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There is no denying the importance of strong, capable and motivated teams when it comes to work and productivity.
However, a few wrong moves and you can cause some serious hiccups within your team; these issues can often upset the team dynamic and will require you to address the situation.
So to give you an idea of what to watch out for, here are three common things from Team Challenge Company that cause team hiccups and ideas on how to address them.
This one goes all the way back to school days; inclusion is a big deal because people are social animals, meaning we want to be included and involved.
Now, in the workplace things get slightly more complicated than when you chose teams for Bulldog.
Nevertheless, making sure the whole team feels they are aware, involved and making a valuable contribution is the best way to keep everyone happy.
People can become discontent and even disruptive if they feel left out, which can lead to unnecessary rivalries and friction within a team.
So whether it is designating specific tasks or calling a whole-team brainstorm, make sure everyone is involved at some stage, whatever the project.
Similarly, be sure to encourage everyone to participate in group conversations as this will help the team to bond and strengthen communication.
Good communication is essential at any level of a business or organization.
Communication with third parties, between departments and within teams all helps to keep the cogs of a company moving smoothly.
Unfortunately, poor communication - be it written or spoken - is something that can cause teams to crumble.
Poorly communicated or misunderstood messages cannot only affect the work, but also the individuals doing the work. There can be an element of mistrust between senders and receivers, and those who get it wrong can suffer from doubt or frustration.
Such emotions can lead to further bad feeling and even fracturing within a team.
Combat the snowballing of poor communication by double-checking that everyone understands the message, as the sender intended. Also, encourage open verbal communication within teams, departments and the company as a whole.
Additionally, consider developing your team's communication and listening skills with a key skill focused workshop. You can make the experience enjoyable with one of our many corporate and indoor team building activities.
It is important to remember the personal aspect of working with people. Too often, companies get so distracted by fiscal growth and so preoccupied with the necessary figures, they forget to pay attention to the teams and individuals doing the work.
Putting all the emphasis on service levels, targets and figures can lead to pockets of ill feeling on the ‘shop floor' as it were. People will quickly feel underappreciated, overlooked and as though they are treated as a number if they are ignored in favour of figures, percentages and charts.
Such tunnelled concentration on figures can also cause unfair and unmanageable workloads to be assigned, albeit unintentional. This can harm the wellbeing and the morale of staff, as well as cause a level of conflict that will usually go unresolved until it becomes detrimental to the team dynamic.
To avoid the problems associated with favouring figures over team members, be sure to check in with your team on a regular basis. Ask for their feedback, get them involved with scheduling and make a conscious effort to thank them for their efforts.
Now, these are just three of the hiccups that can occur when you don't pay your team due care and attention. So start afresh by showing your team how much you value and appreciate them with one of Team Challenge Company superb corporate entertainment ideas.
For many small businesses - and a few of the bigger ones - the people they employ are part of a close-knit team much like a family; successes are celebrated and mistakes are learnt from together as a team.
Invite your employees and their family to a corporate fun day and cement your workplace family relationships in the process.
Not only will you see a whole new side to your employees watching them interact with their loved ones and children, but it will also enable you to get a deeper sense of who they are outside of the office.
Corporate fun days are all about team building, but by extending the invitation out to partners, spouses, and children it becomes a day of bonding and connecting on a personal level, as well as professional. Your business becomes family-friendly and a workplace that your employees want to remain a part of.
Here at Team Challenge Company, we cater to your every team building and development need. With a range of activities that are interactive, fun and exciting, and suitable for children, teens and adults alike, your corporate family fun day will be remembered for all the right reasons. Check out our portfolio for more information.
Think you're ready to take on a fun team building day? Choose your range of event activities for a bespoke, tailored experience based on your requirements. Not only can we organise the event from inception, but you'll get a dedicated event manager on the day to ensure the day goes as planned.
Your event will be fully supervised, with first aid staff and health and safety officers on-site at all times. We can run competitions and award prizes throughout the day, leaving you free to mingle and enjoy the day. We'll even provide you with a downloadable photo album and blog about the experience.
If your employees are like an extended family, then treat them to a corporate family fun day. The benefits of engaging your staff with their families around are numerous: they will feel renewed energy in the workplace, they will be motivated and productive, and, most importantly, they will feel a deeper connection or bond with your business.
For more information, please browse our website or contact us today on 03300 04 09 03.
The art of small talk is one that comes naturally to some, whilst others struggle to make what is supposed to be an insignificant conversation with those around them. Some people recoil in horror at the prospect of having to make idle chit-chat while others are pro-active and ready to engage with the people around them.
