Purpose and Importance of Team Building Activities at Work
Team building is a systematic process which aims to improve work relationships and team functioning, such as problem solving, decision making and conflict resolution which enable the group members to overcome any barrier. Team building activities are problem solving tasks which are designed to help group members develop their capacity to work effectively together. Many such tasks are like theme games, while others are complex tasks which are designed for specific needs.
Understanding Team Building
More elaborate tasks can involve offsites which lasts for two to three days. Team building activities bring together individual personalities, which alone can do a lot, but together they can achieve much more. These activities can increase staff productivity by increasing employee motivation, improve their decision-making ability and improve interaction at the workplace.
The process of designing team building activities needs enough planning and accurate implementation so that each member of the team feels involved and as part of the team. Strengthscape combines fun with learning in its team building activities, brings the best out of each team and drive specific learning outcomes for them so that they can work together effectively.
Purpose and Importance of Team Building Activities at Work
Team building events are a must at every workplace be it big or small, to make business more productive. Since employees are the heart of every company, investing in team building activities enhances their roles and connections. Team building activities are designed to:
- Promote awareness of the team spirit and to strengthen commitment of the team’s shared objectives
- Develop strong social relationships
- Improve workplace assignments that involve teamwork and collaboration
Such activities allow team members to see each other in a new light, building inclusivity, trust, accountability, and commitment. They also foster a sense of collective achievement and motivate employees to generate creative solutions.
Categories of Team Building Activities
Team building activities can be divided into two categories – indoor and outdoor activities – both driving similar outcomes. These activities can be both onsite or offsite. Below mentioned are a few ideas for team building activities that can be conducted:
Code of conduct
This is a simple but meaningful activity that is perfect for the start of an event or workshop. For making any team building activity a success, the team has to have a few common values and beliefs about what makes a successful team activity. This group activity helps as an ice-breaker and establishes values that can help to make the rest of the activities run more smoothly.
Campfire stories
This activity is inspired by story-telling and improves team bonding. The group gathers together and share their workplace experiences. In some situations, participants are also asked to share inspiring stories from their personal lives. They learn things about each other and recollect old memories. A story telling session focused on work related stories act as an informal training session which can get a large group to loosen up and share their experiences.
Memory wall
This is a physical activity that relives the team’s shared memories. The team members sketch their memories with each other and place them on a wall. This “memory wall” creates a friendly environment and prolong the positive relationship between the team members.
Low – tech social network
This social network works best when the group members are not acquainted to each other. Teams create “avatars” and draw lines to show how they know others in the group. This will help in building relationships between the participants for the rest of the event.
Spectrum mapping
This involves mapping the diversity of viewpoints on a particular topic and organizing them into a spectrum. This can lead to new and innovative ideas and also show the diversity of opinions within a group. This activity also encourages team members with alternative views who otherwise won’t speak up, to participate in the activity.
Back of the napkin
This requires drawing of a solution to a problem at the back of a napkin. The team will now have to work together and solve the problems.
Magazine story
In this activity, each team has to build up an imaginary magazine cover story about a successful business achievement. This activity can be a powerful motivation tool as it helps the team members visualize their future success.
Benefits of Team Building Activities
Team building activities provide realistic experiences that enable individuals to contribute to common goals. The benefits of these activities are so significant that many workplaces have incorporated them into their training curriculum. Team building activities are designed to motivate team members to combine their talents and give their best performance individually and as team members.
Encouraging Individual Development and Team Cohesion
These activities not only encourage individual development, but also bring all team members together for a common goal. Over the past few years, we have seen businesses moving away from competitive work environments to workplaces where cooperation between employees is seen as the key to success. Due to this change, more and more companies are undertaking regular team building activities.
Purpose and Benefits of Team Building Activities
While some people look at these activities as a break from work, they do have a serious purpose to develop the skills and knowledge of the staff. A well-organized team building activity that has a purpose and objective, can reap a range of benefits.
Reducing Stress and Enhancing Collaboration
Encouraging the employees to learn to work together can reduce stress and work load. When a group of employees complete a team building activity, it makes them feel good about themselves and increases their confidence. These activities lead to greater collaboration between employees. It means knowing who has what knowledge, trusting their experiences and being able to get access to that person whenever needed.
The Vital Role of Team Building in Business Organizations
Team building activities are a vital part of any business organization. A company that invests time and money in team building events and activities builds relationships that lead to a more open and collaborative culture. Efficient team working can transform any workplace.
Purposeful Activities for Productivity and Morale
Purposeful team building activities help create channels of communication, improve productivity, help keep morale high and provide individuals with a sense of purpose. Teamwork, when successfully completed, has turned out to be a way of improving competitiveness and at the same time increasing the quality of working life for employees.
Conclusion
Today, team building activities are one of the most widely used group – development activities in organizations as they are intended to improve performance in a team-based environment. We, at Strengthscape have designed all the team building programs and activities with the only purpose of improving work relationships in an enjoyable, informal manner. It helps to remove the sense of ranking and makes everyone feel equal leading to a better understanding about others.
