Bond With the Best!
ANITA spends most of her time in front of the computer, crunching numbers and tallying accounts in the finance department of an MNC. But she also manages to squeeze in a few minutes every day to unwind, and share some cookies and coffee with her cube mate. `I spend close to nine hours in her company, and if we did not share an excellent rapport, working here would have been unbearable.' Fatima, her cube mate adds, "If you look forward to coming to work and enjoy what you do and the people you work with, you are most productive."
More than ever before, in a work environment that is both increasingly stressful and demanding, having a healthy peer relationship is of utmost importance. For many of us, affinity and a feeling of kinship with colleagues is what makes workplace monotony palatable, adding depth and flavour to dreary tasks; it is what eases our tensions and helps us enjoy our jobs.
It is what makes one want to show up at work every day. According to one survey, employees are much more likely to stay in a job where they have a "best friend".
We spend most of our waking hours at work, and it is only natural to desire a work environment that is not all stress and hard work but also contains a healthy mix of fun. Being able to laugh in the workplace and enjoy the company of your colleagues will dramatically increase your work performance and your personal fulfilment at work.
Pradeep Narayan, a marketing executive with O & M ,claims that his team loves to celebrate. `Be it a successful launch, Diwali, Christmas, Republic Day or a belated birthday bash, we just need the flimsiest of excuses to head out to the nearest Pizza Corner for lunch' he says, adding `It is at these get-togethers that we really have the chance to get to know our colleagues, superiors and subordinates without the formal barriers between management and the rank-and-file.'
Deepa Ramachandran, Teamleader, Inaux Inc., can't stress the importance of going the extra mile to create rapport with teammates and colleagues at the workplace enough. Asha Shrivastava, HR Manager, Softpro Technologies, agrees. "You need to make sure you like and respect the people you work with— it makes for a happy working environment."
Her team of executives often organises fun weekends at picnic spots where staff can bring their families along for a stress free, enjoyable time together.
`Most of our team members are married with both partners working. And such outings give them the chance to relax and enjoy themselves, without the hassle of having to worry about the planning and organising.'
Some companies conduct annual team-building events, both on and off campus, to cement trust and friendship between teammates.
But experts caution that a single team-building event is not enough to instil permanently the all-for-one attitude. Reinforcement is necessary through staff meetings or other discussions to keep the good vibes flowing.
At Raintree Advertising and Media Management Ltd, Sruti Rawat and her co-workers recognise the not-so-serious aspect of work by awarding `Weekly rolling trophies' for the funniest moment, the biggest debacle and the grouchiest teammate of the week. "It can turn even relatively ordinary moments into a point of humour and allows for workplace bonding", says Sruti, adding, `We have a collage board in the pantry, where we can paste our favourite posters and post our comments.
To date, some of the zaniest advertising ideas have had their origin there.'
Creating more fun in your workplace may be as simple as incorporating a `theme' into the office and getting involved in your surroundings.
Add some colour, inspirational quotes or a funny staff photo feature wall, or celebrate small successes.
Making the effort to get acquainted with your co-workers' hobbies or interests outside of work will help build rapport and initiate mutual-level conversation.
Whether you choose to build rapport amongst staff through team building exercises, volunteer work, weekly get-togethers, annual marathons or merely a casual and informal work environment that encourages peer bonding, it is one way of cementing trust and friendship amongst employees, so that they get to zip, zap and zoom- altogether, and always together!
BINDU SRIDHAR
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