Teambuilding

Creating a team environment in your organization will help you work together more effectively and build a more cohesive, supportive and trusting group. How do you do that?

Set Aside Time Early!

Early in the year have a meeting or a retreat to talk as a group about who you are and what each person’s expectations are for the coming year. Make it at a comfortable place, bring snacks and give yourselves plenty of time to discuss the important issues.

 

Use Icebreakers

Icebreakers are one good place to start with teambuilding. Icebreakers can help in learning each other’s names and making connections between people, as well as simply allowing the group to have fun together. Check out some of the icebreaker ideas in the following resources:

• Teamwork & Teamplay
• Index to Group Activities, Games, Exercises & Initiatives
• “The Ultimate Icebreaker and Teambuilding Guide” by Jon Tucker (2007, Lulu.com Publishing)

Focus on Communication

At one of your first meetings, discuss appropriate ways to communicate in a group setting in order to establish an open and trustworthy environment. This will help determine the tone of all of your meetings throughout the year. Try modeling good communication skills to the group - listen, emphasize positive things, encourage feedback.

 

Don’t Stop!

Don't stop building a team after the first meeting. Throughout the year, it is important that you continue to communicate, get to know each other, talk about goals and visions and most of all, keep having fun!