Team building are commonly seen as merely fun and games.
However, behind the activities lies a vast amount of team learning opportunities – if facilitated well.
In order to do this, the trainer and facilitators have to be professionally well grounded, in order to:
+ plan, organise and execute the learning processes
+ optimally implement focused topics and competence goals in an andragogic way
Although it seems obvious that the overall purpose of team building program is to improve teamwork, it is critical to have specific focuses and learning objectives for each activity throughout the session. By clearly defining the goal of each activity, you will be able to improve the team’s effectiveness and cohesiveness in each area of a team’s competency.
Ask yourself what is it that you want to achieve in each game. Do you want the participants to memorize each other’s name? Do you want them to think as a team? Do you want them to understand communication styles and preferences? You will not only create excitement as each debriefing is different, but also get to build a strong reputation for yourself as a knowledgeable team building facilitator – the catalyst of team engagement.
Will the group have a lot of senior people? Do they know each other well? Are they young and new to the team? What is their demographic? Do they have any physical disabilities?
Select activities that fits the team – physically, mentally, emotionally. Make the activities as inclusive as possible. Remember, in a team building session, the team members needs to engage with each other more than anything else. Make everyone feel like they can contribute to their team.
Props can be a double edged sword. As much as you need to make sure you have all the necessary equipment, you cannot over do it by depending too much on the props. Yet, you don’t want to look like you are under prepared and or not giving the value worth.
It goes without saying, props here includes both indoor and outdoor equipment. Make sure everything works properly and are in good condition. Having props based on team colours also shows that you think thorough the small stuff and makes the session visually exciting.
Whatever you plan to do in your team building session, ask your self, “Where will you be conducting the activities?”
Do you need a field? When will each activity take place? What if it rains? Is it safe? Is it allowed? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself before you run the session.
