The benefits are backed by research
Team building exercises in the workplace are all about developing culture. These activities can be fun or even goofy, but they’re also important. From company retreats to softball games or holiday parties, social activities help people get to know each other better, which can lead to better morale, teamwork and productivity.
Some challenges for managers, though, is keeping that going over time and integrating new hires into the culture. New research from Yahoo Sports indicates that fantasy sports—in this case fantasy football—could be one good way to accomplish this. According to the report, which surveyed 1,000 adult fantasy football players, 44% of people who play fantasy football play with colleagues at work. Of those who play with colleagues, more than two thirds believe that it helps them integrate and connect with new team members.
This makes sense. Fantasy football is a social activity, and it encourages regular interaction over the course of many weeks. A similar trend is seen among people who play socially with friends or family. A whopping 83% of players say it helps them stay connected to friends or family who they might not speak with as frequently otherwise.
Anything which encourages positive communication in a workplace is a good thing. Your team will always perform better if they feel like they know each other and have shared interests. One of the advantages of fantasy football is that it runs for many weeks—creating many opportunities for people to have positive contact with each other.
When any kind of non-work activity is used for team building, it’s also incumbent on managers to ensure they are still engaging with team members who choose not to participate. Fantasy football may be great for a lot of people, but others may not enjoy it. Not playing should not be held against them.
If managers keep open lines of communication with their team members and ensure that productivity isn’t impacted, the long-term benefits to morale and team cohesion will be well worth a little water cooler distraction. For remote teams, the benefits of fantasy sports could be even greater, given the lack of opportunities for daily in-person interaction.
Done the right way, fantasy football and other fantasy sports leagues can be great tools for team building in the workplace.