In order to build a successful team, it is important that members be able to trust and rely on one another. Trust is essential for any relationship, whether it be personal or professional. When team members are able to trust one another, they are more likely to put forth their best effort and be productive.
In order to foster trust within a team, it is important that team members participate in activities together outside of work. These activities can help strengthen relationships and encourage communication. There are many different types of activities that can be done as a team, but some of the most popular and beneficial ones can be found below.
1. Board games/card games
Board and card games provide a more relaxed and less demanding approach to team building than exercises or outings. Some of these can even be played during lunchtime in order to get members interacting while still allowing them the chance to eat their food!
If you do not want to encourage eating at these types of events, then perhaps playing games before lunch would be more appropriate. Depending on how serious you want this activity to be, you can choose games that are more or less challenging.
2. Team outings
Another great team-building activity to strengthen relationships and foster trust amongst members is a team outing. Team outings need to be both physically and mentally stimulating in order to ensure that team members get the most out of them.
This can be anything from going on a hike, playing paintball, or even trying something new together like trapezing or rock climbing. By taking part in activities outside work, members will establish an informal relationship that allows them to communicate more effectively with one another. Furthermore, by participating in these types of activities together, team members are able to bond while having fun!
3. Group lunches/dinners
Team lunches allow colleagues who hardly interact during work hours to participate in some quality conversation. Sitting down at the same table for lunch fosters an informal, yet comfortable atmosphere that can lead to more open communication between members. Eating food together has also been proven to increase collaboration and productivity.
These types of get-togethers should be planned regularly so employees know when they will occur. By doing so, it ensures that team members are able to participate in these activities without straining their work schedule too much. This is important because people who attend these events outside of work may begin viewing themselves as a ‘team,’ rather than just co-workers.
4. Team exercises
Team building doesn’t always have to be fun and games! Sometimes it can simply involve engaging in challenging exercises together. Working towards achieving the same goal will help members establish an informal, yet competitive atmosphere. These types of exercises should be planned in advance so everyone knows what they are getting themselves into.
Furthermore, it is important that these activities do not take too long to complete because employees may become frustrated or tired if the team-building session lasts longer than expected.
5. Cross-departmental projects
If your company has more than one department, try planning cross-departmental projects with other sectors within your company. This type of team-building activity requires members to communicate and work together towards a common goal that may even benefit both parties!
When trying to decide on projects, look for ones that are relatively simple but still provide value to the overall business. Having multiple parties involved in the planning process will ensure that everyone is properly informed of their role in the project. This not only enhances communication but also collaboration and productivity throughout your company.
6. Company events
Company events can be a great opportunity for members to get to know one another outside of work. It’s important for employees to see each other as people and not just their co-workers, and company events help facilitate this type of interaction. The event should be something that your team would like to do together, whether it’s going bowling or attending a local concert. These types of activities allow participants the chance to bond with one another within an informal environment.
Additionally, you can host fun events and parties for special occasions or celebrate milestones in your company! If you’ve never done this before, perhaps a better option would be to check out how professionals such as Veritas Events can help.
In any case, just make sure that there is a good balance of professional and casual activities. For instance, if you are hosting an event for employees’ birthdays, consider having a cake with the birthday person’s name on it followed by a quick presentation about work-related accomplishments throughout the year.
7. Guided visualization
This type of team-building activity is meant to increase creativity through relaxation. You can ask participants to lie down with their eyes closed and imagine themselves in a relaxing environment (such as the beach). To make this activity challenge employees’ imaginations, you can challenge them to come up with an original story together.
For example, if they are all on the same team in the story they create, then everyone should work together towards achieving one main goal! If each member is from a different department, then each person’s role may be comprised of multiple smaller tasks that need to be completed for the whole project to succeed.
Once they have finished coming up with this story, they should share it with the rest of the group. From this point on, members can refer back to their stories when they feel stuck or overwhelmed by problems that arise outside of work. This activity will guide them through some useful visualization techniques that they may apply to real-life situations.
Conclusion
There are many more activities that have the potential to promote team building within a company. The ones mentioned above are just some of the most popular and proven options. Try to come up with some activities of your own! If you can find something that makes coming into work an exciting experience, then it’s worth it.
Add Comment