As a team leader, the crucial task you have at hand is team building so that the co-workers have a strong professional bond with each other, which in turn, will facilitate work productivity. A united team can achieve targets and goals on time because of better understanding among each other and work spirit. There are several ways you can build a good team, and we have listed some of the activities and games for the same purpose.
- Positive Statements about Co-workers
Ask each member of your team to tell a positive aspect of a colleague. The cycle follows with every member saying positive statements about the next co-worker, and henceforth. This activity can be repeated every week, and will surely serve as a team building technique. You can extend this game by asking employees to relate these positive statements to how the characteristic will help the organization to grow.
For instance, a colleague is of the opinion that his co-worker has a great speed at getting tasks completed before deadline. Now he can be asked as to how this trait will help organization to grow. In which, the colleague can suggest how his co-worker can apply this skill on priority projects which need urgent delivery, and likewise.
- Cultural Activities
Every country and region is known for its unique culture – be it a dance form, dressing, a popular cuisine, an art form, etc. To promote cultural activities as well as grow a positive relationship between team members, organize a cultural event. Here, you can request colleagues to represent culture of their own region. And on the day of the event, each one of you can explain about the cultural element represented, and interact with fellow members.
- Funny or Creative Introductions
During the induction process, team members are usually asked to introduce themselves. You can take up this idea and once the employees get a bit comfortable with each other, say a few weeks or a month down the line from the date of joining, you can ask them to reintroduce themselves or co-workers, but with a twist. The introductions need to be funny or creative so that it brings a smile or laugh among others. This activity has a great scope of team building and will be liked by every member on board.
- Play Indoor Games
It is not always necessary to visit outdoors for a sport or game, as indoor games too can help in team building activity. You can get team mates play board games, such as Monopoly, Carom, Scrabble, or sports such as squash, table tennis, pool, etc. Card games are also a good choice. Some of the playing cards games are Onlinerummy, 21, Black Jack, Solitaire, etc. Choose group games where everyone gets an opportunity to interact with others.
Or make use of technology and make employees download gaming apps on their device, and then play against each other on the internet. One fine example of this is the rummy app, on which employees can register to form a social circle of their own to enjoy a challenging game.
- Flash Mobbing
Ever participated in a flash mob? It is a group of people who assemble in a public place to perform a dance or an act. The people appear out of a sudden from random place, and disperse similarly, after the performance. So, you can organize a Flash Mob dance with the whole workplace team members at a public place, like a shopping mall or in a garden, or anywhere you are permitted to do so.
Putting together a flash mob takes efforts because too many members get involved and they have to match the dance moves, coordinating with every co-worker. The activity itself will improve team building and interactions between employees.
- Paintballing
The ultimate team building activity is here – a game of paintball. It is no secret that most of us enjoy paintballing. This is because of the adventure and fun involved in shooting each other with a paintball gun. So how to make your team members participate in this game? Divide the co-workers into separate teams and let them have a live combat on field with a paintball gun. This sport increases unity, as members of a team are pitched against members of the opposition. The battle serves a lot of laughter and team bonding.
- Human knot
Human knot is a game that most of us must have played in the childhood. Try the same with employees, and strengthen the relationship between them. Start with gathering a team in a circle and ask the members to put their right hand in the air. Now tell the people to grab onto each other’s hand in the circle, and link their left hands to someone else’s across in the circle.
This will create a tangle of human hands, which the participants have to untangle themselves without leaving the hands of each other. While the activity is a sure fun, monitor it well so that none of the employees hurt each other mistakenly while creating or releasing human knots.
- Talent Hunt
Organize a talent hunt at your workplace. Each and every employee must be asked to participate and list the talent they want to share with others. The talent could be anything – dancing, singing, beat-boxing, stand-up comedy, playing a musical instrument, public speaking, writing poems, storytelling, etc. Set up timing for the event, the best being after regular office hours when everyone is relaxed and prepared for a fun event.
As talent hunt events make time good amount time for performance acts, make sure you reserve a few hours for the same, or a timeframe depending on the number of participants involved, and the kind of act they are interested to perform. Cheer after each performance and know each other better by sharing feedback on the performance.
- Take Feedback Every Week
Team building can be done when sorting out reanalysing goals as well. For instance, you can monitor the work progress by taking feedback of employees every week, together, in a conference. The professional interaction will make you see through the contributions of each team member and how well they coordinate with each other to accomplish tasks. You can then suggest ways to how they can achieve goals in simpler manner by being cooperative and searching out-of-the-box yet practical solutions to problems.
To Conclude
Team building can be a challenging yet an interesting task. By following the above-given team building ideas, you are sure to have an excellent and cooperative workforce.
