Decisions makers in successful companies understand that indoor team building is more than just a recreational activity. They allocate resources to such exercises because they believe the results will benefit individuals, work teams, and the organization as a whole. They also hope the bonus will be a memorable and fun day for the employees.
Purpose of Team Building
A real team is more than a group of employees working together cooperatively. It is a cohesive unit in which people commit to achieving common goals with each one contributing his particular skills and knowledge. It requires an understanding of how team dynamics affect work results. A well planned team building exercise helps employees explore their roles in a team, encouraging them to stretch beyond their daily routine, all the while enjoying each others' company in a different setting.
Principles of Team Building
Whether the exercise is facilitated by a third party or the company’s HR department, there are a few basic principles.
• Clear learning points such as effective communication, leadership, decision making, setting priorities, building trust and group dynamics.
• Results-oriented team structure so there can be realistic expectations about accomplishing the task.
• Collaborative atmosphere so everyone is comfortable testing their personal limits in a safe place.
There is usually a debriefing at the end of the day, using examples from the exercise. This helps employees understand what is effective team behavior and what is counterproductive.
Examples of Team Exercises
These few examples show the range of indoor activities that have worked well for many organizations.
• Solving a murder mystery.
• Construction game using marbles or building blocks.
• Negotiating a maze.
• Production of counterfeit money.
• Treasure hunt.
• Competitive wine tasting.
There are complications built into each scenario, bringing to life the learning points of the exercise.
Indoor team building is an excuse to have fun, but it is so much more. By the end of the day, the members of each team better understand their own strengths and challenges. They also have opportunity to see how working with other employees whose skills complement theirs makes for effective teamwork.
