What is Team Building?
WHAT IS TEAM BUILDING???
Team building is a process that develops cooperation and teamwork within a work unit. To constitute an effective team, its members must share a common goal, have respect for each other, and be motivated to use the strengths of each member to achieve their objectives. Current corporate philosophy stresses that each member of a team plays an integral part in the success of the company.
With understaffing, burnout, outsourcing, and other morale-defeating activities on the rise, many corporations realize they must nurture communication within the organization. In addition, many businesses form teams, or committees, for varying purposes; therefore individuals can be members of several teams. For an effective team, time should be established for getting acquainted and the exchange of ideas. From the employee’s point of view, being part of a team usually provides a sense of loyalty and ownership.
REASON OF TEAM BUILDING
Reasons for Team Building include
- Improving communication
- Making the workplace more enjoyable
- Motivating a team
- Getting to know each other
- Getting everyone “onto the same page”, including goal setting
- Teaching the team self-regulation strategies
- Helping participants to learn more about themselves (strengths and weaknesses)
- Identifying and utilizing the strengths of team members
- Improving team productivity
- Practicing effective collaboration with team members
Twelve Characteristics of Effective Team
- Listening
- Civilized Disagreement
- Consensus Decisions
- Open Communication
- Clear Roles and Work Assignment
- Shared Leadership
- External Relationships
- Style Diversity
- Self-Assessment
- Clear Purpose
- Informality
- Participation
The Six Thinking Hats
- White: virgin white, pure facts, figures, and information
- Red Hat: seeing red, emotions and feelings, also hunch and intuition
- Black Hat: devil’s advocate, negative judgment, asks why it will not work.
- Yellow Hat: sunshine, brightness and optimism, positive, constructive, opportunity.
- Green Hat: fertile, creative, plants spring from seeds, movement, provocation
- Blue Hat: cool and in control, orchestra conductor, thinking about thinking.
