If there is one thing that can enhance motivation and cooperation at workplace, it has to be a well thought-out team building activity.
While most managers engage in games, group activities, and even nights on the town, nothing beats a volunteering exercise. Volunteering brings people together, and they work together in an empathic situation.
Psychological studies show that volunteering helps people to develop empathy and emotional intelligence, both of which are required within a team.
Let us take a look at why you must consider volunteering as a team building activity.
Promotes Togetherness
Volunteering is an activity that does not take place in the boardroom or work floor, where all that one does is answer the phone. Your team will be working in a nonprofit organization or in a community set up, where they will contribute toward social welfare as a team. As this naturally creates fuzzy feelings and warm emotions, it will help in promoting togetherness.
Builds Problem Solving Skills
Working in a new atmosphere, doing things that one is not familiar with, and interacting with new people helps team members learn problem solving skills. Imagine having to teach immigrant children English language skills or how to answer the phone without much teaching aid. This will surely help your team members to learn how to tackle marginalized groups, and also help them learn something new without many resources.
Helps Learn New Skills
Learning new skills while volunteering depends on the kind of nonprofit your team will be assigned to. They could learn any skill right from being a receptionist to teaching languages and helping older people use computers. If your team is working with seniors, they will probably learn how to care for them. They may even have to become part of an answering service for a large nonprofit!
Acts as a Stress Buster
There is nothing better than stress busting to achieve a sense of togetherness. When you take your team out on the town, all that you are doing is helping them to unwind and let their hair down. Volunteering serves the same purpose, but in a more socially responsible way. Imagine being a receptionist at a nonprofit for a day or two?
Gain a Sense of Accomplishment as a Group
When you help a community or a certain section of society, you feel a sense of accomplishment and achievement. When this sense of accomplishment is achieved as a group, team building gets a lot more exciting. When they return, they will probably answer the phone in a cheerful manner.
Tackle Challenges Together
Working with nonprofits or volunteering at an organization will expose your team to new challenges. They will have to tackle these challenges as a group, which is crucial in team building. Challenging situations often promote harmony when individuals work as a team, and you will be bringing back this harmony to your work floor.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Every business entity has certain goals to achieve Corporate Social Responsibility. This not only is a requirement for most businesses, it also helps in creating a brand identity. When your team partakes in CSR activities, they will identify a lot more with your brand, leading to loyalty toward your company.
Helps Create Wonderful Memories
Last but not the least, volunteering helps to create lasting memories. When your team returns from volunteering activities, they will bring photographs, souvenirs and memories that will remind them of their time with your company. Essentially, you are creating goodwill for your own company when you ask your team to volunteer.
Abby Connect Loves Supporting Las Vegas
For the last few years the Abby team has participated in a number of volunteer activities within the Las Vegas community. Some of the causes we’ve been overjoyed to regularly support are the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, where our employees help feed the homeless on holidays, and The CASA Foundation, which helps care for the unmet needs of children in foster care. Even our clients have joined us in these community efforts and we can’t thank them enough.
