Team Building Activities

A team is not just any group of people. They must have a common objective or goal.

团队而不是个人交付项目。与独立工作相比,他们合作以更有效地完成。

This whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Each member brings unique abilities and forms a synergistic relationship to achieve success beyond the reach of individual effort.

Team Building Activities

Certain activities can help build a team. They motivate team members and help them work as a cohesive group.

在1990年代,研究了几家成功的美国公司。研究人员发现,“能够以创新,灵活的方式组织员工以及许多美国公司发展自我管理团队的热情就是美国行业看起来如此竞争性的原因。”

Another study by Gallup shows that close work friendships boost employee satisfaction by 50%, while people with a self-described best friend at work were seven times more likely to be fully engaged.

Business environments today are increasingly VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous), and organizations need to use their human resources better.

团队建设是成立,成长和改善成员以及支持他们的人的知识,技能和态度的过程。团队建设活动有助于实现这些目标。

所需的三个要素是知识,技能和态度。他们提高了团队的能力,成员必须不断改善他们。

Team building is a process of taking individuals with different needs, backgrounds, and expertise levels and transforming them into a cohesive and effective workgroup.

The aim is to channel the energies of individuals into achieving the team’s objective.

How To Organize Team Building Activities

成功的团队建设活动需要以下步骤:

  1. Select an Activity:牢记业务原因和团队的利益,以确保活动为团队提供价值。
  2. Prepare for Activity:Read through the details, get all materials and roles ready, and set up the room/stage.
  3. 解释活动:Clear goals and explicit rules lead to better engagement. Ensure the team understands the activity and guidelines. Organizers should enthusiastically welcome the team before the briefing.
  4. Conduct the Activity:This is when the team-building game starts. Members participate in the activity with minimal interference from the organizer.
  5. Debrief the Activity:The organizer discusses findings and observations during the activity. They can prepare questions in advance for discussion.
  6. Reinforce the Learning:The goal of a team building activity is to improve team dynamics. Motivate members to apply it in the workplace.

Team Building Themes

Team-building themes can help improve several skills, such as communication, creativity, cooperation, support, coping, and teamwork.

每个主题都有相关的团队建设活动,有助于提高参与者的知识,技能和态度。

#1. Teamwork Activities

下图显示了主题下的活动。这些游戏有助于改善团队合作。

In this theme, we will discuss two team-building activities: Kudos and But Nothing (Ideas)

Kudos

In this activity, participants appreciate one another for their differences. This helps bolster the team’s energy and promotes bonding and confidence among team members.

这项活动需要一盒称为“ Kudos盒”的糖果。

Steps for conducting kudos:

  • Show a kudos box to the team.
  • Explain to the team that the candy bars are a recognition reward for any action, accomplishment, or trait.
  • Anyone can give more than one candy bar for any reason.
  • Kudos must be voluntarily given.
  • The organizer starts the game. They reward a participant for something and explain it to the team.
  • 其他所有人都会在每一个认可时都会掌声
  • The game continues until the energy level drops or the candy bars are finished.

After the activity ends, the organizer calls the team for a debriefing session with the following questions:

  • How difficult was it to give each other recognition? Why or why not?
  • How did you feel after each recognition?
  • What do you think would happen if we extend this attitude of recognition to external partners like suppliers, vendors, support staff, regulatory bodies, or clients.?

The kudos box teaches appreciation and recognition of team members.

但是什么都没有(想法)

Here, participants give feedback using the phrase yes, but… Then, instead, they use yes… or yes and…

This team building activity shows how using “but” can shut down communication.

Steps for conducting but nothing (ideas)

  • Have the participants pair up.
  • 每对都是为了计划一个梦想的假期。
  • One partner starts by making suggestions to the other.

例如:

Person A: Let’s go to the beach.

Person B: Yes, but…

保持一分钟,然后停止。

In contrast:

Have the conversation changed but… to yes, and…

Keep it up for one minute, and then stop.

Have a debrief as follows:

  • Did you have more fun playing the game in yes, but or yes, and?
  • 在现实生活中,是肯定的,但是与“是”相比,会影响思想或流动?

Teamwork is encouraged with a yes, and. The former (yes, and) builds on while the latter (yes, but) tears it down.

#2. Communication Activities

The diagram below shows team building activities under this theme. These activities help improve communication.

We will discuss Card Triangles and Origami.

