With the pandemic predominantly in our rear-view mirror and most companies bringing employees back into the workplace—either full-time or in a hybrid format—building camaraderie and figuring out how to operate as a cohesive team again can seem uncomfortable at best, and at worst—quite daunting.

Yesterday I had the distinct honor of leading a team building workshop for a local firm (click here for an overview of the program). They wanted me to deliver a program that would help demonstrate their commitment of investing in their people, create a welcoming culture as they head back into the workplace, and have some fun reconnecting with familiar colleagues—while introducing themselves to new, unknown faces, too. It was a huge success! Teams were engaged, laughing and having tons of fun—while unbeknownst to them—were also participating in “structured practice” for real-world situations they are confronted with on a daily basis in the workplace.

Clearly, this company understands the importance of team building. Many do not. Let’s compare it to baseball, for a moment. With baseball season now in full swing, baseball players practice together to become stronger, more cohesive teams. Because without the dedicated time, energy and effort put forth in practice, successfully executing during a big game would likely prove to be an exercise in futility, with a win being almost an impossibility. The same is true for your employees. Just as baseball practice helps players systematically develop a range of skills related to their athletic ability, team building helps employees enhance their skills across various aspects of teamwork—such as planning, communication, delegation, trust, creativity, resource management, and decision-making, to name a few. (click here to continue reading)