Team Building 101
According to www.teambonding.com, here are a few ways one can ‘spice up their leadership strategies at work.’
1. CREATE MOTIVATION
Leaders not only need to feel motivated, but need to be prepared to motivate others. Nothing drives motivation in the work place better than your team having a clear understanding of their mission or vision. Being challenged, and the overall feeling of being a part of a successful and trusted team that comes with completing a challenge, increases motivation even further. Leaders who facilitate team building encourage all of this, plus give all those involved a chance to feel appreciated for their individual talents. What could be more empowering?
2. BUILD BETTER COMMUNICATION
One of the most important things a leader can do is foster communication between members of their team. Whether it’s in the form of mediating a dispute, or making sure everyone’s voice is being heard, it’s important for a leader to make sure lines of communication are clear. Team building activities and games encourage discussion, friendly debates and opens the floor for ideas and contributions from the team to spill out. Everyone involved feels comfortable to speak out during these friendly activities, and there are so many to chose from!
3. BUILD BETTER PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS
Leaders often end up in the role of problem-solver. While this is an important skill for a leader to have, it’s also important to recognize and strength problem solving skills within your team. Team building allows the teams to search for possible solutions to a problem, make decisions, experiment with different course of actions and give each other helpful feedback. They quickly learn that to be successful as a team they must work together. These skills are easily transferable to any situation they find themselves in next!
4. OPEN UP SOCIAL GATES
Strong leaders will recognize the roles that social bonds play in the effectiveness of a team. Simply put: people who like each other will work better together. Barriers are broken down and new trust walls are built. When you host a team building event, teams are able to learn about each other through the power of play. You want your teams to feel comfortable with each other and be able to learn from each other. Being able to socialize and appreciate your team is just as important as getting the work done is. The work will get done better by a team that has fun together!
5. LEARN STRATEGIC WAYS TO UTILIZE YOUR TEAMS STRENGTHS
Team building allows each member to learn more about each other and themselves. A good team is made up of introverts, extroverts and many different personalities and strengths. Learning how to use this knowledge is another key to being a successful team leader. Different activities give teams a chance to strategically think, act or experiment with different options of how to accomplish goals. Leaders are able to utilize this time to figure out how to maximize strengths, that can be transferred to work related projects.