In general, ‘team building’ refers to the selection and motivation of teams. In a narrower sense, it means group self-assessment in the theory and practice of organisational development. Team building activities as a way of learning and practising skills of teamwork have become extremely popular. During the recent years, there appeared a number internet sites giving advice on team building and companies offering team building services for various organisations.
Team building exercises and activities help teams find out their strengths and weaknesses. They encourage communication and search for the ways to improve the current state.
Many team building tasks remind kid games; others are more complex and may require physical fitness.
Team building events can take place indoors as well as outdoors. They can be arranged right in the workplace or even abroad. It depends on the situation.
Team building activities are often incorporated in meetings, workshops, presentations, training seminars, education programs and corporate training. They are also used with school groups, sport teams, and in therapeutic setting. In fact, team building exercises can be used for various settings and audiences.
The duration of team building events may differ. They can take an hour or less and an entire weekend. The latter are pre-planned event packages usually organised by professional team building day personnel.
Team building activities are often facilitated by specialists, or instructors, who provide slight ‘boosts’ to help participants through a series of experiences combined to create a desired effect. When supervised by an excellent facilitator, even a simple game can become a significant experience for the participants.
The best team is usually awarded prizes which could include whatever the employer (if it is corporate team building) thinks of: special certificates, bottles of champagne, etc.
Team building specialists approach team building as a process of conscious learning. Team building activities are often followed by participants’ reflection and discussion about the experience, what was wrong and what has to be improved. For example, a group can be videoed during an activity and the video watched, analysed, and discussed.
On the other hand, learning takes place on the subconscious level of the human mind as well, so even without expert assistance, any team activity requiring collaboration skills challenges and at the same time teaches ways of working together, understanding, getting to know, trusting and supporting one another. Paintball, regatta, go-karting, clay pigeon shooting – these are only some of the possible choices for a team building day.
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found some useful information re Teambuilding that I was able to incorporate into a course I am teaching in Abu Dhabi, UAE. many thanks .......