Team building. Say the words to a room of busy, stressed-out employees and you’re likely to be met with a series of moans and groans. In order to cultivate a productive team of individuals who work well together and understand one another, team building activities are necessary. However, many companies miss the mark, leaving employees dreading the words “team building.”
Creating a cohesive team doesn’t have to be tedious. When conducted with a strategic mindset, team building activities can encourage creativity, motivate employees, improve communication, and increase productivity. If your organization is looking for new ways to team-build, here are some suggestions:
- Volunteer as a group – Getting the team involved in a charity can be an excellent way to allow coworkers to bond outside of the confines of the office and work toward achieving a common goal. Anything from building playgrounds to Habitat for Humanity to sorting cans at your local food bank can help groups work together more cohesively on the job.
- The lifeboat game – Create a mock survival situation in which teams are stranded in a lifeboat and can only bring ten items from a list of 25 along with them. This will help them learn how to solve problems and work out conflict as a unit.
- Hold weekly meetings – Get the group together each week for a meeting. That meeting should have a purpose, and should not be a “meeting for meeting’s sake.” On the agenda include time for sharing. Have each employee tell the group what they are working on for the week, and what their goals are. Ask them to share what they need from others in order to reach those goals. At the end of the meeting, ask the group what projects they’d like to see the team take on in the future. This allows them to share their ideas in a forum where they will be heard. When someone has a good idea that can realistically be implemented, take the idea to the leadership team. You never know what amazing things can come from a quick brainstorming session.
- Show and Tell – There is a reason that kindergarten teachers hold show and tell. This activity is a fun way for people to get to know one another on a personal level. Once a month, have each member of the group bring in an item to share. It can be anything from a recipe they love, to a family photo, to their Amateur Ping Pong Championship trophy.
Team building doesn’t have to be boring or tedious, despite its bad reputation. Organize activities that play to the strengths and needs of the group. Regular team building will help creativity and collaboration thrive, and can help improve productivity.
If your organization is looking for new and better ways to recruit and retain highly-skilled technical employees, Dunhill Staffing Systems can help. We work with top-tier talent from a variety of IT and engineering backgrounds who are ready and able to tackle new challenges. Contact us today to see how we can help your business build strong and lasting teams.