Card Triangles

This is a negotiation activity where teams trade pieces of playing cards in exchange for complete cards. It helps to see other perspectives before persuading or influencing.

执行卡三角形的步骤:

  • Prepare the materials by cutting the card into four parts, and participants need to make the card complete again. Then randomly divide these pieces into three or four envelopes according to the number of teams.
  • 将参与者分为三四个团队。
  • Give each team an envelope containing card pieces.
  • Give the teams three minutes to examine, sort their pieces, and plan their bartering strategy.
  • Allow for eight minutes bartering where team members negotiate or influence for complete cards.
  • 最终,获胜团队的完整卡数量最多。

Debrief with the following questions:

  • How willing were others to trade with you?
  • What were negotiation tactics most effective to you?
  • 我们谈论什么?(时间,资源等b0b体育app)

Card triangles show us we are interdependent on colleagues for many reasons, and we need an influenceable relationship with effective communication.

Origami

This is a team-building activity that shows the power of clear communication. It derives its name from the Japanese art of folding paper.

Steps for conducting origami:

  • Give each participant a sheet of paper.
  • Have them close their eyes.
  • Let them know they only must follow instructions as heard; no clarification is allowed.
  • 指导团队成员我叠的纸n half, then fold again in half, lastly, fold again in half. Then rip off the upper corner

Debrief with the following questions:

  • Did everyone end up with the same result? Why or why not?
  • How could the result have been different if our eyes were open?
  • What if I had the chance to ask for clarification? Would the results have been different?
  • What does this imply about our jobs?

Origami helps participants see how instructions can be interpreted differently and that clear communication is vital.

#3. Coping Activities

Activities under this theme are shown in the following diagram. These team building activities help improve coping skills.

We will discuss the changed timeline and index towers activities.

更改时间表

This activity reminds participants of major changes they have handled before. It helps participants know one another better and encourages them to discover each other’s similar or dissimilar experiences.

Steps for conducting change timeline:

  • Give a pen and a paper to each participant.
  • Have them each recall five major life events.
  • They will draw timelines with associated changes marked with an X.

Have the participants then pair up and share outcomes using the following questions:

  • 您以前,期间和之后的感觉如何?
  • Was the change difficult? Why or why not?
  • What was the key to your success in dealing with the change?

Debrief by examining the following questions:

  • How do you feel sharing these experiences with your partner? Some responses could be I felt empathetic or encouraged knowing that we have experiences in common.
  • What did you learn from how your partner dealt with the change?
  • What does this bring to our jobs?

更改很普遍,每个人都可以处理它。

Index Towers

This is a game to test adaptability to change. Here you have a team of participants build towers using index cards.

Steps for conducting index towers:

  • 将组织划分为团队的ree to five.
  • 给他们25张索引卡。
  • 每个团队都必须建立可能的最高独立式结构。
  • 给参与者一个磁带标尺以测量高度。
  • 进行测量后,宣布塔楼违反了安全法,我们必须重新开始。
  • 给他们25张新卡,让他们重建塔楼。
  • Measure the structure and determine the tallest.

Debrief by examining the following questions

At the end of the activity, discuss the following:

  • How did you decide to build the structure each time?
  • 当我们宣布更改规则并开始时,您的感觉如何?(沮丧,沮丧,挑战等)
  • What new methods did you discover in the second round? (found better ways of stacking).
  • How does this apply to your job?

#4. Creativity Activities

The activities under this theme are shown in the following diagram. This team-building activity helps improve creativity.

We will discuss consultants and one-worded stories

Consultants

这项活动使参与者可以建议如何处理工作或其他相关问题。当他们想到的时候,它将创造力作为参与者提供解决方案。寻求解决方案者现在可以将思想结合起来或扫描以下。

S – Substitute

C – Combine

A – Adapt

M – Modify

P – Put to another use

E – Eliminate

R – Rearrange

Steps for conducting consultants:

  • Give the group two minutes for each participant to write one problem or concern at the top of a paper.
  • Have everyone pass their paper to the right.
  • Each participant has one minute to read the problem and write a suggestion/advice.
  • Pass the paper and repeat as often as time allows.
  • 将论文退还给原始所有者。

例如:

Participant 1: I have issues replying to emails.

Response:

参与者2:大声阅读您的电子邮件。

Participant 3: Flag all emails as unread.

