team… Get it right, and the list of benefits can be quite remarkable, including improved morale and engagement, increased motivation levels and productivity, improved workers’ well-being, strengthened relationships, increased employee retention and many more 🤩 I was relieved when the team said they had THE BEST day and thought it might be worth sharing with others some of the key things to consider when planning a work social/team day out: 1. 📋 Start with objectives. Be clear about the event’s desired outcomes. The purpose of ours was to help the team bond outside of work tasks, boost morale, promote teamwork & collaboration, while making each and every team member feel valued and included. 2. 🗣️ Give your team a voice in the decision making process. Allow people to share ideas and give room for honest feedback! It will help you make sure all feel included. You’d be surprised how many ‚great ideas’ during planning turned out to be something someone else disliked doing. 3. 🏆Create some friendly competition. Team North did a Quizz which included personal fun facts, funny memories and some of the nice things team members said about each other. 4. 🥗 Take food seriously. I cannot stretch the importance of this one. Being a foodie myself, this is one of the most important elements of the event that many (if not everyone) cares about. 5. 🧑🎨 Include an activity. Get artsy - crafty of some kind because as they say ‚kids of all ages’ like to make things! We for example, attended gin making school and each of us got to create their own gin flavour! 6. 🏟️ Choose an interesting venue… ideally a place that has built in diversions in case you don’t have time to organise your own activities. 7. 🙅🏽♀️ Don’t talk business! It is all about celebration and appreciation. If anything was said about work, the message was positive, warm and personal. 8. 🎖️Give out prizes! Small, or big. Who doesn’t appreciate a little something? We had a bottle of our own made gin to take home to share with family and friends 🥰 Have I missed anything that you would consider that I didn’t? 😌

Team is not just 5 people siting together in a room, team is when each 5 of them work for each other. This needs team building. I think team building should be a mandatory phase before starting a project, So what should be the first step towards team building? TEAM OUTINGS - This is one activity which almost everyone is ready to go, I know a lot of managers think this as a waste of time, however they need to rethink, as for me this has done wonders, here are the advantages: 1. For a new team Ice breaking is extremely important to remove the communication barriers and these outings have inbuilt ice breakers. 2. Ambience is casual, hence casual discussions start almost without any efforts, else this takes good amount of time in a professional setting. 3. People start getting to know each other (Skills, common interests, hobbies, social priorities, families etc) and forming an initial bond 4. Some strong relationships will start budding 5. People start appreciating the investment towards team building and the importance of it, hence the team event culture will start. 6. Multiple communication channels will get established within the team. 7. Team environment is lighter and team is ready to take any challenge. 8. You have a Happy team , which can do wonders :)

Team bonding sessions or extra time off won't necessarily engage our team. Those only get you temporary buy-in because they miss a deeper problem - Meaning. Purpose. But it's a different story if we help them uncover their "why": Last month, I encouraged my team to take a break and recharge. We had a busy few months training in schools and corporate space, and I saw the need to create space for rest. But one of my team members, when asked, told me they didn't feel like they could take leave because there were still things left to do. As a leader, I created an opportunity for rest. But it wasn't meaningful. Then, during a corporate workshop we ran, this team member saw a participant from her group make a complete turnaround by the end of the session. Coming out of the workshop, this team member looked recharged. They told me they felt a renewed sense of purpose after seeing the direct impact of their involvement. Amazing right? Purposeful engagement isn’t just more bonding events or extra time off. People need to see the "why" behind their tasks and the difference they make. Even better, realize the "why" behind joining the company in the first place. That’s the key to true engagement - knowing that you're part of something bigger.

Celebrating Collective Wins : Why It Matters For Team Success 🎉 What is the difference between a good team and a GREAT team? I’ve always asked myself this question. Whether in sports, in the workplace, or even in a school project, teams are formed. So, what are the main ingredients to achieve great results and have a committed and happy team? I did some quick research, and one of the things I found is that research consistently highlights the extensive benefits of acknowledging shared accomplishments. Regularly celebrating team achievements can significantly boost morale, strengthen resilience, and enhance overall well-being, while also providing benefits to the broader community. That’s why acknowledging group successes isn’t just about having a good time; it’s a powerful strategy for improving teamwork and performance. Here are the main benefits: —> Fostering Shared Identity: Collective pride and joy during significant events create a shared sense of identity and unity. —> Enhancing Resilience: Studies have shown how collective rituals in teams boost resilience and communal coping, which is essential for managing stress and building cohesion. —> Boosting Psychological Well-Being: Group assemblies meet social needs, reduce loneliness, and enhance overall positive emotions. —> Building Social Capital: Collective identity and trust contribute to social capital, reinforcing cooperation and effectiveness within organizations. How does your team celebrate collective wins? Tell me about your experiences and share some tips! #teamwork #performance #collective #workplace

When we win, we win together! Acknowledging that teamwork can be misconstrued and collaboration often reduced to a trendy buzzword, but not when we've invested genuine effort. The result? A powerhouse team committed to a shared goal and dedicated to supporting our customers' journeys. Also, recognising our crucial role in the larger picture—a jigsaw puzzle where each piece contributes to our overall success. Another great day for the EMEA QBR — a testament to our commitment — listening, learning, and crucially, understanding the true impact of teamwork. #EMEAAlation #growthmindset #oneteam

There is strength in unity and nothing highlights this more succinctly than the old saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go as a VIP team." It's so easy to get caught up in the race for individual achievements, but the real magic happens when a dedicated, harmonious team work towards a shared vision. Why settle for quick wins when you can achieve much more extraordinary things through collective effort? 🔥 Your team is diverse and filled with an incredibly and unique mix of talents. When they work together they can spark innovative ideas and transformative solutions that will set you apart from other venues in the industry. 🔥 Teammates aren't just colleagues; they're allies. They face challenges as a unit, celebrate every win and overcome every hurdle together. Success is everyone's to share. 🔥 Each member of your team contributes a unique piece to the puzzle. By truly understanding their unique skill sets and sharing responsibilities, you will streamline tasks, enhance efficiency, and amplify their influence. 🔥 Your team is a vibrant hub of continuous learning. They share insights, learn from their mistakes, and celebrate achievements together. This collaborative environment nurtures personal and professional growth, ensuring that every team member thrives in their journey with your organisation. 🔥 Building a positive team culture isn't just about immediate success; it's about leaving a lasting legacy. You'll have the ability to create something that will continue on long after you're gone; something for you and every team member involved to be proud of. Together, there's no limit to what a united team can accomplish. Do you agree? #hospitalityindustry #michelleshospobytes  #customerexperience #frontlinetraining #leadershipdevelopment