| "We are going to build a team". Replace the word | | | | Often, fun remains a key objective for such a session. |
| "team" with the word "house" - or any other noun that | | | | If it is the only one - or is only combined with a desire |
| can be built and will take more than just a few minutes | | | | to get the team to become closer - organising a team |
| - and most sensible people will want to adopt a | | | | bonding session is an ideal solution. If, however, your |
| structured approach. | | | | expectations are set higher than that - then you need |
| Plans will be drawn up and approved. People will | | | | something more structured. |
| receive copies of the plan and efforts will be made to | | | | So what are the key characteristics of a genuine |
| ensure everyone understands it. Progress will be | | | | team building session? I suggest the following 7 steps |
| monitored against the plan. Lessons will be learned | | | | will lead to success: |
| along the way that will be used to improve the next | | | | 1) Have definite session and longer-term goals and |
| phase. Anything less will lead at best to mediocrity and | | | | know how the session goals lead to the longer term |
| underachievement. | | | | ones. |
| So why is team building so often treated in an ad hoc | | | | 2) Use an engaging and varied base activity that |
| manner? You wouldn't take bricks and mortar out, | | | | involves each participant in something that he or she |
| show them a good time and expect them to | | | | enjoys doing. |
| rearrange themselves into something better just | | | | 3) Use an activity that achieves that engagement |
| because they had a nice break. So why expect a | | | | while having genuine parallels to the workplace and |
| group of people to do any better? | | | | has relevance with the session goals. |
| The only answer to that question with any merit is that | | | | 4) Select an activity that requires the same kind of skill |
| bricks can't think and people can. Which sounds like | | | | sets and team approaches that are needed at work - |
| management by abdication. Or perhaps management | | | | albeit one that is removed from the work itself. |
| by trusting to luck. It certainly doesn't sound like a | | | | 5) Consider using an independent (internal or external) |
| structured approach. | | | | facilitator - to allow all levels to join in as equals and to |
| So if taking people off for some fun is not team | | | | avoid it feeling like a "sermon from above". |
| building - what is it? | | | | 6) Debrief using a predefined process that highlights |
| Traditional away day options are team bonding | | | | the workplace parallels and allows the participants to |
| exercises - and that is different. Take a group | | | | extract their own learning rather than be preached to. |
| quad-biking, paint-balling etc and it will help bond the | | | | 7) Use a proven mechanism to transfer the learning |
| participants through a shared experience. You can | | | | back to the workplace, ideally integrated within the |
| even justify its use of some of the training budget if | | | | debriefing process itself. |
| you like by claiming it has helped them develop as a | | | | If none of these seem important, you are probably |
| team. Just don't believe it - or you'll be disappointed to | | | | looking at a pure fun bonding session. Whether that is |
| discover that while the group is closer it is no more | | | | a trip to the nearest (or furthest!) bar or something that |
| effective. | | | | offers the group an experience that all of its members |
| No - if you want to build a team rather than just bond | | | | will enjoy doesn't matter too much. |
| the individuals closer, you need a structured process. | | | | But if any of them do seem important, then I'd suggest |
| You need to decide before you start what | | | | that they all are. If one or more are missing then your |
| improvements you want and can realistically expect | | | | team building session will be compromised. And that's a |
| the team to achieve. Next you can decide how long it | | | | word that sits well alongside mediocrity and |
| will take to achieve those results. | | | | underachievement. |