A toast to the job: why company parties can boost team spirit

Toasting to achievements strengthens motivation and team spirit with colleagues. Uni Vibes on Friday offers another opportunity to do so. Photo: Uni Graz/Kanizaj

Celebrating together promotes cohesion, increases motivation and identification with the company. At least if the party guests enjoy spending time with their colleagues. Psychologist Sabine Bergner knows how else to convey a corporate culture and strengthen team spirit.

Uni Vibes, the big festival at the University of Graz, takes place on Friday. Fun and good entertainment should be pre-programmed. "The university presents itself as cosmopolitan, diverse and inclusive. These values are implicitly communicated to everyone present," explains psychologist Sabine Bergner. A good opportunity to convey a positive organisational culture. Not only the external image of the institution, but also the students and employees benefit from the party programme: "Celebrating triggers pleasant feelings in us, we experience joy and identify more strongly with our colleagues," says Bergner. This in turn builds trust and increases the willingness to commit to the company.
Having fun together therefore promotes motivation at work and consequently also health. "It's a great emotional resource that alleviates stress," explains the psychologist. However, this only applies to people who enjoy socialising with their team in their free time. "If someone is less sociable or wants to keep work and private life strictly separate, a company party increases the pressure," the researcher qualifies. "Then it backfires."

Marvellous Misktakes
However, there are lower-threshold ways to promote cohesion and commitment for people who are withdrawn or the dull daily routine: an open error culture and celebrating the work done rather than the results achieved. "Especially in science, there are often more setbacks than successes. Toasting failure helps to keep motivation and appreciation high within the team," explains Bergner. That's why she and Johanna Stadlbauer from the Research Careers Campus launched the Fiasco Festival a few years ago, which has since spread far and wide. "Last year, we organised it together with our partner institutions in the ARQUS network, and this year we have already received numerous enquiries from international universities," reports the researcher.

As hackneyed as the phrase may sound, you can actually learn from mistakes - and draw new energy. "They increase creativity because we have to look for new solutions," adds Bergner. And invite you to the next party.

Dagmar Eklaude

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