Participant 4: Confide in a colleague at the end of the day.

参与者5:学会先确认。

Debrief with the following questions:

  • How many team members had ideas that will solve their problems?
  • How did you feel about having to suggest a solution/advice (challenged, excited, honored).
  • 为什么我们不经常互相寻求帮助?(不相信别人可以帮助,担心信任/机密性)。
  • How do we bring this experience to our job?

The consultant game shows how participants solve problems by sharing ideas.

One-Worded Stories

This activity sparks creativity. You must keep the story flowing. Participants must contribute one word at a time to keep the game going.

Steps for conducting one-word stories:

  • Explain that the group will create a story together one word at a time.
  • The word used must be as interesting as possible, supporting the preceding word.
  • Select one participant to start.

例如

Participant 1: Once

Participant 2: upon

参与者3:a

参与者4:时间

Participant 5: my

参与者6:叔叔

Participant 7: had

Participant 1: a

Participant 2: car

Participant 3: which

  • The story continues until the energy dies out.
  • After the story, try another round until the group gets better. This brain exercise improves idea generation and creativity.
  • Participants can take someone else’s place when they run out of ideas.

Debrief with the following questions:

  • 您如何将小组的集体故事与您的集体故事进行比较(它更具创造力和原创性)?
  • How many came up with unimaginable words? (Innate capability)
  • How does this apply to our jobs?

#5. Problem Solving

Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Virtual Scavenger Huntis one of the most popular games for team building, theme is “Problem Solving. In this theme, we will discuss this game.

This is a game full of fun and excitement. It shows how fast team members can hunt for items. The person or team that comes first wins the game. Creativity and problem-solving skills are required to win.

Steps for conducting a virtual scavenger hunt:

  • Compile a list of items that participants need to scavenge or hunt for. Since we are having it virtual, think of common items where the participants are located. For example, holding a phone charger, hand sanitizer, face mask, a souvenir, shopping bag, or coffee mug. Ensure the challenge or items are fun to get.
  • Connect participants on Zoom or any video-enabled meeting platform. Allow time for everyone to join the call.
  • 将参与者分组分组,并让他们命名他们的团队。可能会有一个突破性会议,参与者决定了名字。将所有人再次带到共同的空间,并用他们的名字介绍团队。
  • Give instructions to the game. This may include activity time and instructions, such as submitting real items, no images, or screenshots. You may assign points to a team instead of an individual. Let’s say we have five participants in a team, and three came up with the items; they could still have a full score to promote team spirit.

The emphasis is not on wins but team engagement.

  • Start the Hunt:Once you’re sure everyone understands the rules and expectations of the game, have the teams return to their breakout room with the countdown timer on their screen. Ten minutes is usually enough for the hunt.
  • 姓名the Winner:计时器达到零之后,每个人都应该重新加入公共房间,组织者在其中显示每个团队的照片。然后,您得分并宣布获胜者。看到不同的照片显示他们的参与总是很有趣的。

虚拟的寻宝游戏是一个充满乐趣的游戏,您可以在其中搜索,快照和发送!

The Do’s of Team Building Activities

  • It is crucial everyone keep an open mind.
  • 每个人都必须愿意参加。
  • Create a warm atmosphere.
  • Select an activity so that all team members will want to compete.

Benefits of Team Building Activities

  • Can help improve communication and morale.
  • Helps staff unwind and relax.
  • Builds friendships with coworkers outside of work.
  • Sometimes it makes the staff feel appreciated.
  • 有助于在同事之间形成不同类型的纽带。
  • It leads to higher job satisfaction.

Summary

团队建设活动应成为组织文化和项目管理的一部分。这些活动有助于发展团队的态度,士气和团队联系。所有这些都会带来更好的工作环境和高效的团队成果。

What team building activities do you use in your organization? Please, share with us through the comments section.

References

  1. Gershman, Jennifer. Drug Topics. Apr2019, Vol. 163 Issue 4, p29-29. 1p. , Database: Business Source Corporate Plus
  2. Brian Miller. Quick Team-Building Activities for Busy Managers?: 50 Exercises That Get Results in Just 15 Minutes. New York: AMACOM, 2004. v. 1st ed, ISBN 9780814472019. Disponível em: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e220xww&AN=100156&site=ehost-live. Acesso em: 14 Jan. 2022.
  3. https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/team-building-new-strategic-weapon-5140