Sometimes, when we talk about company culture, it can feel hard to grasp what it is that we’re actually talking about. In clear terms, however, it’s mostly about the relationships we forge, the standards of communication and treatment, and the expectations for how we’re treated and how we treat others. An important part of pretty much any active approach to a good company culture is building cohesion. Here, we’re going to explore what’s so important about it, and the little and large ways you can help build it.
Why It Matters
Team cohesiveness is the sense of trust, connection, and shared purpose that people on the team feel. It’s a big part of what allows them to collaborate and communicate so well. This can greatly boost the productivity of the workplace, reducing duplication, catching errors earlier, and solving problems faster because people better understand one another’s strengths and roles, and feel more comfortable stepping in to help, as a result. It can also help to reduce workplace tension by building a greater sense of trust and shared responsibility. It’s what turns the “I” into “we”.
Create Small Moments For Social Interaction
There are a few different approaches to building cohesion in the workplace, but one is helping it feel less atomised and isolated. Beyond more formal meetings and away days, having a break room, coffee station, and chats around the water dispenser not only directly contribute to the well-being needs of the team, but it gives those natural opportunities for chats, updates, and rapport building. It allows people to see their coworkers as more than a signature on an email, which helps those connections build more naturally.
Use Team Building Wisely
While much of the building of those connections between coworkers will happen naturally, it’s also wise to help them better see how it can apply to joint projects in the workplace, as well. Team-building exercises can help break the ice where it hasn’t already happened naturally and build on existing rapport to turn it into a more productive and collaborative relationship. Team building works best when it has a clear purpose and is followed by better everyday working habits, so try to avoid choosing anything that doesn’t feel too applicable to the office.
Clear Communication Is Key
Good working relationships don’t grow when people feel like they aren’t able to speak their mind. Communication is vital, and this includes not only your ability to communicate your own expectations clearly, but ensuring employees are comfortable with communicating their own roles, or raising their voice when they have concerns, want to admit mistakes, or even to offer ideas. Open feedback is just as important and should not be saved for a routine review. A workplace where communication is open and honest is more likely to benefit from trust and accountability.
Cohesion can be the difference between a place people love working in or hate working in, high retention or high churn, and positive work relationships vs toxic ones. Do what you can to foster it.
Collaborative post
