There is a WHOLE lot of talk these days about Corporate Team Building. There are many, many options: vacation packages, rope courses, on-going office games, ice-breakers, etc. Management can also purchase videos, books, and seminar packages to assist them in building up their organization into a team worthy of belonging. A little later I will give you some ideas of where you can go for information on these team building tools.
How about some free advice to start you off? Some of the foundational building blocks within team spirit, whether within a corporation or a family, are the ones that are most simple and natural.
** The leader must set the example:
IF your employees see you as a team player they will feel a part of your organization. If, however, they see the management as those who get all the credit and financial rewards for their hard work-- you may have underlying turmoil at hand within your organization. To counter act this-- give credit to others whenever possible!
Include everyone frequently when your company receives a compliment. Especially strive to give credit to the lower ranking employees who still put in FULL days-- yet rarely are in a position to hear the praise directly. I guarantee employees work harder when they know the boss(es) are sharing credit with everyone.
** Ask your employees: What do you ask? Hmm -- a better question is when do you stop asking :-) .
Ask employees what makes them feel a part of the team.
Ask them why they choose to stay with your corporation.
Ask them how belonging to your organization makes their own lives better.
Ask them what they would change.
Ask them if they have ever considered leaving-- and what the reasons were behind such impluses.
etc.
** Then, act on the information you receive.
Take all positive information as clues to what your company is doing correctly to keep happy employees. Then do what you can to keep these elements going and even to improve upon them.
Receive all negative feedback as opportunities for growth and the chance to retain people you have trained already as part of your corporations team. Then, brainstorm within the organization if modifications might help you to improve employee relations and thereby lead to higher productivity and profits. Because happy workers put out higher volumes of better quality work.
** Finally, Be gracious.
The two jobs where I was most loyal and most productive-- were with organizations where management greeted us daily whenever passing. Treated all employees -- including the janitors-- as HIGHLY valued and equal to management on a personal level.
This may sound a bit threatening and extreme to some people. But, I will let you know that all of us went home daily feeling like we helped the corporate team nation wide. Sure there were issues that arose-- no one can get rid of that completely. Yet overall, 98% of us felt wonderful walking in that door each day. How do I know this? Because almost everyone showed up early (on their own) daily.... and no one EVER complained about staying late. Have you had that happen? I hope so! It is a wonderful experience.
Now, as promised, here are some sites which can further help you with your corporate team building efforts.
BusinessTrainingMedia.com: http://www.business-marketing.com/store/team.html
Teammania: http://www.teammania.com/
Repario Ltd: http://www.buildingteams.com/teambuilding_tools.htm
Adventure Associates: http://www.adventureassoc.com/
Progressive Resources Ltd: http://www.teambuilding.co.uk/
Until next time-- all the best,
Kate
Re-print Rights: You may use this article in it's entirety, all that I ask is that you contact me with an email here: kate@comedreamwithme.com, to let me know. Thanks for the support!
About The Author
Kate Hufstetler is a well established business & personal coach who has helped many individuals like yourself to beat "the blues" and gain control over their lives. Through personal and business mentorship, she could help you! Visit more of Kate's articles here: kate@comedreamwithme.com & kate@comedreamwithme.com
Lincoln Stretch rentals Alsip ..I declared a Communications Major two years into school, after... Read More
Just today my partner Russ and I sat down to... Read More
CREATE A MOTIVATIONAL CLIMATE: Create a climate where others find... Read More
Last month's edition of Footprints and Monuments illustrated a parallel... Read More
From the moment he putted with Bob Hope on the... Read More
A tight knit team is a group of competent individuals... Read More
Over the years there has been much ado about team... Read More
Do you let your people express their thoughts about the... Read More
According to the Oxford Dictionary of Current English, to speak... Read More
Sometimes the greatest challenges lay not within the actions of... Read More
Team building takes work but the results are worth it.... Read More
As I work with clients to strengthen their teams and... Read More
In days past, loyalty was a given. The worker in... Read More
More and more I hear people misunderstanding what someone else... Read More
Do you remember how you felt after your last interaction... Read More
True or false? Teams that practice good teamwork contribute to... Read More
Recently my fourteen-year old son Matt dressed up as Santa... Read More
Consensus is the appropriate decision strategy for the most important... Read More
We all know someone who just drives us batty. Perhaps... Read More
Teams are often useful in situations where the task cannot... Read More
Having experienced more than my fair share of conflict over... Read More
Recently, while developing a customer service program, I asked my... Read More
For a brief time, I tried to sell life insurance.... Read More
7 Key Dimensions of High Performance Teams We can always... Read More
There are few industries or service type businesses, which are... Read More
Western Springs shuttle limo ..TEAM LEADERS WORKSHOPAlice asked Cheshire cat "which road should I... Read More
True or false? Teams that practice good teamwork contribute to... Read More
Irrespective of any given situation, "Team Work Works!" It is... Read More
What's the Secret Ingredient That Turns Groups into Teams? Working... Read More
1. Involve them. Many employees want to be involved in... Read More
The Sales Director had organised a great conference; the venue... Read More
Do you remember how you felt after your last interaction... Read More
Recently I decided to stretch my athletic abilities and add... Read More
"Conflict becomes politics, commitment becomes 'Only if it's in my... Read More
A grassy field, two nets, a soccer ball and some... Read More
Are workers telling the truth when they say they are... Read More
Internal business structures have been radically transformed over the past... Read More
Once you've set a goal for yourself as a leader... Read More
Teams run most businesses and teams work best if each... Read More
Why do some teams perform well while others struggle? How... Read More
Everyone knows, works or lives with "innies." Who are they... Read More
There is a WHOLE lot of talk these days about... Read More
"When teamwork kicks in, nobody can beat you." Don Shula,... Read More
As the world of manufacturing has become increasingly competitive, managers... Read More
The effects of conflict in the workplace are widespread and... Read More
This sports cliche is a memorable phrase that reminds people... Read More
Group discussions are where much of the creative work of... Read More
Survival: The Name of the New Economic Game People rarely... Read More
The grand purpose of coaching is to help your managers,... Read More
12 Tips and Reminders for Team Members To Enjoy Their... Read More
Team Building |