Human Resources, like other areas of business, can be subject to trends. Though many programs offer practical suggestions which can deliver desirable results, the art of team building seems to have gotten lost somewhere along the way. Team Building is not a trend, but a sustainable solution to develop a cohesive unit.
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[contact-form-7]Step One: Determine the “Why.” The answer to this question is your key to addressing team building and leadership development. The “why” should be a shared consensus among each stakeholder to ensure there is the same motivation. If there isn’t a mutual agreement on why your organization is choosing to invest in team building, you are most assuredly setting yourself up for failure. Organizations or individual teams may seek to engage in team building and developmental activities for a variety of different factors to include growth, downsizing, re-organization, and expansion. Maximize your stakeholders’ buy-in and come to a consensus on a team building platform that will achieve its intended results.
Step Two: Determine a measurable and achievable goal. All organizations want to function at optimum levels. If the goal of your team building activity is to resolve an issue, seek out programs which offer solutions, tactics, or provide education. These programs not only create an immediate basis for problem solving, but can serve as a building block for future development.
By that same token, if you are engaging team building techniques to enhance overall team morale, focus on activities that do just that. Look for opportunities that step away from the usual work-related tasks and involve an “other-centered” purpose. Volunteering in activities that build the community outside your organization can help to forge a connection between team members within an organization. Whatever goal you choose, keep it clear and attainable. Avoid combining multiple objectives that can confuse or dilute your goals.
Step Three: Create a continuum. Team building and developmental activities accomplish sustainable results when they allow for expansion and continual engagement. Team building exercises, much like physical exercise, can achieve greater results when it engages more areas. For example, a likely progression from an inter-generational team building exercise may be to create a mentoring program. Finding creative ways to encourage team development is often the result of understanding what works best for your organization. There are a multitude of programs and ideas to choose from to determine whether your team responds best to periodic formal programs or more frequent casual engagements.
The growth and development of your organization is a serious matter. In order for a business to thrive in today’s marketplace, it must function with a cohesive and goal oriented mindset. Whether you are attracting new or retaining top talent, resolving conflict, or building morale; successful organizations recognize the ROI in team development. To find out what program ideas might be right for your organization, reach out to one of our HR advisors and see how we can help you engage team building activities that work.
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