Team cohesion: best practices for a strong group

Team cohesion is a powerful lever for achieving shared goals and creating a harmonious work environment. By encouraging open communication and positive interactions, it boosts creativity, motivation, and productivity.

Regular actions, such as team-building sessions, collaborative meetings, or collective projects, strengthen the bonds between members and improve group dynamics.

The manager’s role is crucial: by fostering a climate of trust, valuing individual contributions, and encouraging collective decision-making, they help build strong, committed, and high-performing teams.

Definition of team cohesion

It is the spirit of unity and solidarity that connects team members to ensure smooth functioning. It is reflected in harmonious interactions and a sense of belonging, where each member feels emotionally connected to others. A cohesive team reduces internal conflicts and improves communication, which is essential for achieving shared goals.

When a team is close-knit, shared goals take precedence over individual interests, creating fertile ground for creativity and innovation. A strong collective mindset makes it possible to tackle challenges together, thereby strengthening the team’s resilience and effectiveness.

Why cohesion in a team is crucial

Good team cohesion is crucial for several reasons:

It improves the working atmosphere, which often results in increased performance.

A close‑knit team is more willing to share ideas, thereby fostering creativity and innovation.

Everyday practices, such as regular social events, strengthen trust and mutual support among members.

In addition, good team cohesion strengthens the sense of belonging, which is crucial for employee retention. A company culture that values team cohesion contributes to employee engagement and loyalty.

Thus, strengthening team cohesion is not only beneficial for ongoing projects, but also for the long‑term sustainability of the company.

Key factors and tools for strong cohesion in the workplace

To achieve good team cohesion, several key factors must be taken into account. Establishing explicit operating rules is essential to frame interactions and ensure smooth communication. Effective information flow enables each member to collaborate and achieve shared goals.

Effective communication between team members is essential to facilitate exchanges and strengthen collaborative work. In addition, a well‑defined collective mission gives meaning to team members’ efforts, aligning their actions with shared objectives.

Finally, shared values form the basis of team members’ behaviour, thereby creating a harmonious and productive work environment.

To strengthen cohesion within a company, various tools can be used. Communication solutions, team‑building times, and social initiatives are among the most effective. These tools foster connection between colleagues, thereby improving morale and communication within teams.

For example, the tool Eli makes it possible to do team building through themed challenges, creating opportunities to interact and collaborate.

Team building

Team building plays a crucial role in developing team spirit and loyalty among staff. Cohesion activities, whether fun, sports-based, or creative, encourage mutual support between colleagues by creating stronger bonds and shared memories. Organizing seminar days or weekends also provides an opportunity to strengthen these social ties.

These initiatives help build trusting relationships and strengthen mutual support within teams. However, to be truly effective, they must be held regularly and tailored to participants’ preferences, in order to ensure maximum engagement and avoid making some people feel uncomfortable.

Regular meetings

Regular meetings are essential for maintaining good team spirit and fostering communication. Whether formal or informal, these meetings allow employees to share news from their departments and discuss problems and solutions.

The morning briefing is an effective example of these quick weekly gatherings.

Digital signage

Digital signage is a powerful tool for improving internal communication within teams. By broadcasting content in real time, it promotes smooth and transparent communication, thereby strengthening interactions between employees.

Tools like Cenareo make it easy to distribute multimedia content, helping to create stronger connections.

Tips to improve team cohesion on a daily basis

Improving team cohesion on a daily basis can be achieved with simple and effective tips. Here are a few suggestions:

Organize virtual movie nights.

Set up virtual coffee breaks.

Create online games to strengthen bonds.

Encourage informal conversations via messaging platforms.

Online social activities, such as sharing personal photos or interactive games, can also foster camaraderie among remote employees.

Celebrate collective successes

Celebrating collective successes, whether small or large, is essential for strengthening the bond and sense of belonging within the team. Recognizing the efforts and achievements of teams helps maintain their engagement and morale.

By highlighting victories, even the smallest ones, you strengthen employees’ self-esteem and resilience.

