Whether you work for a small, medium or large business, if you’re part of a team you’ll need to find the best ways of working together for the good of the business and your own personal wellbeing.
How team-building works
Team-building exercises can be a great way of improving the team performance and ensuring better working relationships. Anything that makes staff feel happier at work will contribute towards improved performance, and co-operating on a project that’s not part of the normal working day brings out the strengths and weaknesses in every team member. Taking staff out of their regular environment and putting them to work on a problem that’s unrelated to their everyday responsibilities takes the pressure off team members, encouraging new ways of thinking and better capabilities in dealing with problems. However, some of the more traditional team-building days might not sound very appealing if you aren’t into strenuous physical activities.
Ideas for team-building activities
It’s a cliché to imagine that all tech workers are also sci-fi nerds or gaming geeks – but it is true that these kinds of interests are more prevalent amongst tech workers. For that reason, an army assault course or extreme sports day might be less appealing to tech workers than more cerebral activities. One example of the kind of activity tech workers may enjoy more is Escape Rooms, themed adventures that require you to solve a set of clues whilst working against the clock. For instance, you could operate a museum heist, try to escape from a locked room where your kidnapper is due back in an hour, or play the odds at the casino. You could also take a group visit to a place of interest and arrange some visits from business coaches who specialize in team-building to oversee a project on neutral ground. Another popular activity would be to contribute a team article to The Doe, perhaps even an anonymous story on a trending political topic.
Team-building at work
It’s not much help going off for a team-building day if the knowledge gained isn’t put to good use. Therefore, when everyone returns to work, it’s important to follow up with them, reviewing what they’ve learned and to look at ways that this can translate into an action plan. Without positive steps in place that build on the learning process, the investment into a team-building day will be wasted. You should also monitor how the team performs after the course and see how it has improved working practices and staff relations. Instigating follow-up activities and exercises will keep the learning fresh in people’s minds and ensure the investment pays off.
Team-building is an important part of getting the best results from your staff, as they will be more confident, enjoy doing their work, and make a far more productive working unit, which can only be good for your business.
