Building camaraderie at workplace does not imply participating in fun events or partying with colleagues. It is an intrinsic element of corporate culture that fosters team spirit and boosts productivity. Varuni Khosla finds out five ways to build camaraderie with employees at all levels in an organisation with ease.
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Cross-functional teams
Millennials, who constitute a majority of present day workforce, would like to maximise their exposure by taking up different tasks or projects. Engaging them in cross-functional, short-term projects and areas beyond their designated roles helps break down silos and promote team work. "When people work in teams towards a common goal, it brings them together and they get to understand, respect and trust each other," says Shantanu Das, chief human resources officer, Amway India.
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Work together
Workplace camaraderie is all about being able to smoothly work together, not building friendships. It’s more important to be relevant at the workplace than to be chummy – so if you are able to help another person on their project, do so. Chances are that the team member will rely on you in the future too, and you will build a lasting working relationship, says Aditi Balbir, CEO of V Resorts.
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Address conflict
Keeping conflict and arguments among team members at a minimum helps in building a strong cohesive team that works as one unit, says Sriram Vaidhyanathan, chief human resource officer at BankBazaar.
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Bond over breaks
A quick chat during breaks helps break the ice, even if it may not be the best way to build relations. "While this is an informal platform, I recommend that the chats are better centred around work issues and topics instead of treading on personal spaces," says Balbir.
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Learn to listen
Collect your thoughts before you speak and try to put across exactly what you mean without ambiguity so that there is no room for speculation. Keep your communication clear and to the point without embellishing any aspect. Listen to your team members. The more openly you communicate the more you will build trust and stronger working relationships in team, says Vaidhyanathan.
