How to Create a Positive Team Building Experience

Team building experiences help to promote communication, team spirit and a sense of belonging. Moreover, they hone and develop skills like problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making.

Whether you’re a small team or large, these team-building activities can help your employees build their trust and improve their performance. By improving their skills, you can create the best workplace experience for your employees.

Skill-Based Training

One of the most effective ways to build team cohesion is through skill-based training. Several studies show that these activities improve workplace efficiency, increase employee engagement and make employees feel valued in their roles.

This type of team building experience can also help build a cohesive virtual team, regardless of the location. It can also be used as a way to strengthen a team’s communication skills, allowing the group to work together more effectively across time zones.

A skill-based team building program can take a variety of forms, including brainstorming exercises, cooperative assignments, problem-solving games, or scavenger hunts. It may be facilitated by a professional facilitator who teaches the group new team skills.

In addition, many team-building programs also include a discussion about individual team members’ personality types and preferred thinking styles. This information can be useful in creating a team that suits each member’s preferences, which will ultimately result in a more cohesive and productive team.

While there are a variety of different skill-based team building experiences, it’s important to select the right ones for your organization. For example, if your company is focused on customer service, you might want to consider a program that focuses on communication skills, customer satisfaction and resolving conflict.

Another example is a workshop that focuses on identifying a team’s strengths and weaknesses through a SWOT analysis. This exercise encourages critical thinking and research, which are two highly-valued professional skills.

You can also use a debate-style team building activity to teach your team members how to back up their statements with facts and arguments. It will teach them to make verified decisions and improve their public speaking skills, which are both important for success in the workplace.

The best part about a team-building experience is that it can be customized to fit your needs and budget. Some teams prefer a more intense and physical type of training, while others may be fine with more relaxed, less exerting options.

In addition, many teams are embracing new technology and the ability to learn online. A growing number of companies offer a wide range of unique, online team-building events that are fun and engaging. For example, Airbnb offers an online cooking class and a cocktail workshop.

Personality-Based Training

Personality-based training is a great way to build team spirit. It can also help new employees and current employees learn more about their teammates. For example, taking a team personality test will allow you to find out which individuals are the best fit for your team. You can also use the results to assign responsibilities and develop realistic expectations.

Team building experiences can range from a simple lunch-and-learn to an intensive training session. However, a good team building experience should be personalized and tailored to your team’s needs. For instance, a group that is made up of extroverts may need a more fun and energetic activity than a group with a predominantly analytical or driver style.

One of the most popular types of personality-based training is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). This model allows you to discover a person’s dominant and shadow traits.

It also helps you understand how a person’s different personality traits influence their work styles and attitudes. This is especially useful when preparing to work on projects that involve teamwork and communication.

You can find many types of personality assessments online. Some examples include the Myers-Briggs, the CliftonStrengths, and the Riso-Hudson Enneagram.

The Myers-Briggs is a well-known type of personality assessment that is used by many companies for recruiting and pre-employment screening. It is based on the Big Five model of personality, which includes openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

In fact, most people possess traits from several of these categories. Having a variety of personalities makes your team stronger, since everyone has a different strength and value.

Moreover, a variety of personalities helps team members work together better. For instance, an extrovert can make up for a lack of logical thinking and an agreeable individual can provide reassurance when someone is feeling upset.

Another popular personality-based training program is the DiSC model. This program helps you identify the traits that you are strongest in, such as dominance, influence, or steadiness. It will teach you to manage your behaviors at work in a way that will enhance productivity and improve teamwork.

Value-Based Training

Value-based training is a great way to strengthen your company culture and create a more positive working environment. It’s a holistic approach that takes time and effort to build, but it can result in happier, more creative employees who are committed to your company for years to come.

Team building exercises that focus on specific skills are a good way to boost performance, especially if the skill being taught is a critical one that your team has yet to master. Whether it’s leadership, sales, negotiation or conflict management, these types of activities are designed to teach your team how to improve their skills and can help them reach new levels of success.

This type of training is particularly effective for bringing new members together to form a cohesive and successful team. It also allows your team to get to know each other on a more personal level by focusing on their strengths and weaknesses, so that they can work together in ways that are truly beneficial for the entire organization.

These kinds of activities are ideal for teams that need a boost in morale after a tough period, as well as for more established teams who are looking to develop better communication and trust among their peers. For instance, Life Map is a fun and easy way to get everyone to share their life stories with each other, which can be particularly transformative for teams that have been going through a rough patch or have not worked together for very long.

Another great team building activity that focuses on values is a charitable activity, where the team takes part in an event such as a food drive or charity auction. By working together in these types of activities, everyone can show the best sides of their character.

A value-based approach to business teaches leaders and their teams to always put people first, regardless of the financial rewards. A company that places its human resources as a priority is able to outperform companies that are driven solely by profit.

Moreover, value-based businesses have lower absenteeism rates and higher employee engagement than companies that place profit first. They also tend to have smaller gaps between managers and their employees than those that are based on profit alone, making it easier for everyone to communicate their ideas.

Corporate Social Responsibility

In recent decades, business leaders have recognized that success goes beyond profitability. Instead, they are focused on the bigger picture – how their company impacts the community, environment and society at large. This concept is called corporate social responsibility, or CSR.

CSR-related values align businesses and employees, resulting in strong work relationships and stronger morale. These values also reduce employee turnover and disgruntled workers.

The most effective way to achieve these benefits is through corporate social responsibility (CSR) team building activities. These are fun and exciting team building experiences that help your company make an impact on the world around you.

For example, Build-a-Bike is a great CSR team building experience that allows groups to work together to create bicycles. This activity also gives your teams the opportunity to give bikes to deserving children after they have finished building them.

In addition to promoting strong teamwork, CSR-related events are an excellent way to promote a company’s philanthropic efforts to their clients and partners. They also show consumers that a company cares about the larger picture and has a greater sense of social responsibility than other companies.

If your company doesn’t have a CSR program, consider starting one to improve customer and employee satisfaction, improve bottom-line financials and enhance employer branding. In addition, consumers are now more likely to buy from companies that practice a socially responsible business model.

There are several types of CSR, including philanthropic, ethical and environmental. Some models focus on reducing energy and carbon consumption, encouraging philanthropic endeavors, supporting local communities and improving labor policies.

Some CSR-related initiatives might be more expensive than others. For instance, some companies might invest in research and development for new products that promote sustainability. They might also recruit different types of talent to ensure a diverse workforce.

Other initiatives might include training on diversity, economic inclusion, or social awareness. These can be more expensive but often yield better CSR results.

In the past few years, the spread of the avian flu has made it clear that nonprofits are in need of assistance with donations and fundraising. With this in mind, it is more important than ever for companies to participate in events with a CSR focus. These programs can strengthen relationships with charities, boost morale and increase productivity for both employees and employers.