"The emphasis does not always need to be on fun, however, I believe people learn best when they are having a good time, so, fun is important to combine in any team building experience," says Darrell Rush, president of Direct Effect Team Building Inc. in Mesa, Arizona.
CMD/HMC offers workshops for team building with a more serious tone on topics like welcoming new executive leadership into the fold or conflict resolution skills to manage "Serious conflict or distrust issues between the executive and the team or amongst the team, impacting performance," explains CMD's vice president James Stern.
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How to Create Team Building Exercises: Something For Every Budget
Experts agree that all team building activities do not have to be rooted in fun, but fun is one of the most popular forms of team building. On the other end of the cost spectrum, adventure-based or experiential team building sessions can leave a dent in the budget, but aim to reinforce the same ideals and attributes like relationship building, team work and trust; and to help employees identify strengths and weaknesses that are found in strategies carried out in an office. The appeal of experiential team building exercises is they are carried a neutral environment and they are, well, fun.
Company Quad, currently in beta testing, will eventually roll with a free, limited play version. The premium version will likely run about $2 per seat per month and administrators will be able to control access to the length of play.
Minimum pricing for adventure based or experiential team building sessions led by Tilley's AAI, for example, is $3,400 for a group of 15 for a half day. AAI offers GeoTrek relationship building exercises, celebrating success with a pursuit adventure up to and including team performance challenges to practice team skills and a Myers Briggs personality type indicator team development challenge.
Direct Effect Team Building Inc sessions, for example, range from about $50 -$175 per person for an activity which can vary from the experiential to the more low-key (but just as important) workshop on effective listening skills where, according to Rush, participants learn to "Overcome ineffective listening habits while learning to identify body language and listening styles of those to whom you are speaking."
Alternative low cost team building activities include a company-wide volunteer day or even an office book club. A study conducted by the Points of Light Foundation found that corporate volunteer programs advance strategic business goals and, according to executives interviewed in the study, significantly increase a company's overall competitiveness.
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How to Create Team Building Exercises: Sample Team Building Exercises
If you still aren't sure of how to get started, here are a few examples of team building exercises.
Icebreakers: Two Truths and a Lie
Everyone comes up with two truths about themselves and one lie. The others have to guess what the lie is. This is a great icebreaker or get to know you game.
Adventure Associates: Pursuit Team Building Adventure
Imagine being able to tap into the abilities and talents of every team member while practicing and applying team process skills. Teams of approximately 12 are given backpacks with supplies, and strategize how to acquire the greatest number of points for completing a series of challenges. Skills learned include illuminating problem-solving, innovation, shared leadership, communication skills, team planning and time management. Pursuit is a timed event, but it's not a race—AAI keeps the competition "friendly."
Team Engineering: CREATE-A-CAR
In the spirit of Soap Box Derby, Monsters Garage, and Trick My Ride, business teams will build a custom-racing machine. Race teams will choose parts from a variety of raw materials including cardboard, PVC pipe and, of course, lots of duct tape. After teams secure materials they must design a one-person machine on paper, choose a driver, and figure out maximum propulsion techniques.
Successful car building requires total teamwork including problem solving, creativity, focused leadership, thoughtful decision making and clear assignment of team member roles and responsibilities. As the car takes shape teams are ready to test drive, detail, and make final mechanical adjustments before the big race.
The climax of this Indy style event is when teams present their "tricked out" cars at the starting line. Drivers then race through a series of qualifying heats. Each win gets them closer to the checkered flag that will determine which race teams will be crowned champions.
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How to Create Team Building Exercises: How to Measure Effectiveness
Now that you've completed a team building exercise, how do you know if they've worked? Parker suggests the following barometers:
• Has the problem or situation that caused you to initiate a team building process gone away? For example, Parkers says if there was a lack of commitment to the goals of the team/company, do team members now regularly report on their progress relative to the goals?
• During the data collection prior to the team building, ask everyone to complete a team assessment survey. "Sometime after the team building (e.g., 2-3 months), re-administer the same survey and compare results. Does the assessment data show an improvement in team effectiveness?" asks Parker.
• Look at your business measures. Is there an increase in revenue, a decrease in costs, an improvement in customer satisfaction scores (or a decrease in customer complaints) or some other data points that are important measurements of your success?
• Look at the improvement plan developed by the team during the team building meeting. See if the changes have been implemented and what has been their impact. If team members also committed to change the way they function on the team, ask them to report on the extent to which they implemented those changes and how it is working out, says Parker.
Team building exercises are a way to reward your employees for their hard work and reinforce your commitment to them through experiential getaways. These exercises can also be beneficial in helping your employees identify their strengths and weaknesses and areas in need of improvement by simply sitting around the conference table having constructive and meaningful dialogue.
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