Team building for joint project success
Team building is a key element of team development and is playing an increasingly important role in the business world. A team that works well together is always more productive and successful, and working together is more enjoyable when you like the people you work with. That's why team building is a great way to motivate your team members properly, to bring them together outside of work to get to know each other better, to have a better understanding of their place in the team and their role in the group dynamics. In this article we look at the benefits of team building and how to forge a truly cohesive team.
What is team building?
Team building is used by many organisations to encourage staff to communicate and collaborate more effectively.
Team building programmes are an important building block in team development processes. They provide a great opportunity for employees to get to know each other better and to develop stronger bonds between them, which will allow for more fruitful work together within an organisation or project.
Building a strong team goes beyond hiring experienced people with good personalities. Individuals need to be formed into a cohesive, productive team for mutual success, which requires continuous work.
Key benefits of team building
Now let's look in more detail at why team building is worth paying attention to.
1. Building relationships
Team-building is one of the best ways to strengthen relationships and work more effectively, whether it's virtual, hybrid or face-to-face. Team members can get to know each other better. Tasks and shared experiences foster a sense of belonging and make it easier to work together. This promotes engagement and reduces turnover.
2. Teamwork and improving team performance
Team building activities are a great way to get to know the strengths and weaknesses of team members. This is important because it helps to understand each other better and shapes the group dynamics, which can be vital to achieving the results of a project.
Everyone contributes to team unity in a different way, so it is important that everyone contributes according to their own resources and strengths to achieve the best results.
3. Building trust
Trust is the key to an effective team. If we don't trust each other, teamwork cannot work well. In team building, different tasks and situations provide opportunities to build a network of trust.
Confidence gives a sense of security, which boosts proactivity and creativity. It helps to listen to others, to seek consensus and to be more courageous in facing up to weaknesses, which can be a way forward in teamwork.
4. More effective communication
With a well-knit team, communication is much smoother, and everyone is more willing to share ideas or give their opinions on issues. This makes it easier to solve problems, work together and support each other to succeed.
5. Brings the whole team together
Today, it is very common for some teams to work in the office while others work in a home office, so there is less face-to-face interaction. Team building is a great way to unite the team and spend quality time together and get to know each other better through shared experiences not only in the online space, but also through fun activities.
6. Promoting diversity
It is becoming increasingly common for organisations and projects to have a number of professionals working abroad, from different backgrounds and cultures, speaking different languages. Team-building helps to create an inclusive environment where diversity and different experiences have a positive impact on everyday work and open up new opportunities for communication and problem-solving.
Tips and advice: what to look out for when organising team-building activities
Before starting to organise a team building programme, it is always worth considering the following:
- What is the purpose of the event? What outcome do we want to achieve?
- Are there specific problems that we are looking for solutions to?
- How long are we planning the event for? A few hours or several days?
- How much budget do we have?
- Outdoor, indoor or online?
- Are we staying in town or going out of town?
- Who will be invited?
In addition to the basic questions, the following aspects may also be relevant.
Keep the team builder during working hours!
There is a growing need for work-life balance. Team members are more sympathetic to the idea of timing the event so that it does not interfere with family and rest. If you are thinking about a multi-day event, this should of course be overridden, but if you are only holding a few hours, it is best to schedule it on a working day, which will certainly increase participation.
Focus on the critical areas!
Setting goals is important because the team-building event should be organised around them. This could be specific problems within the team, such as improving communication, delegating tasks or time management. But you can also plan an event with a focus on celebrating successes or helping new team members to settle in.
Involve the team in the organisation!
Make sure that the team feels that their ideas and feedback are important, so be sure to ask for their opinion. This can be done in a regular meeting, by email or through a poll or questionnaire. If they feel involved in the whole process, they will be more willing to participate and we can expect better results from the event.
Let's clarify the objectives!
Whatever type of programme you choose, always be aware of its specific purpose. This will create a positive attitude and allow them to understand the usefulness of the activity.
Always find the balance between fun and productive work! Spend roughly 60-75% of your time on achieving your goals, and the rest of the time letting off steam.
We encourage cooperation, not competition!
An effective team builder strengthens cooperation and avoids internal competition. When designing the tasks and programme, keep in mind that they should be based as much as possible on mutual support. Building good relationships between team members promotes a productive work culture and helps each other to achieve a common goal.
Let's volunteer!
Many are keen to get involved in activities that benefit society. Team building can therefore be linked to the promotion of volunteering. This could be visiting local animal shelters or old people's homes, or supporting sick children at team level.
Types of team building
Today, there are countless team-building programmes, whether physical - indoor or outdoor - or virtual, small or large group.
If we want to categorise team builders, the following are the most common types:
- Communication team building (e.g. human knot)
- Personality development team building (e.g. personality tests, family building)
- Physical team building (e.g. quad biking, rafting, cycling)
- Problem-solving team building (e.g. escape room)
- Creative team building (e.g. building a tower out of marshmallows)
- Collaborative training (e.g. film-making, scavenger hunt)
- Mental team building (e.g. poker, board games)
- Charity team building (e.g. food distribution, reading stories to sick children)
- Relaxation programmes (e.g. wellness weekend, wine tasting)
Let's not forget to evaluate team building
Team building is a team development process, so it is essential to evaluate the results.
Feedback from participants is crucial, and it is advisable to ask for their views in the form of an anonymous questionnaire.
What are the key issues?
- Have participants acquired new knowledge that they can apply in practice in their work?
- What changes have you seen in teamwork since then?
- Has the team's performance improved after the team builder?
- Where else do we need to change?
The experience can help us to improve processes for even more effective teamwork.
In summary
In project management, teamwork, good communication and cooperation are of great importance. The more committed the people involved, the more successful the project, so team building is key. If you want to be effective in team building, you will increase productivity and learn effective project management techniques, choose from our professional training courses!
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