Introduction
Whether in a formal or informal setting, team building is crucial for improving team performance. That’s why team leaders should always set aside a day or period of time when the team members get to lay off the work face and have some fun participating in Team Building Activities.
According to the classic Hawthorne studies, the team idea in an environment emerged in the late 1920s and early 1930s where a series of research activities were carried out to examine what would happen to a team under various situations. The researchers later agreed after much analysis that the most significant value was the building of a feeling of social support and cohesion and a sense of group identity that came forth as a result of increased interaction. Therefore team building activities got approved for growing team spirit.
Team building activities
Team building activities are often challenging and require planning, coordination, trust and problem solving. This calls for group collaboration to solve the task at hand. Some of the activities may include:
Chariot race
This is an exciting game where players race on wheelbarrows to the finish line. A team is divided into three and stationed at different points. The wheelbarrow pusher and “chariot rider” race following a set path till to the next point for the “chariot switch” where the players tag out by high-fiving the other players before the chariot switch. The race continues till to the finish line.
Defend the egg
This activity requires small groups which are tasked with the challenge of constructing a structure which can secure a raw egg during a fall using the limited resources provided. The teams are timed and inspected during the construction process. Afterwards, the structures are tested. The judging criteria can also be based on the most creative design or the most stylish.
Trust course game
As the name suggests, trust is required in this activity. The course is set-up before the game begins. The trust course player should be blind folded and only gets by the course using the limited instructions given by the partner. The game is timed as a way of defining the winners. The game can be made more challenging by making the blind folded player move while crawling.
Benefits of team building games
Team building ideas help to facilitate long term partnership by fostering deeper discussions and genuine connections which benefit the whole team. The benefits include:
Boosting team performance.
Fostering of creativity and innovation.
Improving communication and working together.
Motivation to work harder to win.
Networking and getting to know each other better.
Team building activities is a sure way of increasing members’ cohesiveness, productivity and efficiency.
