When we hear the term ‘team building’, instantly we are drawn to the word ‘team’ and then what can be done to help this ‘team’ improve or grow.
To me, team building is about understanding, appreciating, developing and maximising the people in your team, and also the team as a unified group.
If this happens, then more often than not, you will have a productive, efficient, motivated and happy team.
Whether for sporting clubs or businesses, team building is important and will contribute to the overall high performance of the team.
As we start off a new year, here is what I see are 12 key benefits that any business, organisation or club will attain by undertaking a team building programme.
1. Team work
Team building events create the time to focus on the importance of team work and what is needed to make you a better team. Learning how to work together effectively will create efficiency and knowledge on how to manager each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
2. Communication
Good communication is vital for a high performing team. Team building can help break down barriers in communication and also how to better utilise both verbal and non-verbal forms of communication.
3. Leadership
All teams need leadership from one or all members in a team. Structured team building activities will identify leadership qualities in individuals and highlight areas where all staff can contribute as leaders.
4. Fun
This benefit is often overlooked but I believe is one of the most important to have in any workplace. Team building events will reinforce the value of having fun in the workplace and what significant results can actually be achieved when fun is involved.
5. Bonding
Bonding is important as it can create that sense of looking out for each other and helps to build trust amongst your team. Team building provides the opportunity to learn about each other and grow respect for each other in a non-threatening and fun environment.
6. Confidence
Confidence applies to every single task that someone undertakes and, having it, will produce significant gains in results. Participating in team building exercises in a comfortable, non-threatening situation will help to develop confidence in yourself and others.
7. Responsibility
Every member of a team has a role to contribute. Being responsible for a role will either ensure it is fulfilled or learnings are taken from it to apply for future. Team building will reinforce how taking responsibility and providing responsibility are both vital contributors to team performance.
8. Trust
Through the tasks and exercises in a team building programme, participants will learn more about each other. They will learn strengths, weaknesses, capabilities and fears, with these learnings contributing to a deeper relationship and trust amongst team members.
9. Morale
A positive and enthusiastic team will create good morale in the workplace. Team building programmes can often identify barriers to positive morale and highlight strategies to create more fun and positivity in day-to-day work.
10. Respect
Participants can gain greater respect for not only each other but also for the company and its direction through a team building programme. Often this comes down to communication and knowledge, and when delivered in a fun and relaxed environment, greater respect will be a result.
11. Culture
Team building days can help to reinforce the values and vision of a company and can contribute to the overall organisational culture. Sometimes team building programmes reinforce a culture and other times they may actually evolve a culture.
12. Results
Team building programnmes can be structured to focus specifically on results. For example, using a team building exercise to develop a new marketing strategy for the company. Generally speaking, if other benefits are achieved through team building, like better communication, this will ultimately lead to stronger results.
As you see, the benefits of team building are both far reaching but also intertwined with each other.
No matter how you look at it, team building is vital to incorporate into any business or organisation. It could actually prove a difference!
Dwain Richardson, Managing Director, Corporate Challenge Events.
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