Team building - what worked for you...

Tiddlywinks

I'm thinking about developing an in-house event for my team and over the years have been to some good, bad and ugly events so thought I'd come on here for opinions.

As we have almost zero budget we need to deliver this on our own premises and with no money for props... all we can have is money for a buffet lunch.

The team has a mix of ages, one of us has very limited mobility (so anything that involves moving around is out), and some are old hands whereas some have only joined in the last 3 months. There are 18 in the team and include staff that normally work from a remote location so only get together fully as a group around once a month.

So, I'm after ideas that have worked for you (or haven't) - I have loads of 'ice-breakers' but am scratching my head a bit about some 'team building' exercises that don't involve much physical activity.

Any ideas welcome.

Tigsteroonie

Our recent team-building day turned into something rather more competitive than was originally envisaged! But we all had fun. We did some group games (4 teams competing) - two truths & a lie; group discussion about who was the most influential person to have ever lived; drawing a picture from a description. On the more physical side, we also did a treasure hunt and played jenga.

I do have to say that playing darts and participating in the quiz, in the bar the evening before, was probably more team-building than anything on the actual day!!

AP007

At Xmas we used to have a buffett lunch thing where we all bought an item or two in which was good to all get together for 30-60 mins and have a laugh and a chat with people that you may not talk to on a daily basis as much as your direct team.

We have also had quizzes where the winning team got a bottle of fizz or something. That was ok.

KiKi

It depends on what you want to achieve, and I'd scope that out first before leaping into a solution or 'fun' idea!

Do you want the team to work more effectively together? Do you want to use the time to solve a work problem as well? Do you want the team to share learning with each other? Do you want them to listen more to each other, or to buy in to the team vision? Something else?

What you want to achieve with them will make a big difference as to what you do - and some may see it as a pointless exercise without a clear understanding of why you're having time out as a team.

I've run team days where we've used the time to get to know each other, then work on building a team vision / objectives. I've run others where it's about learning more about how other people work, so we've done MBTI or dark side profiles. I've run ones where the team have then taken action learning sets back to work.

You need to have an objective otherwise the day is wasted if they don't apply the 'team building' back at work. Unless, of course, you just want them to have fun and get to know each other better - in which case just have lunch or go for a social!

Tiddlywinks

The team has changed in terms of dynamics / personnel and is also facing a change to working content and methods.

There are some tensions as people change roles and may not be doing stuff that they wanted to do. Plus the remotely located staff feel less included in the team than those that work at the centre.

So, I need to 'bond' the changing team members along with delivering a session on new roles / goals.

I'm thinking a hybrid of 'getting to know you' and getting to know what's expected of the team.

Thanks

dandelionclock30

Most people I know detest Team days especially all those stupid icebreakers and daft games etc with a passion. People tend to just go through the motions until home time.

Instead of doing a buffett lunch which is dreary, why dont you split the teams into two and get each team to make a nice cooked lunch for the other team. Get a good mixture in the groups with people who dont usually get on or talk etc. Get some cook books from home and off they go. This will create more interest than the usual "reveal something people dont know" rubbish.
At keast this will get them working together.

In the afternoon, just get everybodyto discuss what needs to be sorted out.They should be feeling positive at this point instead of watching the clock and wanting to get off home.

Team games do not bond people its just rubbish.

AP007

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

Most people I know detest Team days especially all those stupid icebreakers and daft games etc with a passion. People tend to just go through the motions until home time.

Instead of doing a buffett lunch which is dreary, why dont you split the teams into two and get each team to make a nice cooked lunch for the other team. Get a good mixture in the groups with people who dont usually get on or talk etc. Get some cook books from home and off they go. This will create more interest than the usual "reveal something people dont know" rubbish.
At keast this will get them working together.

In the afternoon, just everybody talk through what needs to be sorted out.They should be feeling positive at this point instead of watching the clock and wanting to get off home.

Buffets aren't that dreay as people can cook stuff and bring in too. We used to have three people who would cook Indian food and some Polish stuff too which made a change.

Teams of people cooking - using what kitchens?

dandelionclock30

There could be a works kitchen?

AP007

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

There could be a works kitchen?

LOL I wonder what companies have a kitchen with a cooker and the like.

dandelionclock30

I've worked places where they have a cooker and a fridge etc so it is possible. You could be working in a restaurant, or in a cafe etc or a community centre, school. They would all have these culinary basics!

AP007

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

I've worked places where they have a cooker and a fridge etc so it is possible. You could be working in a restaurant, or in a cafe etc or a community centre, school. They would all have these culinary basics!

and if you are working in a restaurant or a cafe where are you going to get the them as I am sure the customer comes before the staff so using the companies gas/ele and equipment would be a bit much.