Team-building gains post-crisis relevance for GCC firms

More and more companies in the Middle East are seeking assistance with regard to corporate team building solutions, driven by the new post-economic crisis business landscape, a local consulting firm has said.

According to SKOPOS Consulting, team building activities implemented as part of an organisational development programme are increasingly being seen as a good way of attracting and retaining top talent, as well as enhancing personal job satisfaction and employee engagement.

The firm pointed towards two recent surveys, one of which revealed that almost half of businesses in the Middle East failed to operate efficiently as a team, thus missing out on chances to improve productivity and profits.

In addition, a Bayt.com survey conducted in relation with YouGov Siraj highlighted the ability to be a cooperative, flexible and helpful team player as being the second most attractive quality when hiring new staff. Just under half of all respondents to that poll cited that quality as being a desirable trait.

"Well executed corporate team building programs can benefit firms in the region through improving leadership skills, tackling barriers to efficiency, clearly defining objectives and goals, and enhancing members' engagement,” SKOPOS Consulting managing director Hussein El Kazzaz.

“These attributes are crucial as organisations consolidate their strengths and address vulnerabilities to enhance business performance in the post-economic crisis period.

“An effective corporate team building plan likewise ensures more support to the company and project management efforts, faster and better conflict resolution, a sense of purpose and personal job satisfaction," El Kazzaz added.