Employee bond is an important element of workplace productivity. Everyone in the office needs to feels like they are part of the team but by simply throwing a group of people together in a large work space does not constitute employee bonding. It  is quite  difficult to quantify. So how can you get employees to bond as a team? Here are seven  inventive suggestions you can implement right away in your organization.

1.Create employee development plans

According to Aberdeen report, the top reason employees stay with a company is they feel challenged by their work.  To make a real impact, your employees’ work needs to support the company’s growth goals. You can do this by making an employee development plan for your employees. This will help you create clear direction on how to increase their skills and advance their careers so that your business can forge ahead.

1. Seek Opportunities to Socialize Outside the Workplace

Whether it’s taking everyone out to lunch or a karaoke night, planning a social outing away from the workplace is proven as the best method for helping employees bond. When people talk about their personal lives, they identify things in common and build bonds based on them. These bonds lead to trust and respect, which lead to a willingness to collaborate and perform well together. An informal setting offers people the opportunity to relax and talk to each other about something other than work.

2. Promote Work Life Balance

Work-life balance matters, and it is becoming an increasing concern for many employees and employers. Creating a work environment that promotes work-life balance and gives your employees the flexibility to balance both aspects of their life will improve relations and ultimately create a strong team.

3.Offer Regular Compliment and Encouragement

Take an interest in the career development and job satisfaction of each direct report. When someone is doing a good job, take the time to let them know they are. A little positive reinforcement goes a long way. You can send a quick email of praise when a particular project goes well. Send an annual or monthly or even weekly email or note reminding them of how much you appreciate their work. Make it clear to higher-ups when someone goes above and beyond. When your employees know you notice the little things, they’ll want to be on the ball every day.

4. Seek Opportunities to Socialize Outside the Workplace

Whether it’s taking everyone out to lunch or a karaoke night, planning a social outing away from the workplace is proven as the best method for helping employees bond. When people talk about their personal lives, they identify things in common and build bonds based on them. These bonds lead to trust and respect, which lead to a willingness to collaborate and perform well together. An informal setting offers people the opportunity to relax and talk to each other about something other than work.

4.Establish team rules

Rules are everywhere. From the sports field to in our daily interactions they exist. And they exist to keep everyone safe and on the same page. How can we more forward together if we don’t know where we stand? Rules will safeguard the success and productivity of a team. Establishing rules early is best, For example, like ‘No Cell Phones during meeting’ or ‘Wear Pink on Wednesday’  but be willing to consider changing them if they’re hindering rather than helping the team. You can write them down or just chat about them openly. Either way, you should be clear on why they exist and ask for feedback from everyone.

5.Celebrate Success Together

Celebrating your success as a team will bring people closer together, encourage conversation, and boost happiness. By doing this, you’re weaving them into your team’s culture and the benefits will become lasting and more impactful. You’re also reminding people what your goals are that it is achievable and worth striving for, which will keep motivation high. It could be a big lavish trip to somewhere or simple dinner together but the main goal is to get everyone together and have fun!

6.Foster Empathy and Compassion

Creating a bond of trust starts with empathy and compassion. Empathy is feeling with others. You have to put yourself in another’s shoes emotionally. Compassion has been described as “empathy-in-action.” Feeling with another is helpful, but take the next step and put that empathy into action. If your employee is not in the right term sit down and talk it out. If they are in a of need emergency despite the works are overloaded try to understand their situation and come up with a solution that works best for all. Sometimes that’s a practical action, sometimes it’s emotional comfort, and sometimes it’s both. When you feel empathy and show compassion for others, it builds trust.

7.Establish team rules

Rules are everywhere. From the sports field to in our daily interactions they exist. And they exist to keep everyone safe and on the same page. How can we more forward together if we don’t know where we stand? Rules will safeguard the success and productivity of a team. Establishing rules early is best, For example, like ‘No Cell Phones during meeting’ or ‘Wear Pink on Wednesday’  but be willing to consider changing them if they’re hindering rather than helping the team. You can write them down or just chat about them openly. Either way, you should be clear on why they exist and ask for feedback from everyone.

I hope these tips will help you build stronger emotional bond with your team that can help you and your team thrive.