In order to improve the productivity of a team and build on their trust and ensure that all members are comfortable with each other, there is no better solution than adopting some team building games. There are many advantages to using team building games, even if you feel that your team is working really well and don’t need to be more efficient. It is known that games are one of the best ways to get acquainted with the individuals on board. In this dog eat dog world, people actually fail to realize the significance of knowing their colleagues and working in tandem rather than trying to outshine each other. It will teach them that everyone is here to work and prosper, and individualistic results are not the only thing that matters.
A team building game is not only advantageous for the company, but also for the employees. It might seem like you are doing this so that the teammates get to know each other. They might view it as a stress buster and a nice shift from the regular things so that they can do something else. In fact, many people who participate in team building activities prefer to so not because of what they achieve, but for the reason they get to do something different other than their usual work. Whether or not your objectives are met is one thing, but in the end, your employees should like playing these games and actively participate in them.
Depending on the size of your team, you can choose an appropriate team building game. There is no dearth regarding the number of games available. You can pick one that is ideal for your team size. Don’t assume that one size fits all, because games are specifically designed based on the participants. Hence, adopt new games as your team grows bigger so that older members don’t get bored playing the same games. You could perhaps try different kind of games and then stick with the one that gets the best response. A game is considered to be a success only if satisfied your objectives as well as kept the participants entertained. In fact, many people who take part in team building games are happy with the experience on the whole and it is rare to find someone who is against these activities.
Some large companies also hire a specialist who looks after these social activities. If your company is in need of someone with the skills to look after things like team building games, then don’t cut back because it is not something that is only about fun, it’s about improving the image of the company for the employees. After all, no one would like to work in a place where there is nothing else look forward to other than work. With a few cleverly designed games, your company will get the right amount of respect and draw in the best people of the industry. Hence, to ensure that you get high productivity as well as high satisfaction, do incorporate some games into the work routine.
From India, Lucknow
16A team building game is not only advantageous for the company, but also for the employees. It might seem like you are doing this so that the teammates get to know each other. They might view it as a stress buster and a nice shift from the regular things so that they can do something else. In fact, many people who participate in team building activities prefer to so not because of what they achieve, but for the reason they get to do something different other than their usual work. Whether or not your objectives are met is one thing, but in the end, your employees should like playing these games and actively participate in them.
Depending on the size of your team, you can choose an appropriate team building game. There is no dearth regarding the number of games available. You can pick one that is ideal for your team size. Don’t assume that one size fits all, because games are specifically designed based on the participants. Hence, adopt new games as your team grows bigger so that older members don’t get bored playing the same games. You could perhaps try different kind of games and then stick with the one that gets the best response. A game is considered to be a success only if satisfied your objectives as well as kept the participants entertained. In fact, many people who take part in team building games are happy with the experience on the whole and it is rare to find someone who is against these activities.
Some large companies also hire a specialist who looks after these social activities. If your company is in need of someone with the skills to look after things like team building games, then don’t cut back because it is not something that is only about fun, it’s about improving the image of the company for the employees. After all, no one would like to work in a place where there is nothing else look forward to other than work. With a few cleverly designed games, your company will get the right amount of respect and draw in the best people of the industry. Hence, to ensure that you get high productivity as well as high satisfaction, do incorporate some games into the work routine.
From India, Lucknow
Dear Safeer,
You appear not only strong but staunch advocate of games for building the team. Your long write up does not answer the following questions:
a) Do you have a case wherein after conducting the a session on team building games productivity of the staff members increased?
b) Do you have a case wherein after conducting the a session on team building games, business performance has increased?
c) Do you have a case wherein you could show after session of team building games, you could bring in any other change than (a) or (b) above. Can that change be measured on Kirk Patrick model? if yes then what level could be attained?
My comments: -
d) Most of the trainers quote example of Mumbai's Dabbavala in their training programme of team building. These Dabbavalas never took any training on team building yet they could do the miracle that could be measured on Six Sigma! When Chandrayaan was launched, so many scientist from different agencies worked together. They never took any games to build the team.
e) Secondly, I know at least one MNC. That MNC started in 1973 and by 1995 they had their operations in 200+ countries. They never built their teams by conducting the games!
f) To foster teamwork, you need to have a supportive organisation's culture. If the culture is not conducive no amount of training on team building with games or any other training can work. First fix culture, then team gets built automatically. That is what soldiers of Indian Army do. Ask a common soldier and he would not be able to tell what team is. But give them collective work and they will show splendid teamwork. This is because concept of teamwork is embedded in their psychology.
g) Games are superficial. To build a team you need to have a staff that devote themselves to their work. That is what Mumbai's Dabbawalas do or our scientists of ISRO did, or soldiers of Indian Army do day in day out.
h) Not that I do not do games when I conduct training on Team Building. But it is more to keep with current trend lest I would be dismissed as odd man out!
Thanks,
Dinesh V Divekar
From India, Bangalore
You appear not only strong but staunch advocate of games for building the team. Your long write up does not answer the following questions:
a) Do you have a case wherein after conducting the a session on team building games productivity of the staff members increased?
b) Do you have a case wherein after conducting the a session on team building games, business performance has increased?
c) Do you have a case wherein you could show after session of team building games, you could bring in any other change than (a) or (b) above. Can that change be measured on Kirk Patrick model? if yes then what level could be attained?
My comments: -
d) Most of the trainers quote example of Mumbai's Dabbavala in their training programme of team building. These Dabbavalas never took any training on team building yet they could do the miracle that could be measured on Six Sigma! When Chandrayaan was launched, so many scientist from different agencies worked together. They never took any games to build the team.
e) Secondly, I know at least one MNC. That MNC started in 1973 and by 1995 they had their operations in 200+ countries. They never built their teams by conducting the games!
f) To foster teamwork, you need to have a supportive organisation's culture. If the culture is not conducive no amount of training on team building with games or any other training can work. First fix culture, then team gets built automatically. That is what soldiers of Indian Army do. Ask a common soldier and he would not be able to tell what team is. But give them collective work and they will show splendid teamwork. This is because concept of teamwork is embedded in their psychology.
g) Games are superficial. To build a team you need to have a staff that devote themselves to their work. That is what Mumbai's Dabbawalas do or our scientists of ISRO did, or soldiers of Indian Army do day in day out.
h) Not that I do not do games when I conduct training on Team Building. But it is more to keep with current trend lest I would be dismissed as odd man out!
Thanks,
Dinesh V Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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5 Things to do after a team building program.pdf
A Game on Team Building.doc