TeamBuilding

mumcoll

Last week we had a team building day. Most of it was ok, asking for people's ideas, things we have done well etc. However..... the afternoon consisted of a 'Sing Off'. Everyone was made to basically learn a song and produce a 3 part harmony in two hours, instructed by 3 'professionals'. It was so David Brent.


I cringe at stuff like that and just stood to one side and refused to take part, then quietly left the room so I didn't infect everyone with my negativity! (As did several others). Today we were taken in the office, one by one and spoken to about why we didn't take part. It felt like being in the headmaster's office.


I had fully taken part in the rest of the day and actually said I'd be happy to take unpaid leave/flexi if 'the company' wanted me to for the bit I didn't take part in.


What do others think?

mustang121

Sounds very American. When I worked at ASDA House Leeds, they had these rubbish things called "huggles" for team boosting exercises...so made me cringe as they were very patronising and cheesy.


I do like team building exercises and think they are a good idea, but they shouldn't be forced upon people, as that kind of defeats the point.


At my current place of work. We have charity challenges (Walks, Hikes, Cycle rides), Family fun day (although not had one in a while), occasional small team events (social meal, go karting, night out, paintballing etc.)

Savvy_Sue

It's brought back dreadful memories of an awayday we had a few years ago. This was going to be my first day back after my dad's funeral, and despite asking to be emailed at home if there was anything I should know I walked into my worst nightmare.

First we were told to sit on the floor, which I haven't done since school days and don't find comfortable. So I was told I could sit on a chair if I liked: me on a chair and all my colleagues on the floor. Then we had to write our response to something on a piece of paper, which I duly did in not very complimentary terms, and THEN we were told to pass the paper to our neighbour. Err, no. I left the room in tears.

I did my best to participate in the rest of the day but the damage was done: I didn't trust the facilitator by that stage, and it all seemed like a dreadful waste of time. We were supposed to be reviewing one part of our work, as I'd understood it, and that wasn't mentioned the whole time.

At the end of the day we were told that the day 'might have brought up issues for us', but not what to do if it had. I went home and let off steam to DH.

I still go off on one when reminded of it.

AcidHouse

mumcoll wrote: »

Last week we had a team building day. Most of it was ok, asking for people's ideas, things we have done well etc. However..... the afternoon consisted of a 'Sing Off'. Everyone was made to basically learn a song and produce a 3 part harmony in two hours, instructed by 3 'professionals'. It was so David Brent.


I cringe at stuff like that and just stood to one side and refused to take part, then quietly left the room so I didn't infect everyone with my negativity! (As did several others). Today we were taken in the office, one by one and spoken to about why we didn't take part. It felt like being in the headmaster's office.


I had fully taken part in the rest of the day and actually said I'd be happy to take unpaid leave/flexi if 'the company' wanted me to for the bit I didn't take part in.


What do others think?

Hi OP. It's a shame you didn't want to take part. I've had to sing at work a couple of times. Nerves, embarrassment etc. There's always someone in the group who's out of key anyway which leads others to be out of key - hilarious results!

However - I love it where I work, and enjoy interacting with colleagues I've never met in the business as well - maybe you don't feel that way about your job, and them asking you to do something not relating to your role that you simply didn't fancy doing, just pushed you over the edge?

Funky_Bold_Ribena

I don't do singing. I wish I could but I don't. And won't. And it's not in my job description so I don't see why it would be forced on me.

I'd pull these team building tutors apart if they did this to me.

swingaloo

This thread brings back horrible memories. About 15 years ago I had to go on a 2 day team building course.

It was held in a hotel literally 1 mile from where I lived and to start with I got hell from my ex husband who was always a possessive, jealous type because it was compulsory to stay overnight. He accused me of allsorts as he wouldn't believe I was expected to stay. A lot of colleagues lived several miles away but for me it would have been much more convenient to go home.

Day one we all had to do a 3 minute talk about a subject given to us about 5 minutes before we started. I was given 'Restaurants'. I managed about 30 seconds then completely dried. Then we were taken outside where we had to split into teams of 6 and armed with a couple of planks/string/sheets etc we had to make a tent and then get from one side of the garden to the other with only 2 people being able to touch the ground. Obviously this involved a lot of carrying and lifting which resulted in one 'large' lady bursting into tears and one of the more lecherous men being given the chance to manhandle the women more than usual.

Then in the evening the company had hired entertainment which consisted of a blue comedian and a terrible jazz singer.

All in all it was a nightmare and certainly did nothing to improve moral amongst the workforce.

stix62

I've only ever been on one team building day and it was all about solving various problems together - using items supplied to achieve the desired outcome. It was good fun.

If they'd asked us to sing I would have been the first out the door.

googler

Hate them.

For years I played along as best I could, but I reached breaking point when on one exercise I was presented with some lightweight bamboo canes, string, and a few other items, and was asked to 'make a catapult'. More unsuitable materials could hardly be found.

At that point I downed tools and decided enough was enough.

Jinx

Another who hates them! One of the few upsides to a recession - companies cut costs and stoooopid days like this are the first casualty!

arbroath_lass

Any problems within a team will not be solved by having everyone sing together or build catapults. I find the concept of "team-building days" bizarre.


(I hate them too).

globetraveller

and then you get the stupid statements like- there is no i in team.... The only team building worth going to are ones where the company does the building abroad on a paid jolly!