In an office bustling with new colleagues, one of the team suggests a trip out for pizza. Amid the excitement, one eager colleague hurries to bite into a freshly served slice, only to scald the roof of his mouth.

Have you ever had a similar mishap? Initially, it might feel awkward, yet over time, such incidents transform into humorous tales recounted among colleagues. Interestingly, these shared moments extend beyond mere anecdotes.

Shared experiences, whether they’re as light-hearted as a pizza outing or as tense as a workplace strike, possess the unique ability to unify individuals. In a recent study, Matthew Lyle, an Assistant Professor at Binghamton University, State University of New York, explored this phenomenon in depth. He discovered that these collective memories encourage team members from various sectors within a company to interact more and fortify their work relationships.

The findings of this research offer valuable insights for managers on the benefits of fostering shared memories to improve teamwork across different job functions. Fostering a sense of camaraderie through shared experiences is crucial for the successful execution of large-scale projects involving diverse groups within a company. Lyle points out that these experiences enhance collaboration and ease the sharing of ideas. However, he warns that such events could disrupt existing group dynamics if powerful enough to realign team structures.

The study, titled “‘We Can Win This Fight Together’: Memory and Cross-Occupational Coordination,” published in the Journal of Management Studies, utilises a poignant example to illustrate these dynamics.

Lyle, alongside his research team, analysed a 170-day strike at a South Korean public broadcaster, which, for confidentiality, was referred to as “TelvCorp” in the study. This broadcaster had a history of employing a wide range of occupational groups and had earned numerous accolades, predominantly by its journalists. The strike was triggered by a governmental change perceived as a threat by the journalists, who believed that the newly appointed CEO (a former employee) was altering the editorial direction to favour the government. The situation escalated when the CEO began to dismiss union leaders, a move that resonated across the company as a rallying cry, leading to a unified strike effort across different occupational groups. This event marked the formation of what the researchers termed a “mnemonic community,” a group bonded by shared memories that continued to collaborate long after the strike concluded.

Yet, the aftermath of the strike was not entirely positive. A division emerged between those who had participated in the strike and those who had not, complicating the return to normalcy at TelvCorp.

This research is not just a case study of a single organisation but offers broader implications for enhancing teamwork in various settings. Like a memorable company retreat, Lyle suggests unconventional and impactful shared experiences can significantly boost collaborative efforts. Recalling events where colleagues overcame challenges together or shared a laugh can lay a foundational memory that encourages a more cohesive work environment.

While these shared experiences might seem trivial, Lyle emphasises that they are essential for fostering a supportive team environment where members are more inclined to assist each other. He advocates for intentionally creating shared moments, which are vital to building relationships that enhance teamwork and productivity. Thus, even a simple incident like the rapid consumption of a hot pizza slice could evolve into a significant, shared memory that profoundly impacts team dynamics.

More information: Sung-Chul Noh et al, ‘We Can Win this Fight Together’: Memory and Cross-Occupational Coordination, Journal of Management Studies. DOI: 10.1111/joms.13146

Journal information: Journal of Management Studies Provided by Binghamton University