Leadership key to workplace bonding — HR Expert
By Solomon Nartey Tetteh
Human Resource (HR) professional Mary Akua Ahenmah Dadzie has highlighted that leadership is central to fostering bonding activities in the workplace, arguing that without management support, such initiatives often fail to take root.
Speaking on Business Breakfast on Zed 101.9FM, Ms Dadzie noted that workplace bonding requires approval and active involvement from leadership due to organisational hierarchies and decision-making structures.
“If you want to organise some of these activities without the buy-in of leadership, it’s going to be very difficult. In an organisation, there is always some level of hierarchy, and approval must be given before activities can take place,” she explained.
According to the human resource professional, when team leaders or heads of departments show enthusiasm for bonding activities, it encourages staff to participate wholeheartedly.
“If I see that my head of department is interested in an activity, it pulls me along. That is why leadership has a very big role to play,” she said.
Ms Dadzie further pointed out that leadership in bonding is not limited to those in formal authority. Influential individuals within the rank and file of organisations also play a critical role in rallying their colleagues.
She stressed the importance of accountability in making bonding activities work.
The human resource professional recommended that management formally assign roles to departmental heads to ensure responsibility and commitment.
“When you assign tasks, you can demand accountability. If senior managers are told what is expected of them, they will ensure they bring their teams on board and make themselves available,” she indicated.
The HR professional reiterated that accountability makes it difficult for leaders to ignore their roles in such initiatives.
Ms Dadzie also highlighted that effective bonding must be deliberately structured by management, with both formal leaders and informal influencers actively engaged to ensure success.
