Team building can be an event that lasts all day, or be broken down into a series of exercises conducted over a few weeks. They are generally informal events that are held during normal working hours with emphasis placed on having fun. The participants are put into groups that are different from the usual working structure. This is to encourage bonding between colleagues that don't usually work together in the same department.
Organising teams in this way is also conducive to recognising strengths that may not be apparent at work. The team building event organiser is specially trained to spot such strengths and to encourage any individuals to build on them in a productive manner. The types of events that are held are designed to help encourage individuals to recognise them for themselves and put them into practice in a relaxed environment.
The types of team building days available vary considerably, but they are usually based around organising a team to accomplish a task through communication with an element of competition involved between groups to help motivation. Putting on a catwalk show, making a short film, or taking on a catering challenge are all examples of popular team building events.
There are others that are based more on having fun, and these serve a slightly different purpose. Rather than focussing on skills that can be directly applied to the working environment, these days are more about getting on with colleagues in a social environment. Activity days such as paintballing or driving days are such examples as are quiz show themed office events.
Whether a team building day is for training and development, or for encouraging colleagues to spend some time together to get to know one another, they have been proven to be a successful investment. Not only does it encourage individuals to think outside the box, it also forms a cohesive working group who want to work for a common cause; an essential component of a successful business strategy.
Dom Donaldson is a personal development expert. Find out more about Team Building and the packages on offer today from Accolade Corporate Events.
Tags: business, personal development, communication, team building, team building days