Team building during a recession: should companies cut it? 

The short answer is no. During a recession, team building is even more vital than during good times. Why? Because during a recession, there is less margin for error!  

In an increasingly uncertain economic environment team building has never been more important. Sadly, recent research provided by YouGov UK shows that office team work has taken a hit during the recession, with 12% of staff admitting to having become more insular and just 19% preferring to work as a team in a bid to safeguard their own individual projects and workload. However, if you look at companies still doing well, you can always find a good, hardworking and dedicated team behind all the success. Who other than your staff, who are familiar with your customers and products, are in the best position to generate useful ideas to cut costs and generate new business? So, the solution lies with your people. And for this you need a contented workforce devoted to the company.

Nothing is more unsettling than seeing fellow workmates lose their jobs. It sets an air of fear, concern and worry and this is the time for management to step up to the challenge, spend some money and reassure those still working for them.

Why should values built up over so many years and respected by those that work for such companies go out the window now? We all know it's tough but business must go on and those still employed must work even harder in a tough situation. The moment cries out for motivation, team building and morale building.

With redundancies and the general economic situation causing great disruption to work it is now more important than ever to:

• Promote staff cooperation
• Foster team work and staff involvement
• Keep the lines of communication open
• Boost morale and improve productivity
• Build commitment
• Minimise stress for a greater sense of well-being

The newly achieved team spirit will mean team members will tackle obstacles and challenges as a unit. There are many messages that need to be effectively put across by management in these turbulent times and a simple company or departmental meeting with some fun element to it will certainly help the cause no end.