The Importance of Team Building

Teamwork is at the heart of everything we do at Waves Leuven. By nurturing our team’s well-being and fostering open communication, we create an inclusive and innovative workplace where every voice contributes to better health outcomes. Our team thrives on opportunities to collaborate and strengthen connections in fun and creative ways. In this blog our colleague Justine Prata, clinical gym specialist and team events coordinator, shares insights into the value of organised team-building events.

Team building at Waves

Waves is a multidisciplinary healthcare practice integrating physiotherapy, osteopathy, clinical gym services, psychomotor therapy, dietetics, sports psychology, and clinical Pilates. It prioritises team building to enhance communication, cohesion, and productivity. Biannual events, such as natural movement sessions, dance classes, jujitsu, and workshops, foster a collaborative culture essential for delivering high-quality, patient-centred care.

Research indicates that structured team-building activities improve team cohesion, productivity, and decision-making, which are vital in multidisciplinary healthcare settings (Baharom, Stoverink, & Kalogiannidis, 2022; Golonka & Mojsa-Kaja, 2019).

Gym team-building 2024: Pottery class!

Why have team buildings?

Team-building activities enhance problem-solving and creativity, particularly through experiential learning. Baharom et al. (2022) found that engaging in unfamiliar challenges, such as jujitsu and movement-variety exercises, fosters trust and collaboration among team members. These activities encourage adaptability and creative thinking, enabling the integration of diverse expertise from physiotherapists, dietitians, and clinical gym specialists at Waves. This environment empowers staff to share ideas openly and collaborate effectively on holistic treatment plans.

Stronger teams deliver better care – our team events strengthen connections and build deeper bonds among all team members.”

– Justine

Did you know?

Emotional intelligence, a critical component of effective teamwork, also benefits from team-building initiatives. Golonka and Mojsa-Kaja (2019) emphasize that emotionally intelligent teams demonstrate greater resilience and cohesion. Activities like dance classes encourage mutual empathy and open communication, bridging differences in communication styles among professionals from varied disciplines, such as osteopaths and sports psychologists. This ensures smoother interactions and a unified approach to patient care.

High-performance practices like role flexibility and communication training further enhance team satisfaction and performance (International Journal of Social Sciences, 2023). By equipping team members with a deeper understanding of one another’s roles, Waves ensures dynamic collaboration tailored to patients’ needs. For example, dietitians and Pilates instructors seamlessly coordinate their expertise, improving both morale and patient outcomes.

Waves Full Team 2024. Credit: Thijs Renson /PILOOOT

Lastly, diversity-oriented team building creates an inclusive, supportive environment by reducing communication barriers and enhancing cohesion (Fapohunda, 2018). For Waves, where diverse therapeutic expertise converges, inclusive activities foster open-mindedness and enrich collaboration, ensuring patients receive comprehensive care.

Through biannual team-building events, Waves cultivates a workplace culture that enhances productivity, emotional intelligence, and inclusivity. These efforts ensure that the multidisciplinary team delivers compassionate, coordinated care aligned with Waves’ mission to enhance health and well-being.

References

Baharom, N., Stoverink, A., & Kalogiannidis, S. (2022). The impact of teamwork on organizational performance. International Journal of Management, 7(4), 54–68.
Fapohunda, T. M. (2018). Challenges in team building for large organizations. International Journal of Human Resources, 12(2), 210–225.
Golonka, K., & Mojsa-Kaja, J. (2019). Emotional intelligence in teamwork. Journal of Emotional Management, 5(3), 345–360.
International Journal of Social Sciences. (2023). High-performance work practices in team settings. International Journal of Social Sciences, 9(3), 40–50.

Author: Justine Prata
Personal Trainer at Waves.

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