| Ask people what they think "team
building" is and you get a wide variety of answers. Some feel that it's getting
better acquainted, others talk about building trust, still others say "bonding,"
or learning how to solve problems as a group. And everyone agrees that there is an element
of fun. In reality, team building is all of the above and more. A good team building
exercise creates positive interaction among a group of people, and in doing so enhances
their ability to work effectively as a team when they return to the workplace. Interaction
can be working together on a unique project (example: boat building and racing), playing
games like a team Olympics, putting their heads together to solve a murder mystery,
helping each other through a ropes course, playing paintball or flight simulation games in
teams, camping, white water rafting; the possibilities are practically endless. In order to narrow down the possibilities and make a final decision, here
are the things you should consider:
- Group make-up (male/female ratio, age, occupation(s),
fitness level, handicaps?)
- Size of the group (some types of activities are limited to
smaller groups)
- Time frame for event (a 30 minute activity is a lot
different from 3 hours)
- Budget (events range from $500 to $15,000 and up).
- Meeting theme tie-in?
- Does every person need to participate equally?
- Is this a competition where a team will "win" and
others will not (many activities can be structured where everyone wins-- or has the
potential to reach a specific goal).
- Time of day (does the activity happen first thing in the
morning, during or after lunch, during dinner, after dinner?--- this does make a
difference)
- Has your group done any team building in the past, and if
so, what did they do--and what was the result? (You don't want to duplicate-- and you
always want to do better).
- Do you want a debriefing session, and can the team building
company do this?
The team building companies that you are considering should
ask you these questions, not simply try to rent you equipment or sell you games.
What's available in team building is only limited by
the imagination.
The bottom line is this: team building comes in all kinds
of forms at a wide variety of costs. It enhances a meeting by capitalizing on the fact
that people are physically present-- all in the same place. So you have a fabulous
opportunity to get them interacting; something that cannot happen by teleconferencing or
by video conferencing. Furthermore, it makes sense if you structure a team building event
to tie in with the goals of your meeting so that it has some lasting effect. Team building
is MORE than just entertainment, but if you position it that way, you'll be missing out on
its real value.
For more information, call Corporate Games at
800-790-GAME or 925-249-0669 and we will be happy to assist you. |
