Teambuilding

What is team building? According to Kinicki and Kreitner team building is a catch-all term for a host of techniques aimed at improving the internal functioning of work groups. And according to Cummings and Worley team building refers to a broad range of planned activities that help groups improve the way they accomplish tasks and help members enhance their interpersonal and problem solving skills (Cummings & Worley, 2005).

First we must identify the problem, to figure that out we must collect relevant data concerning the issue. Is there conflict between team members or between team members and the leader? Is the team morale low or is there low team cohesiveness? Is there confusion or disagreements about roles within the team? Is there a continuous turnover? Are there disagreements over the team’s purpose and tasks? Is there a negative climate within the team, evidenced by criticism and bickering? Is there stagnation within the team, with members resisting change and new ideas? If the answer to any of these questions is yes then you are in need of a team building activity. Having different opinions is one of the essential benefits of teamwork. Team members have strong feelings and emotions. A team cannot achieve its full potential if all that is allowed is logic or information. This activity will take place outside the work place. I think that when you remove someone from their normal environment will help them open up and relax and not focus on the normal routine but to look at new ideas. A new comfortable environment will often produce new ideas.

The first thing I would do to start the team building activity would be a ice breaker. I would pass out bingo cards and on these cards would be phrases like dog lover, choir member, movie buff, youngest child. Each participant would go around the room to find out who fits into each category and ask him/her to sign their name in the appropriate box. Each participant will only be able to sign their name in...