Many years ago, when I was an executive at a previous company, employees asked me if we could organize an NCAA basketball tournament. At the time, I viewed it as a distraction from being productive and declined. I still remember the look of disappointment on their faces as they walked away and suddenly realized that I had missed an opportunity—not just for fun but also for the growth of the team.

When employees have chances like an NCAA tournament or an informal happy hour to connect and strengthen relationships, they’re building engagement and company morale. That collaboration has three key benefits: reduced churn, increased productivity, and better team building.

Reduced churn

When we collaborate at work, we’re building a sense of community. Without that community, it’s difficult to grow an employee base. In fact, feeling “disconnected” is the reason behind the 27 percent of employees who leave within one year.

But, when relationships are strong and employees are connecting, employee engagement will thrive, and loyalty to the company will rise. You’ll start to see…

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