Organize social activities

Social activities play a crucial role in building trust and solidarity within the team. The baking classes offered by Michel & Augustin are an excellent example of activities that allow employees to develop skills while strengthening social bonds.

These activities need to become a ritual embedded in the company’s life in order to be truly effective.

Involving everyone in decision‑making

Involving everyone in decision‑making fosters a sense of engagement and responsibility among team members. By including all members in the decision‑making process, you strengthen their sense of ownership and belonging, which is crucial for cohesion.

Encouraging active participation in decisions also strengthens accountability within the team.

The manager’s role

The manager’s role is central to team cohesion. They must lead by example and embody the company’s values to inspire trust and respect. The leader builds trust, encourages members, and positively influences the team’s future. The leader’s behaviour sets the team’s standards and ensures alignment with the company’s values.

Managers must regularly assess cohesion to identify areas for improvement. They need to take initiative and can attend training courses to raise their team’s awareness.

By choosing the right position for each person, the manager can create team spirit and optimise collective performance; adopting a proactive approach is essential.

Group cohesion in the era of remote work

In the era of remote work, maintaining team cohesion can be challenging. Internal communication solutions play a crucial role in overcoming distance and ensuring team alignment.

Although remote work can increase performance, it can also harm communication and the sense of belonging. Regular use of videoconferencing can recreate an office-like atmosphere and strengthen exchanges about priorities and daily tasks.

Setting shared challenges and goals for team members boosts collaboration and builds a positive team spirit. These initiatives help maintain cohesion even at a distance and ensure that every member feels included and motivated.

Inspiring examples of team cohesion between colleagues in the workplace

To better understand how to strengthen group cohesion, it is useful to look at inspiring examples. Initiatives such as Solidarity Weeks, which aim to unlock donations for local charities, can strengthen bonds between colleagues while also promoting external solidarity.

These initiatives bring teams together around shared values and common goals.

The rituals at Michel & Augustin

At Michel & Augustin, rituals such as the “Welcome Apéro” make it easier and more fun for newcomers to settle in, thereby building trust and strengthening bonds within the team.

These rituals are essential for creating connections and fostering team spirit.

Bolloré Group’s Marathon Day

Bolloré Group’s Marathon Day is a sports initiative designed to strengthen group cohesion. By encouraging participation in physical activities, this event boosts motivation, performance, and team cohesion.

The Adeo campus

The Adeo campus, inaugurated in 2013, was designed to create a pleasant and inspiring workspace. This ambitious environmental approach aims to provide a working environment that fosters team cohesion.

In summary

In summary, team cohesion is an essential element for the success of any company. By implementing team-building practices, organizing regular meetings, and using effective communication tools, companies can create a harmonious and productive work environment. Managers play a crucial role by embodying the company’s values and regularly assessing the cohesion of their team.

Let’s draw inspiration from the examples of Michel & Augustin, the Bolloré Group, and Adeo to develop initiatives that strengthen bonds between colleagues. Together, let’s create teams that are united, motivated, and ready to take on any challenge.

Frequently asked questions

Why is team cohesion in a company important?

Team cohesion is crucial because it boosts performance and innovation while fostering a harmonious work environment. Investing in this dimension means propelling your company toward success!

What are effective tools to strengthen group cohesion?

To strengthen group cohesion, focus on team-building activities, regular meetings, and digital signage. These tools will encourage smooth communication and strong bonds between your team members!

How can managers improve team cohesion in a company?

Managers can truly strengthen team cohesion by embodying the company’s values and encouraging open communication. By regularly assessing group dynamics, they create a collaborative environment that supports collective success.

What are the challenges of group cohesion when working remotely?

The challenges of group cohesion in remote work include loss of communication and a weakened sense of belonging. By adopting effective tools and organizing group time, you can strengthen the bonds within your team.

What examples of inspiring companies in terms of team cohesion can you give?

Companies such as Michel & Augustin, the Bolloré Group, and Adeo perfectly illustrate how innovative initiatives can strengthen team cohesion. Draw inspiration from their rituals and events to create a positive dynamic within your own team!