Do birthday parties build teamwork?
May 19, 2009
OFFICE TALK<br><br>One of the first things Martin Semyalo, a 45-year-old lawyer did when he became chief executive officer (CEO) of an advertising agency five years ago, was ban office birthday parties.
OFFICE TALK
By Joel Ogwang
One of the first things Martin Semyalo, a 45-year-old lawyer did when he became chief executive officer (CEO) of an advertising agency five years ago, was ban office birthday parties.
Everyone was supposed to contribute a significant amount of money, anytime a co-worker had a birthday to celebrate.
There was also the ordering of cakes or taking the “baby-of the-day†out for lunch.
Semyalo did not see the big deal in having the birthday parties because a lot of time and money were spent on them.
Since he was a junior staff before, he was already aware of the division between those who could not wait for birthdays and those who disliked being “forced†to contribute to them.
This raises questions: For instance, does the office birthday party build teamwork or destroy it?
Many people feel that apart from helping one relax, birthday parties make you know someone better.
Musa, an employee of a telecom company, did not know that his boss was such a witty person until a colleague’s birthday. After the party, he felt he was part of the company.
Yet, some career experts believe celebrating birthdays may not be as effective.
“I don’t think birthdays build teamwork,†says Fagil Mandy, an educationist and career consultant.
“It is just one very expensive venture that comes with too much eating and drinking. Teamwork should embody psyching workers to achieve greater heights.â€
Mandy says birthdays should be optional. Anyone can give or send a gift or card “off hours†to ‘the birthday baby’ if they feel inclined to do so.
Teamwork embodies workers’ willingness to cooperate and achieve goals. “It is not just holding parties,†says Mandy.
Augustus Nuwagaba, a development consultant, says workers should exude the need for self- achievement.
“Workers should feel that their salaries are an adequate reward for their sweat,†says Nuwagaba.
Other stimulants of teamwork include; allowances, training opportunities and scholarships for excelling employees, which motivates them to achieve greater heights. “Teamwork emerges when workers feel the organisation belongs to them,†says Nuwagaba.
By Joel Ogwang
One of the first things Martin Semyalo, a 45-year-old lawyer did when he became chief executive officer (CEO) of an advertising agency five years ago, was ban office birthday parties.
Everyone was supposed to contribute a significant amount of money, anytime a co-worker had a birthday to celebrate.
There was also the ordering of cakes or taking the “baby-of the-day†out for lunch.
Semyalo did not see the big deal in having the birthday parties because a lot of time and money were spent on them.
Since he was a junior staff before, he was already aware of the division between those who could not wait for birthdays and those who disliked being “forced†to contribute to them.
This raises questions: For instance, does the office birthday party build teamwork or destroy it?
Many people feel that apart from helping one relax, birthday parties make you know someone better.
Musa, an employee of a telecom company, did not know that his boss was such a witty person until a colleague’s birthday. After the party, he felt he was part of the company.
Yet, some career experts believe celebrating birthdays may not be as effective.
“I don’t think birthdays build teamwork,†says Fagil Mandy, an educationist and career consultant.
“It is just one very expensive venture that comes with too much eating and drinking. Teamwork should embody psyching workers to achieve greater heights.â€
Mandy says birthdays should be optional. Anyone can give or send a gift or card “off hours†to ‘the birthday baby’ if they feel inclined to do so.
Teamwork embodies workers’ willingness to cooperate and achieve goals. “It is not just holding parties,†says Mandy.
Augustus Nuwagaba, a development consultant, says workers should exude the need for self- achievement.
“Workers should feel that their salaries are an adequate reward for their sweat,†says Nuwagaba.
Other stimulants of teamwork include; allowances, training opportunities and scholarships for excelling employees, which motivates them to achieve greater heights. “Teamwork emerges when workers feel the organisation belongs to them,†says Nuwagaba.