INTRODUCTION

Team building refers to a wide range of activities, presented to businesses, schools, sports teams, religious or nonprofit organizations designed for improving team performance. Team building is pursued via a variety of practices, and can range from simple bonding exercises to complex simulations and multi-day team building retreats designed to develop a team (including group assessment and group-dynamic games), usually falling somewhere in between. It generally sits within the theory and practice of organizational development, but can also be applied to sports teams, school groups, and other contexts. Team building is not to be confused with "team recreation" that consists of activities for teams that are strictly recreational. Team building is an important factor in any environment, its focus is to specialize in bringing out the best in a team to ensure self development, positive communication, leadership skills and the ability to work closely together as a team to problem solve. Work environments tend to focus on individuals and personal goals, with reward & recognition singling out the achievements of individual employees. "How to create effective teams is a challenge in every organization Team building can also refer to the process of selecting or creating a team from scratch.

REASONS FOR TEAM BUILDING INCLUDE

         

Improving communication Making the workplace more enjoyable Motivating a team Getting to know each other Getting everyone "onto the same page", including goal setting Teaching the team self-regulation strategies Helping participants to learn more about themselves (strengths and weaknesses) (2) Identifying and utilizing the strengths of team members Improving team productivity (last) Practicing effective collaboration with team members

HOW TO MANAGE GROUP CONFLICT If there seems to be prolonged conflict among several members of a group, then consider the following guidelines. 1. First, verify if members indeed are in conflict. Ask the members. Listen for 3 minutes. They might not be in destructive conflict, at all. Name or describe what behaviors you are seeing that might indicate destructive conflict. Do not try to diagnose causes of those behaviors, just name what you are seeing or hearing. Acknowledge that conflict is natural in healthy groups, but why you conclude that conflict has become destructive. 2. If members are in destructive conflict, then select approaches to resolve conflict. Take a 5-minute break. Ask one or two other members (a subgroup) to step aside with you. Ask them to suggest approach(es) to address the conflict, and then read the ideas listed immediately below. Ask them which approach(es) are most likely to move things along. 3. Use the approaches selected by the subgroup, with the entire group. Explain that the approaches were selected by several of you, not by just one person. Ask that members set aside 10-15 minutes on the agenda to try them out. The more the members are in destructive conflict, the more likely they will be willing to try out the approaches.

ICE BREAKER GAMES

 Ice breaker games make a crucial difference to your meeting, training or team building.

They help create an open and trusting atmosphere and are a great way to build team dynamics, energize, spark ideas and have fun.

 Here are a few ice breaker games designed to ease introductions, boost energy and

creativity in any group setting.

1. TREASURY BOX

 This icebreaker creates team in dividualism and builds team spirit by helping members

explore each others skills, talents and special knowledge. It also builds self-esteem as members share their strengths and discover what makes them unique and productive.

 Start by explaining that skills and talents are portable and every member of the team is

bringing a box full of knowledge and skills to the team. This next activity will help fill the team's treasury box.

 Distribute 3 x 5 cards. Ask participants to write their names on the cards and below their

names list two specialties or skills that they bring to the team, example knowledge of project management, organizational skills, or proposal writing. When participants complete the cards, have them stick the cards in a flip chart and engage everyone in exploratory conversations about the items.

 During the discussions team members will be able to learn new things about each other

and become aware of each others strengths.

 Once the discussions are finalized put all the cards in a box, labeled treasury box. Itemize

it after the meeting and place the box in a popular spot in the office. Encourage team

members to open it and read it every time they need encouragement or support on special tasks.

2. SOLUTION-SEEKER This ice breaker helps obtain several possible solutions of suggestions for the participants current challenges or issues. The seating is an important element in this exercise. All the participants should be sitting in a circle. Ask each person to think about an actual jobrelated problem or concern. Each person writes his or her problem on a blank sheet of paper. Example how can I get more team engagement? Or, how can I get my team more punctual? After allowing a few minutes to think about and write out their problems, ask each person to pass his or her problem sheet to the right. That person reads the problem just received and writes down the first thought(s) that come to mind for addressing that problem. Allow 30 seconds to respond to that individual sheet. Repeat this rotational process every 30 seconds, and the process going until each person gets his or her own sheet back. Time permitting, they can then discuss some of the more practical solutions they received.

3. PUZZLE-MAKING
 One of the most intercative of ice breaker games is the Puzzle- Making. It's fun and

deliveres strong messages.

 This games engages particiants in cooperation quickly. Use it at any time to make a point

about interdependence, the necessity of having everyone's input, or the importance of regular communication. Bring a 50-piece puzzle and divide the pieces from each puzzle into four small bags. Put one complete puzzle,four bags on each table. Organize participants into four sub-groups.

 Ask each group to pick a bag of puzzles. Explain that they are going to put a puzzle

together with their teammates, but they have to follow instructions closely: For the first 2

minutes, they should begin putting their puzzle pieces together by alternating turns. They are not allowed to talk or touch one another's pieces. When the 2 minutes have passed, they should continue taking turns putting pieces in silence, but t hey may begin to uching one anot her's pieces. Cont inue for 2 minutes. Finally, they will have 5 minutes to finish putting the puzzle toget her in any way t hey would like. Talking will be permit t ed during t he last 5 minut es.

 Aft er t he final 5 minut es, stop t he puzzle making. Ask part icipants for

observat ions and feedback. Deliver t he message t hat we oft en find ourselves do ing t hings in isolat ion wit hout involving one anot her. When we involve one another, using all of the pieces and communicating in many different ways, we have a greater chance for successful completion of a project.

4. GREAT EGG DROP

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Engaging and very messy small group activity (4 or 5) as part of larger group (20 up to 100)

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Can be run as a competition between teams Task is to build a single egg package that can sustain a fall of 8ft (top of a supermarket shelf)

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Can be used to highlight any almost aspect of teamwork or leadership Lends itself to building a dramatic large group scenario/finale for the Egg Drop Off Can include the task of presenting a 30-second advert for the egg package. This increases the complexity of the activity.

Lends itself to production line or project management metaphors

Equipment For each group of approx. 4., straws, masking tape, egg and/or any other items you want to give for creating the egg package. Can use only natural materials - harder, but saves cost/waste. Time ~30-45 minutes to build package ~15-30 minutes for Great Egg Drop ~15-45 minutes cleanup & debrief Brief Description Small groups design an egg package to save an egg from breaking when dropped. Plus a 30 second jingle to sell their package. Followed by the Great Egg Drop-Off.

BENEFITS OF THE ICE BREACKER GAME

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It breaks down the natural barriers that exist between people. It clears peoples minds. Most of us pitch up at meetings with our bodies there, but our minds are either on what we did before the meeting, or on what we still need to do after the meeting. Ice breakers bring them into the here and now.

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Ice breakers are fun and bring laughter to the process. If the meeting consists of people that dont interact a lot, it will do a lot to get them to know one another better.

It is a great stress reliever. Employee motivation and stress management is NOT something that happens separate from the day to day activities. It has to happen simultaneously. Ice breakers are a great way of doing just that.

People and employees interact with one another on a different level. I have found that employees usually follow the same pattern of talk when they interact. Its mostly about work and sometimes some other topics. Ice breakers get them to interact on a different level

It breaks down the facades that we carry around with us.

SOLUTION-SEEKER

PUZZLE-MAKING

GREAT EGG DROP

REFERENCE

http://wilderdom.com/teambuilding/ http://managementhelp.org/groups/team-building.htm#anchor45524 http://www.managementskillsadvisor.com/ice-breaker-games.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_building