If your team is just coming together for the first time, it’s a good idea to let everyone get acquainted first. You might try an ice-breaking game or two.
I’m sure you’ve heard horror stories about how awkward these games can be.
If you notice that your team needs a little help in the teamwork area, it might be time to stop the practice and play a team-building game instead…one that is not about competition, but promotes cooperation instead.
Get Everyone’s Head in the Same Game
Team building can take some time, but a few strategic activities can help create a cohesive group. It’s not always about those “trust fall” exercises, and the activities don’t have to be lame.
If you are working indoors, there is a fun game that I like to call sticky situations. It requires a few rolls of masking tape and a team full of willing participants.
Divide your team up into pairs and give each pair a roll of masking tape. Ask everyone to use up the entire roll of masking tape by only touching the floor and the ceiling. You want to create a maze. Once the rolls are completely used and the crazy maze has been built, the next part of the game can begin.
Designate a starting point and an ending point at each end of the room. Every team member must make it through the tape maze without touching the tape or getting stuck.
Of course, the third part of this game is all about the cleanup. You are going to have a very large ball of tape on your hands.
The paper airplane caper is another good one. This one requires enough letter-sized paper for each team member to make one paper airplane. This can be done indoors or outside. Either way, mark off a square or circle that is the boundary line.
Ask your team to stand around the boundary, and give everyone a piece of paper. Once they have made their individual airplanes, the goal is to keep all the airplanes in the air at the same time, within the boundary, for a set amount of time. The time depends on the age of the players. Maybe start with three minutes and see if they can go for longer.
It’s important to remember that the success of the team-building game lies in the way that you guide the discussion after the game is over.
Ask them what it felt like to work together. Was it easy or hard? What did they learn about themselves and each other? What would they do differently next time?
Taking the time to ask questions helps your team process what is happening within the group, which is exactly the point of a team-building game.
Let’s Work Together
As you plan and strategize your next team event, we can help you create a cohesive look for your team with banners and event tents. Visit our website for all the details, and good luck out there!
~Tony Johnson