Benefits of team-building

In the business world and in the field of team and group dynamics, the word 'communication' has evolved, taking on a wider meaning.

It no longer refers to a simple transfer of information or opinion but bears the responsibility of being the 'oil that flows between the parts', without which our engine would not operate to the maximum of its capacity.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, anybody leading a team or group will know that the engine that drives a business or an organisation can get cranky, and 'oil' is essential when it comes to creating and maintaining a smooth and high-performing operational machine.

When managers of a team are faced with the notion of team building, they are looking at an investment in people.

Teamwork is essential within a team for a number of reasons - ranging from problem-solving, trust-building and enhancing communication, to leadership and skill optimisation, utilisation and development. Team-building activities are a channel through which all these issues can be addressed, tackled and enhanced or overcome.

Team-building activities are primarily designed to improve team performance - to establish certain strengths and weaknesses within the team via an array of exercises and games. These activities allow the skills and dynamics of a group to be recognised and put into practice, whether physical or mental.

When team-building activities are chosen, the analysis and eventual selection prior to an event is equally important as the actual activity. Team building has various 'grades', or levels, varying between the energetic and entertaining to the intense and hands-on, between physically or mentally challenging and indoor and outdoor.

Keeping these levels in mind, team-building activities can, and should, be customised according to the needs of the group or team. The manager needs to pinpoint and evaluate certain criteria before diving in and deciding on the activities required. The activities selected should reflect these criteria and be able to tackle and help solve the issues raised.

A system that may be adopted in this decision-taking process is BORO - a system that delves into background, objectives, requirements and outcomes.

Looking at the background and history of the team or group and pinpointing essential aspects could lead to the methodology of achieving and establishing objectives.

The objectives of the activity need to be established, and targets need to be set. This is where the issues or concerns need to be identified and prioritised.

Requirements is where elements, such as team-building style, venue, timelines and logistics should be considered. Within a conference or off-site? Facilitation or fun? How much time is available? What activities suit the group?

The key to all pre-event analysis is the desired outcome. Questions asked should include, What are you hoping to achieve? What do you want the group to take away from the event? The desired outcome must be the concentration of all considerations to insure this is achieved.

Each of these points should be tackled individually initially but then be amalgamated into a systematic and successful event design.

Management should also consider group size. It should look into the objectives of the activity and determine how the group should be subdivided and broken down, simply because certain activities fair well for small groups while others may not be as effective if targeted at larger groups.

Events such as treasure hunts and adventure activities still have a team-building element. These events must not be pigeon-holed as solely social activities.

A German company confirmed, "A quick drink at the local pub after work every last Friday of the month resulted in staff taking less sick leave and the team having a better working atmosphere and a higher level of employee trust and reliability".

A successful team-building exercise should leave participants with a sense of motivation, wanting to perform better at the workplace and with a better understanding of existing team dynamics and behaviours.

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