There’s a lot of buzz about teamwork and endless models on how to achieve it. However, this blog is all about eight simple, practical things you can do to build exceptional teams in your workplace.
These ideas are easy to implement and make a significant difference.
What is Team Building and Why Does it Matter?
Team building refers to various activities, exercises, and practices that aim to enhance relationships between team members and improve performance. The benefits are numerous: improved communication, increased trust, better problem-solving, and a stronger sense of belonging among team members.
Effective team building in the workplace leads to more cohesive and productive teams, ultimately resulting in higher performance.
1. Personal Connections
One of the most effective ways to build a strong team is to build personal connections between team members. Making time in meetings for some personal conversation and organising informal social events, such as team lunches or coffee breaks, helps build rapport and personal relationships.
Organising a specific team activity where you simply encourage team members to share basic personal information can have a surprisingly significant impact with minimal effort. This practice humanises colleagues, encouraging greater empathy and understanding. It also makes it easier for team members to approach one another, and when conflicts arise, they are more likely to address them with empathy and a desire to understand the other person’s viewpoint.
2. Strengths-Focused Conversations
Another way to improve connection is to organise strengths-focused conversations where team members discuss what they enjoy, what they bring to the team, and what they need to succeed. This helps everyone understand each other better and appreciate the unique contributions each person makes. It enables tasks to be better matched to individual strengths and interests and aligned with team goals.
Various tools exist to help people identify their strengths, including our free Discover Your Strengths quiz!
3. Team Building Activities
A team building activity or workshop is an event where the team comes together to engage in a shared task or challenge, specifically designed to encourage collaboration and develop key skills. These activities vary widely, ranging from problem-solving exercises to outdoor adventures. Depending on the focus, these events allow team members to practice essential skills such as communication, adaptability, and conflict resolution in a supportive environment. Through these shared experiences, team members enhance their individual abilities and strengthen their personal connections, leading to a more cohesive and effective team.
4. Emotional Intelligence Workshops
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and those of others. In a team setting, EI involves reading people and adapting your approach accordingly. Emotional Intelligence Workshops focus on developing the core components of EI: self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and relationship management.
These skills are crucial for creating a cohesive work environment where team members feel valued and understood.
5. Personality Insights Workshops
Personality insight tools, such as DiSC, help team members understand their behavioural styles and those of their colleagues, leading to better self-awareness, communication and collaboration. By recognising and respecting each other’s preferences and responses, teams can build stronger relationships, adapt to meet each other’s needs, and navigate conflicts more effectively.
6. Communication Skills Workshops
Open communication is vital for any successful team. Team members need to convey and receive messages clearly and effectively, even during uncomfortable conversations. Communication Skills Workshops emphasise the importance of honest discussions for growth and teach participants to navigate challenging discussions with confidence and sensitivity.
By approaching difficult topics with clarity and empathy, teams improve their problem-solving and decision-making abilities, leading to greater overall success.
7. Teamwork Training
Teamwork workshops are designed to teach participants the theories of teamwork and provide opportunities to practice these concepts. These sessions cover the essential aspects of team dynamics, roles, and effective communication strategies.
By incorporating frameworks like Tuckman’s stages of group development and Belbin’s Team Roles, these workshops offer a comprehensive understanding of how teams evolve and perform at their best.
8. Management Training
Training managers is crucial for the success of any organisation, as they play a pivotal role in guiding and shaping team dynamics. Effective management training equips managers with the necessary skills to lead, motivate, and support their teams.
It ensures they understand how to communicate clearly, set expectations, resolve conflicts, and build a positive work environment. Providing management training helps organisations develop strong leaders who inspire their teams, navigate challenges effectively, and contribute to a culture of continuous growth and improvement.
Conclusion
There are many ways to enable teams in your organisation to perform well. By focusing on these strategies, you can create exceptional teams. These simple, practical steps can lead to a more cohesive, productive, and happier workplace.
Willow & Puddifoot is committed to partnering with you on this journey, offering workshops and expertise in team development.
About the Author
Louise Puddifoot is the founder of Willo
w & Puddifoot, a training provider for those seeking transformative learning and development experiences. With a vibrant learning and development career spanning over two decades, Louise’s expertise lies in leadership and management development. She is passionate about enabling potential and catalysing growth in individuals and businesses alike.
