Team Building Ideas for Small Groups
To get more productivity out of your workforce, consider implementing team building games and activities for your group. Fun and games may not seem like a good way to spend a couple hours of office time, but the bonds that are built among your workers will lead to a more enjoyable and productive working atmosphere. Wilderdom.com says team building exercises stimulate a group's ability to work together and solve problems.
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Wizards, Giants and Goblins
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This game, supplied by Management for the Rest of Us (see resources below) is similar to rock, papers and scissors. Since it's played by a large group, you'll need a large area. Divide the group into two teams. Explain to your group that each round will require the entire team to choose if they'll be wizards, giants or goblins. In this game, wizards beat giants, giants beat goblins and goblins beat wizards. Each team huddles together to choose which character they'll represent before each turn. If both teams represent the same character, it's a tie. Both teams return to their huddle until instructed by the game leader to reveal their character. The team that wins "captures" a player of their choice. Play continues until one side has captured all the members of the opposing team. If space allows (and the group is willing) the winning team can chase the losing team back to a base. Anyone tagged becomes the member of the winning team. This game fosters the group's decision making and strategy skills while under a deadline. Huddle times can vary, based on the game leader's discretion. Limited huddle time simulates the deadline for a project's delivery date.
Negotiation Auction
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Players auction off cash in this game. An easy amount is $10. Start the auction at $0.50. Here's the catch -- the top two bidders must pay up. For instance, if bidding stops at $9, and the last bid was $8.50, you'll collect from both bidders. Early bidding will happen quickly. Expect all but two bidders to remain as the bidding approaches $10. It is common to watch your team bid over the $10, as no one wants to lose.
The lesson here is for the team to see what happens when ego takes over and the focus becomes on winning at any cost. To keep all parties happy, donate the leftover money to charity.
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Situation Brainstorming
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Each member of the group takes a turn explaining a real-life work situation he or she encountered, whether with a customer, coworker or manager. Instruct them to not reveal what actually happened. Then, the team brainstorms ideas to find what they believe is the best way to handle the situation. Once they're done, you can give your insights as well. This fosters team bonding, as well as keeping everyone on the same page when it comes to dealing with difficult situations.
The Great Egg Drop
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Give each group one egg and a kit of supplies. The supplies must be the same for every group and are up to you. Generally speaking, a few straws, some newspaper and a roll of tape will suffice. Give each team about 20 minutes to come up with a way to protect the egg from a ten foot drop. After the time limit, climb a ladder to drop each egg one at a time. The lessons here include critical thinking, working as a group and project management.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Team work image by Ricardo Verde Costa from Fotolia.com
