How to Put Fun into Teamwork

Remember playing in a childhood sandbox? If you enjoyed being outside for most of the day, you could play in the sandbox for hours on end—shaping and pouring the sand, or mixing it with a little water to form a castle or hill. Playing in a sandbox usually started out as a solitary exercise; but gradually one or more children were added to increase positive interaction and initiate friendships. This was when the fun truly began--learning to play on a team. There’s a tremendous amount of pressure as we grow older to learn to act our age. So we leave the things of childhood behind us including the many teambuilding activities that make us successful adults. One such teambuilding activity is learning how to develop reliable relationships with others through experiences in the same sandbox that teach how to cooperate, exchange ideas, and communicate. This article gives 7 steps you can take to increase your effectiveness when working on a team.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Think of yourself playing with your co-workers in the same sandbox (Don’t turn skeptical on me now). It's important to know and understand the rules and limitations of play; but when you take the time to do
   so, you'll find it's fun to mix with others, develop positive peer relationships naturally, to encourage a spirit of lighthearted camaraderie.

2. 

   Learn to practice balanced self-control—the right combination of expressing your opinions and feelings when facing difficult or unexpected events. Your sensitivity to and concern for other team members will be demonstrated as you attempt to understand their perspectives.

3. 

   Be vulnerable, let down your guard, and shift your mindset to try new and fresh ways of building your team. Bask in the energy boost that results from experimentation, creativity, innovation, and learning new teambuilding activities. Arrange for team members to attend several teamwork seminars to learn more about group dynamics and team participation.

4. 

   Share your creative ideas for improving your team’s effectiveness with the entire team; then together select one to implement. It has been said that a burden shared is a burden halved. So, have some fun in your work together.

5. 

   Solicit your team members' feedback on a regular basis and bring any challenges or obstacles to the entire team for resolution. Don’t be afraid to proactively exchange differences of opinion. These are healthy if allowed to surface early. They can be destructive if allowed to fester.

6. 

   Seek to build bridges between team members who were once estranged due to conflict or differences.

7. 

   Celebrate every accomplishment—no matter how small. Little wins recognized as they occur communicate a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, build confidence and turn an average team into a highly motivated one.

Tips & Warnings

• If you’re not having fun at work while playing in the same sandbox with co-workers, you’re not doing it right. Give it another try. I think you’ll be pleased that you did.
• Use the resources below to put more fun into teamwork.

Resources

• Answers to Your Questions about Job & Career
• Learn How to Play in the Same Sandbox with A Team
• Career Resources

[ShirleyLee]

on 2/12/2009 Good tips for working in a team. Most people know they are supposed to "play nice", work together, and share ideas, but celebrations often overlooked and they are important too. I'm glad you mentioned it.

[LNAngel]

on 6/16/2008 No matter where you work, you can't avoid teamwork. Great tips.

[Desula]

on 6/14/2008 This is very helpful advice in dealing with co-workers and working on our teambuilding skills.

[bront3]

on 6/12/2008 Team building makes everyone more successful-- if only more people would realize this.

[bront3]

on 6/12/2008 Team building makes everyone more successful-- if only more people would realize this.