When you hear the words ‘team building’, your mind could go to a few different places.
When you hear the words “team building,” your mind could go to a few different places. Some people imagine their boss driving them out into the woods for a day of competitive team sports and awkward small talk, while others think of it as an opportunity to finally get to know their coworkers on a more personal level. While it’s true that there are definitely some exercises that are better suited to certain types of teams and workplaces than others, when done right, team building activities can be fun and helpful for improving skills like communication, problem solving, and time management.
Team building doesn’t have to be expensive.
One of the first things to understand is that team building can be done in many places. It doesn’t have to be in the office, or even outside of the office. If your company has a conference room, then you already have all of the space that you need. And if you don’t want to stay inside because you want to get some fresh air and work with Mother Nature, then that’s ok too. There are plenty of things that you can do outside as well. Remember, there are no rules when it comes to team building exercises. But what is important is that you find out what works best for your employees and their ability levels and schedule. It’s also really important to ensure the day is facilitated properly. Ex military companies often bring a wealth of experience to the corporate world. Team building doesn’t need to be expensive either – but remember, it’s a process.
Team building can be a little weird.
Team building exercises can be a little strange. That’s okay.
A lot of times you’re doing these team building exercises with your coworkers, and maybe you haven’t even really socialized outside of work. You don’t know their last name or where they grew up in the world, but now you’re doing an exercise where you’re supposed to bring them to tears as if they were your child and how that would make you feel? Or give them feedback on how they could be better at their job? It’s just not something that people are used to doing, especially if they’ve been in a very hierarchical and top-down organization.
That said, it’s okay to feel uncomfortable—but it’s also important to realize that being a little bit uncomfortable is good for you. When we do things that are outside our comfort zone, we learn about ourselves. We evolve as human beings and grow into better employees because of it.
Not every activity needs to be strictly professional.
While you may have heard that a company’s value is in its human capital, to be truly effective and valuable, team members need to connect on a human level. The best way for people to connect with each other is not in the office, but when they’re doing something fun together outside of the workplace. Team building exercises are supposed to be about enhancing the relationships between employees so that those relationships can spill over into the workplace and make for better, more effective teams.
While it might seem more productive to stay squarely focused on professional development exercises during your team building retreat, these types of activities will fall short because they don’t allow employees to get to know each other better as people. To build rapport, it’s important that activities encourage employees to bond with their peers outside of work-related contexts. Whether it’s learning how another employee enjoys spending their time off or meeting a new teammate’s partner who’s attending the retreat with them, it’s these kinds of shared experiences that will help foster stronger connections among colleagues.
Create an exercise that highlights each person’s unique skills.
As a team manager, you should be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each member to create exercises that leverage those. For example, if one person is good at public speaking, have them lead a group discussion. If someone else is good at graphics design, have them make a poster for the team to work from. Giving each person a chance to shine will help them learn more about their own abilities and build confidence in their skills.
Team members should also know what they’re doing well so they can step up when needed and take on tasks they’re capable of handling. This creates a sense of trust between members, which boosts morale and makes people feel like they “own” the success of the team.
Tell employees why this time is being set aside for team building.
Team building may not come naturally to those who are new to the business world, but it is a vital part of any organization’s efforts to succeed. When people can relate to one another on a human level, they will be better able to work together effectively and comfortably while also feeling more satisfied in their jobs. In this article, we’ll discuss why team building days are important for your company and some ways you can get the most out of them.
Team building does not have to be expensive and it can benefit you in the workplace
Team building can be as easy as playing a game with your coworkers or as elaborate as creating an original musical, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. Many team building exercises can be inexpensive and don’t require much money or preparation.
But do team building exercises really work? As someone who has been in many meetings where no one knows what we are doing, I can tell you that yes, they do work. Effective team building exercises can help employees get to know each other better and how to work together more effectively.