We’ve known for a long time that your friends can have big influence on health. If you hang out with buddies who smoke you’re more likely to smoke. If they’re into binge drinking, your chances of binge drinking go up. And if your friends are overweight, guess what?

But can you achieve the opposite effect by building support through team or group participation into your wellness program to influence positive health behaviors?

Organizations have long used experiential activities like retreats, ropes courses, team sports, and internal competitions to build coworker camaraderie and enthusiasm while accomplishing the group’s goals. Shared experiences forge bonds that can translate into better performance. Advantages of team participation in wellness programs follow:

• Build relationships. Teams that set goals together increase cohesiveness, according to a study among high school sports teams. When cohesion is high, success is also more likely.
• Enhance problem solving. When individuals hit a roadblock, the team can help get around it. Collaborative teamwork improves problem solving for individuals 86% of the time, according to one study.
• Improve citizenship behavior. Another study finds promotion of teamwork by leaders, along with team commitment and perceived support, positively affects organization dynamics by changing individual behavior.
• Drive sustainable weight loss. Research shows that participants recruited with friends are more likely to complete programs and maintain weight loss. A 16-week Internet-based team competition aimed at increasing physical activity showed significant reductions in weight, with participants maintaining 76% of their weight loss after 6 months.
• Strengthen motivation and accountability. Seeing and understanding goal-directed behavior can motivate others to do the same. This effect increases when individuals are part of a group. A sense of team pride and belonging, as well as accountability, are key factors in improving both individual effort and performance.
• Leverage pooled knowledge. A team includes more than the collective perspectives of the individuals. Team members can share what they know, but also what they think, feel, and experience — creating a synergy that’s hard to beat. Teammates celebrate each other’s successes and help each other over hurdles as they strive to achieve mutual goals.

To see how Health Enhancement Systems is using teaminess in online wellness campaigns, register for a demo of the updated Get Fit on Route 66 program at www.GetFitonRoute66.com.