In the workplace, knowing how to make small talk and knowing how to take something positive from it, is an important aspect of being part of a team. It is a wonderful way of building and maintaining relationships with those around us, which is crucial if you are looking to build team spirit. Alongside this, it helps create a friendly and easy-going atmosphere in the office, and it can reduce any stress or anxiety you may be feeling, too.
Why do people hate small talk?
Intended as a means of starting a conversation, covering generic topics that everyone can engage in; these often one-time encounters can feel awkward and shallow. It can also feel forced and a little mundane when those you are interacting with don't give you anything back.
However, if you are more open to the idea of genuine interactions with those around you, there is a lot to be taken from small talk. If you pose your questions differently (open ended without a yes or no answer) and prompt responses where necessary, you will find these conversations can be more of a team building exercise than a mundane passing of the day.
The Lift Conundrum
It is said that the awkward silence that fills the 20 seconds of a lift ride are some of the most uncomfortable moments of our lives, even if it is people we spend most of our time with in the workplace. Everyone is waiting for somebody else to speak first, but they never do - and the increasingly loud silence wins out.
Engage in Small Talk
If you're looking to build team spirit in your office, it is easily achieved. We have put together our top 5 reasons to go for it to help you on your way:
The power of small talk in the workplace can be powerful when utilised in the right way. Combine with projects that require open communication and problem solving and a sense of morale on a team building day to see your team really working together.
If you're looking for activities that will challenge and nurture your team at the same time, please contact our team - we've got just the event for you!
Each and every business aspires to have the perfect team in each department; finding the best possible mix of skills, ambition, experience and personality to drive each team forward is, of course, the ultimate aim. A team that doesn't need to be micromanaged or continually monitored is a team that will not only succeed but will do so with gusto.
It goes without saying that while our dreams and aspirations for the perfect team are clear and certainly achievable, it is also necessary to choose the right person for the job, and this isn't always the extrovert. Introverted individuals are just as successful and popular in the workplace. However, they are less likely to want to be involved in team building events with the rest of your office.
While the extrovert is full of energy and maintains an outgoing personality at all times - especially for team building events, the introvert is much more likely to consider their responses and actions before committing. Both introverts and extroverts are able to achieve success; although often in different fields. Introverts are often in analytical, leadership roles while extroverts tend to work better in roles with high levels of communication, and are often customer facing.
When planning team building events for your staff, it is important to consider how you will incorporate both types of person in the office, and make your event enjoyable for all.
When it comes to bespoke team building events that are catered to your needs, you don't need to look any further than Team Challenge Company. We have a range of activities that are suitable for both introverts and extroverts.
Our Crystal Challenge event is based on tests of mental and physical strength, as well as skill in areas that demand a logical mind and quick reaction. Setting each team member a pivotal role and assigning responsibilities means that each plays to their own strengths.
When it comes to profiling your staff to better evaluate their role, ensure they have the right training and support in place and identify areas for improvement; you can't do better than our Psychometric Profiling team development activities. Allow your team to play to their strengths and get to understand their needs more efficiently with Team Challenge Company.
With a broad range of challenges and games in this interactive quiz, there are plenty of elements to suit introverts and extroverts, alike. Watch in wonder as your team work together, playing to their strengths and skills, in order to win the coveted trophy.
All of the above team building events allow introverts time to recoup while giving the extroverts a way to burn off their excess energy.
For all your team building event needs, please contact us for more information, or give us a call on 03300 04 09 03.
For many businesses, and indeed here at Team Challenge Company, it is important to allow your employees to focus on their own personal development as well as learning how to be a contributing member of the team. Knowing how to apply knowledge acquired from team building events can be a challenge, but if you get the balance right and reinforce team building ideology, then you will end up with a much happier team on your hands.
For your team, as well as yourself on a managerial level, it is important to remember that nobody is going to hand you success on a silver platter. It is earned and achieved through careful personal development, personal strategy and a lot of hard work!
We have compiled some top tips for ensuring your workforce can embrace personal development following a successful team building event.
While you can encourage your workforce to follow these steps and build on their personal development, it is also imperative that you provide them with team building events that they can thrive and flourish in; for you to be able to see them achieve their full potential.
For all of your team building and staff development needs, please do have a look at our range of events and structured activities built specifically to cater to your requirements as a business. Furthermore, please contact us with any queries you may have and we’ll endeavour to help your team achieve the very best results possible.
