You and your teams are working hard, you need to if you want to be successful. However, it’s critical that you take time to recognize the great work that everyone is doing. While many people tell me that a job is reward enough (and people should not underestimate the value of the job they have) you need to do more for your team than simply give them a job. Take time, occasionally, to thank them by doing something special.
On Friday night our team went out for a great team building event, something very different from our day to day jobs….. We went to a culinary center where we split into teams and competed in a food competition, having to deliver an appetizer, dinner, side dish, and desert, all from a basket of random ingredients.
I’ll be honest with you, I am not a spectacular cook. However, watching people create impressive deserts like tortes and mousse, meals with steaks, ribs, shrimp, showing creativity, working together to get the dishes created, was a blast. The food was delicious and the time was enjoyed by everyone.
Will an event like this truly make us a better team? No. This event enabled us to see our teammates in different ways, appreciate the creativity that they demonstrate in all that they do. This event enabled us to relax and have conversations about topics other than improving clients business processes, delivering new product releases, managing system upgrades. We were able to see each other as something more than teammates, we connected over a common challenge and we will all remember the fun we had.
On second thought, maybe the shared moments, beyond the walls of the office, will help us be a better team. Shared experiences make teams stronger. Learning to communicate while dealing with various challenges is also critical for team success.. We may have actually accomplished something after-all…. I guess time alone will tell.
John
July 6, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Great info, Very informative…
August 28, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Hmm. sounds as an interesting piece. Something on the lines of “Hell’s Kitchen”- People’s personalities at their best.
August 28, 2009 at 4:31 pm
John
August 24, 2009 at 9:26 pm
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August 24, 2009 at 8:28 pm
That sounds a lot better than the normal crappy team building of personality tests and complaining. I’m all for it!
August 24, 2009 at 9:38 am
One thing is always interesting for me when it comes to this kind of events. How many people weren’t engaged? Who? Why?
Usually most of the team join the activity but a few stands back with no engagement whatsoever. They either don’t feel safe enough to show they (lack of) skills in specific domain or maybe they just aren’t amused by this kind of tasks.
Personally I’m a type of person who willingly and actively join every event of this kind, no matter if I can look stupid or not, but I as a manager I also see all the people who aren’t the part of the party.
To be honest you need to focus on them. Those who enjoy integration event are already “bought” – you need to work on the rest or it isn’t the real integration after all.
August 24, 2009 at 11:05 am
Pawel, thank you for the feedback, I agree. With this event everyone was focused on delivering their meals and laughs were constant. However, for any event (including meetings) it is important to pay attention with who is, and who is not, engaged. Get everyone involved and you’re likely to come away with an engaged, winning, team.
John
August 24, 2009 at 1:55 am
I work the the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa, and they have a fantastic HR department that always has fun events each month. A few months ago they had a Jenga tournament and last month they had a Talent show. They always give good prizes and it’s fun to hang out with your coworkers outside of a bar/restaurant.
The only thing they don’t do well is ‘pep rallies.’ They have a guy named Doug Cox who is a motivational speaker that does a pretty good job of working a crowd, but then there is never any good news that goes with it like ‘your bonuses will be bigger this year’ or ‘we won’t be parking off-site ever again.’ He just gets you all worked up and then you leave to go back to the repetitive task that working at a Casino is.
August 23, 2009 at 11:03 pm
I am a counselor by training, and for a long time considered becoming an executive coach. I think team building is critical for a team, and yours sounds like it was fun and worthwhile. Sometimes, team building activities can seem silly and pointless, and I think that was a good one.
August 23, 2009 at 10:44 pm
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August 23, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Great idea, John. I only wish I had been able to attend. I took your post and attempted to further the discussion here:
http://tinyurl.com/lrqjyl
And I’m sure Esteban and I wouldn’t mind it if you made us honorary members of your team the next time you do this:-)
I’ll be reading…
Glenn
August 23, 2009 at 8:43 pm
I agree with you. Meeting your team in a different environment os an awesome way to see the other side of them… And learn about what makes them tick. And you can also learn how to work better with them. Np doubts. Worth the time and effort… As long as it is not something stupid