Instead of bringing our teams back together by force, let’s give them an experience to share and be inspired with volunteer team building activities.
Employees want to know they work for a company that cares about making a positive contribution to society, and volunteering is perfect for that! It unites employees toward a larger purpose, whilst offering an opportunity to connect on a deeper level.
Employee Engagement after COVID-19
Business leaders are struggling to get their teams back into the office. Though for many, home is proven to be a more productive and comfortable place to work. So why should we be trying to get people back?
According to a survey conducted by PwC in May 2021, only 21% of executives expect their employees to return to the office full-time. The survey also found that only 13% of employees want to return to the office full-time, with the majority preferring a hybrid work model that allows for a combination of remote and in-office work.
Spontaneous collaboration is a driver of innovation and new ideas! Knowing your colleagues, cross-pollinating between departments and building a strong cultural identity is difficult with only work as the topic of conversation.
Employees are most engaged when there’s a goal they understand and a purpose to inspire them. Your core values and mission statement are the foundation of your company culture, which affects your employee engagement. Modern team building activities, ones with a community focus, make that statement clear.
What are the benefits of team building activities for work?
Team building activities for work with a volunteering focus have a number of benefits to not only the charity partner, but also the employee and organisation.
Improved Communication
Volunteering requires teamwork and collaboration to achieve a common goal. Employees who volunteer together must communicate effectively to coordinate their efforts and ensure that everyone is working towards the same objective.
Team building activities that require employees to work together to solve problems or complete tasks promote open communication and can help identify communication gaps that need to be addressed.
Increased Productivity
By giving employees the opportunity to make a positive impact on their communities and society, companies can help to foster a sense of pride and fulfillment in their work, which can translate into increased motivation and productivity.
As evidenced by a recent survey by TINYPulse in 2021, employees who felt that their work had a positive impact on society were 51% more likely to feel productive at work than those who did not feel that way.
Enhanced Creativity
By fostering a creative environment, businesses can cultivate a culture of innovation that can help them stay ahead of the competition. New activities can encourage employees to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to problems.
According to a study by Deloitte, companies with a culture of innovation are 3.5 times more likely to be market leaders.
Improved Morale
Corporate volunteering can be a powerful team building activity for boosting employee morale. According to a survey conducted by Deloitte in 2021, 76% of employees who volunteered through their company in the past year reported feeling better about their employer, compared to 57% of those who did not volunteer. Additionally, 89% of employees who volunteered through their company in the past year reported feeling more fulfilled at work, compared to 68% of those who did not volunteer.
These statistics suggest that corporate volunteering can have a positive impact on employee morale by promoting a sense of fulfillment, pride, and connection to their employer. By providing opportunities for employees to give back to their communities and make a positive impact, companies can demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility and create a more positive and meaningful workplace culture.
Enhanced Trust
When employees work together to solve problems and achieve goals, they build a sense of trust and mutual respect. By getting to know each other outside of the office, employees can develop a greater understanding and appreciation for each other’s values.
When employees learn to work together effectively, they are less likely to engage in conflicts and more likely to find solutions that work for everyone.
4 Examples of Team Building Activities
In-person volunteering events with a charity partner
Especially during the current cost-of-living crisis, many charities delivering essential services around Australia are in great need of hands. If you are just starting out in your corporate volunteering journey, consider these events as a team building activity.
Not only do employees experience their community on the ground and support vulnerable Australians, they are sharing this experience with another, establishing closer bonds and support networks. They can also help to raise awareness about important social issues within the corporate organisation and encourage others to get involved and make a difference.
Utilise Communiteer’s network of over 500+ charities as we facilitate a customised volunteer experience. Looking for a half day? Particular causes, or certain locations? We’ve got your team building activities covered.
In February 2023, Communiteer’s team practiced what we preach with Cleaning Up Australia’s DIY group clean up kit. Our staff at Communiteer could not wait until March to start making our impact.
There is only so much we can do in one day, but we believe all large efforts have to start small. This day seeks to inspire all Australians to continue conserving our environment for its betterment as well as our own.
Watch how the day went below!
National Community Day
One of the major challenges in team building is going across different locations, branches, and departments. In the age of remote working, we’re potentially going across hundreds or thousands of locations to build team connections.
A national community day includes multiple activities that go across main offices with remote options. Spark widespread team building and break down location silos. These activities could include planting trees across different cities and in personal backyards, online hackathons or in-person volunteering events with national charity partners.
By participating in team-based projects and working towards a shared goal, employees can develop new skills, build stronger relationships, and feel more connected to their colleagues and the wider community.
Educational Volunteering
Establishing our awareness of social challenges is essential in moving about our world compassionately and effectively. Employees are also individuals with unique passions, motivations and beliefs. We can adapt traditional corporate team building to something more modern and engaging.
Educational volunteering experiences combine learning with real-world application. Our partner, Team Building with Purpose, works with a number of notable charities, including Habitat for Humanity and Lifesaving Australia. Together they package an interactive session that unpacks the cause, how we can relate to it as individuals, and finally how we can make a meaningful difference.
Team Building With Purpose is the brainchild of Richard Duncan and Claire Turner, who have worked together since 2008. They co-authored and ran Wesley Mission’s best-practice corporate volunteering program since 2015.
The energy and inspiration is channeled into the Communiteer platform where volunteers can choose from over 500+ organisations. Allowing employees the pathway to find their own passion is how we keep them engaged and excited about their impact. Through mutually rewarding events, we’ve mobilized hundreds of corporate teams to make a difference in the world.
Virtual Team Building with a Hack4Good
Not only do we need to provide our employees with ways they can contribute, but also the opportunities that align with their personal values, the skills they have to contribute or perhaps the new skills and activities they’ve been wanting to try out for awhile.
Compared to before the pandemic (Source: Allison+Partners):
- 84% feel more empowered to use their work for good.
- 60% view professional development as more important.
Inspire creativity, problem-solving and compassion in your teams while supporting NFPs to sustain and scale their impact on social causes.
Our Hack4Good brings employees together across the organisation, virtually or face-to-face. They’ll form a multidisciplinary group of 4-6 to ideate, scope and present a solution to a NFP strategic challenge.
Employees are inspired by the stories behind NFPs and the operational challenges they’re experiencing. Then team enter a fast-paced and engaging brainstorming session to capture focus and creativity. NFPs choose their preferred solution and share the impact of contributions with the group. Employees leave feeling like their time had a meaningful impact. Gone are the days of painting walls and packing boxes without knowing how the community benefits.
Check out Communiteer’s Hack4Good in 2022 with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Australia!
This event engaged 24 employees for a total of 96 hours, directing skills towards 4 community partners.
Chat with our team
Facilitated team building activities are included within our Corporate Volunteering Plans. Book a chat with our team for pricing and further details on our volunteering services.
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