subject: Should My Team Try Team Building? [print this page] When some people hear the term 'team building' they cower in the shadows, afraid of what ridiculous task they will be asked to do. Not only might they think they'll be doing something silly, but they'll be doing it in front of all their colleagues too. But in this article, we're going to look at what benefits these services might bring.
In terms of coming round to the idea, many would say that it is beneficial to focus on the positive aspects of building team spirit. These are ultimately that the team will work better together. Why is this important? Well, if your team does not work well together, then it is likely to be less productive and to be less beneficial for customers and potential customers. This, in turn, can make a given job less secure. So it seems that team building is in everyone's interests. But that doesn't make it easy.
A lot might depend on if your boss thinks it is necessary to pay a decent amount for team building, or to do it 'on the cheap'. Cutting costs and 'doing it yourself' can mean a very unsatisfactory experience for those involved. If there is no real theory behind the exercise, it can be unpleasant all participants.
Some would say that it is better to go to a company that specialises in team building; one that has a good deal of experience in working with different age groups and in different industries. It's important to remember, for example, that making team building fun does not mean that it will be less effective. On the contrary, fun helps people remember things better, and of course makes them more likely to want to do it again.
There are a wide range of companies that specialise in team building, but choosing the right one for your team might take some time. It's important to ask plenty of questions and see what kind of reputation the firm has. In particular, look for big name brands that they have worked with in the past. If you want, you could even contact these brands and see what they thought of the team building exercises, and if they were enjoyable.
Some bosses are put off by the potential cost of these kind of activities, but ultimately they may well help to improve the efficiency of your team and increase profits. As long as you find the right service, this could be a genuine possibility.
