12 Mar 2019, 09:53:25
There are four main types of team building: personality-based, activity-based, skills-based and problem solving-based team building. It has been scientifically proven that team building days have a positive effect on collaborate team efforts in the workplace. It’s a way for co-workers to learn practical skills that can be applied in a work setting as part of department teams. When done right, the result of effective team building is enhanced working relationships and positive synergy within a team. There are different ways you can conduct a day of team building and each can be used differently. To get the most out of your team building efforts, we look at the different types of team building
Personality
Examining who is a part of your team and knowing their personality is essential to understanding how to get your team to work better. There are personality tests like Myers Briggs or the Enneagram that individuals can take. Both break down the different personality types, distinguishing their strengths, weaknesses, behavioural patterns, and whether they are introverted or extraverted. Uncovering the personality type of your colleagues is beneficial to both the company and to the employee. It enables managers to review an individual’s strength, e.g. an extravert might be better at presenting ideas, engaging with people, and taking the leading. Being able to put an employee in a position where they are able to demonstrate their strengths is a positive for the individual and the wider organisation.
Skills
Skills-based team building allows teams to focus on developing skills specific to their job. This is typically structured as part of a workshop where a training specialist or the head of department will talk to the team about effective ways to negotiate, give and receive feedback, resolve conflict, and more. Skills-based training is an advantageous addition to a teambuilding day, giving employees a chance to learn many different skillsets in different ways. Employees are able to apply these skills directly at work, bettering their working relationships and improving work attitude so they are better equipped to handle real life everyday work situations.
Problem solving
This specific type of team building is mostly executed outdoors and is usually led by an external training specialist. This is where employees can work together in teams undergoing tasks that focus specifically on problem solving. Teams are presented with a range of exercises where problem solving is at the core of each task. Teams are given the opportunity to work through each challenge together and identify solutions.
Teams are often asked to look at their work dynamics to unravel the problems that occur in the workplace. This is so real-life examples can be presented and with the help of the training specialist, be worked through together, at that moment in time. The benefits of this is bringing co-workers together, boosting morale and improving their relationships.
Activities
This type of team building consists of physical activity that can be held inside or outside. It’s a way for teams to get involved in team building exercises together, giving them the opportunity to bond outside of the office and to practice effective communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills cooperatively. Teams are in the position to offer support and motivation to their team members during challenging team building activities. Activity-based team building can be anything from football, mountain biking, raft-building to rope courses, cooking classes and workshops. During these activities, relationships are being developed and trust between teams is being built. Successful team building days enable employees to bring skills from group exercises back to the workplace, permitting co-workers to work cohesively and effectively together. As a result, job performance improves, and tasks are done more efficiently because teamwork skills have been optimised during team building activities.
