The table was abuzz with conversation… all of which had next to nothing to do with office-related tasks.

The Dallas/Fort Worth Admin Team was enjoying lunch at a nearby La Madeline, where chatter drifted from recent life events, family plans for the upcoming Holidays, and Emily Nau’s family’s big trip all the way from California.

Back at the office, Christmas music,  the movie “Elf” and, blank sweaters, and a slew of crafting materials awaited them inside the training room. There was even a “Do Not Disturb” sign hanging from the door. The team spent the next few hours putting together Ugly Christmas Sweaters for the upcoming Christmas party.

"I think everyone really enjoyed this team-building activity,” DFW Admin Manager Jackie Campos said. “There was a little friendly competition, a lot of sharing of ideas. More importantly, with events like these, we get to know each other. Getting to know each other on a more personal level, it just makes it more welcoming to come into work. Everyone feels like they are part of a team.”

Being synergetic means being on the same page. Our Texas admin departments are a great organic example of unity, from their team-building activities to their total team approach to accomplishing tasks and supporting our other departments. Unity brings it all together.

Over in East Texas, it was a similar scene. Cutting and gluing of various crafting items. Christmas carols humming in the background. Laughter and light conversation as they, too, prepared for their upcoming Ugly Christmas Sweater contest.

“It’s really a great opportunity to get outside of the normal work area,” East Texas Admin Manager Summar Sinclair said. “It truly is a lot of fun. Instead of talking about work stuff, we can cut up a little bit.”

These Texas team-building activities in admin started more than a year and a half ago, and have included escape rooms, lunches, obstacle courses, and more. And they’re showing results. The teams in Texas are gelling like possibly never before. So what do team-building activities like this create?

It builds camaraderie.

“It builds more of a friendship than just a work relationship. I know from experience that once you grow a stronger friendship, you’re more apt to help each other out when that time comes,” Summar said.

Jackie echoes this sentiment.

“Sometimes you get to experience things that may otherwise be a little uncomfortable. When we did the escape room, it brought out the competitive side of people. With the obstacle courses, people were sweating while testing their brains. Activities like this go a long way in building camaraderie,” Jackie said.

It builds appreciation.

Summar knows this from experience. In a previous role, such appreciation from upper management was nonexistent.

“Didn’t matter if you were on your last leg. They just cared about the bottom line,” Summar said. “It’s nice knowing you work somewhere that they do actually care about their employees. I think that resonates with our people here.”

It builds productivity.

As unity builds, so does productivity. Jackie’s seen this in action.

“When morale is up, the team is up to the task at work,” Jackie said. “When we are working as one unit, we’re naturally more productive and cohesive as a group. To have the little things here and there to show appreciation for the hard work they’re doing every day, I think it means a lot.”