Introduction
Team building is a collective practice aims at promoting a positive, effective, and productive working environment. Individuals learn how to develop healthy habits associated with collaboration based approaches, including understanding, cross-cultural communication, and trust. Since companies are involved in various projects, their ability to bring together diverse individuals to work uniformly and achieve commendable results is necessary. Numerous team building activities have differing outcomes, experiences, and products. Team building also fosters the growth of both group and individual interventions.
Benefits
- Increase in Communications
- Better Chemistry & Morale Between All Workers
- Increased Motivation
- Creativity is Used & Implemented
- Support of Others
- Using Your Strengths But To Also Gain More in The Process
- Productivity is Increased
- Gained Trust of Others
Confidence
Example(s) Of Exercise
Team Scavenger Hunts
Purpose: Creating this for the recently hired can help build chemistry in the workplace, a more out of the box icebreaker. This exercise will go as follows: Individuals hired within a half year span will be led by a long tenured employee or an upper management team and will construct said questions to help the new people introduce themselves and others. The questions will consist of “How many people have a masters degree?” or “How many buildings does the company have in the country”, this exercise can last a single work day or throughout the week. Doing this exercise will help everyone know each other better and can help give everyone ideas of who they’re working with.
Problem Solving Session
Purpose: In this exercise, this can be done during a meeting. Whoever is leading the meeting can set up teams (random names picked from a hat) the leader will have 5 rounds of random situations and the teams will have 5 minutes to think of the best solution for the situation, whoever has the best idea from the leaders P.O.V, they receive a point for the team. If a tiebreaker is needed then another situation will be addressed. One situation can be “You’re stranded on an island, what three things would you need to survive”. It shows how quick the team members are quick on their feet when figuring out any problem solving situations, and helps with team communication and for the teams to be on the same page.
Escape Room
Purpose: Upper management would either pay in this situation or each employee that participates would pay x amount of money to participate in this exercise. The escape room is more of a team effort task, groups of 4 or 5 would be put in a room and the quickest time would be declared winner. Working together in a trapped room can show upper management of how quick people can adjust and figure out a solution to a situation. This is a fun activity in which people can have a competitive edge and can help motivate each other in getting out of the room as quickly as possible with a help in productivity in such time.
Company Show & Tell
Purpose: An exercise in which this has been done with kindergartners, you and your employees would show something they value most such as pictures, medals, merchandise, etc. The individual would give a two minute presentation on why they’re showing it and what it means to them. This exercise can also help everyone by getting to know each other better personally.
Jeopardy
Purpose: Another group game. The motivation and competitive drive will give the teams a purpose of playing. Upper management will be the Alex Trebek of this game, and the winning team will bragging rights at the end. This can create trust in others if a hard question is asked and some people need to step up to answer to boost their team’s point count but it’s also fun in the process.
Cost
The escape room exercise would cost from $25-$30 per person.
Jeopardy – can be hosted in the workplace for free;
Problem Solving Session – can be hosted at the office for free;
Team Scavenger Hunts – can be hosted at the office for free;
Company Show & Tell – can be hosted in the workplace for free.
Expected Outcome
- The escape room exercise builds trust and provides experience about working as a team.
- Jeopardy is a fun exercise that allows employees to gain self-confidence;
- Problem Solving Session –workers to show their leadership and problem solving skills and the trust between employees is built;
- Team Scavenger Hunts – all workers receive a chance to introduce themselves and learn something about their colleagues;
- Company Show & Tell – employees express themselves from the personal side.
Suggestions for Improvement
- Virtual team building exercises for the changing work environment;
- Outdoor activities to instill team spirit among employees thereby enhancing collaboration and teamwork at the workplace;
- Through the touring activities, the individuals will be offered a unique opportunity to network and team build while growing their knowledge in their areas of expertise.