People often ask me what’s the best team building activity and I tell them that it’s something significantly different from the ordinary approach they’re familiar with. When most people think of team building, they envision some kind of game or competition where participants spend a few hours to a couple of days interacting and then are expected to magically unite and work well together.

The problem with conventional team building is that it doesn’t work because it’s typically a one-time activity based on things like:

• Competition.
• Superficial interaction.
• False happiness and unity.
• Activities that have no relation to the workplace.
• Covering for inadequate leaders, managers, or supervisors.
• Temporary respite from a toxic workplace.
• Pretending negative, counterproductive thoughts and behaviors don’t exist.

Sadly, this type of approach leads to unintended and undesirable outcomes, including:

• Boredom.
• Wasting time.
• Not changing anything.
• The wrong type of discomfort.
• Reinforcing hierarchy.
• Not learning new behaviors.
• Cliques.
• People being put on the spot.
• Not identifying or addressing what’s causing discord and division.
• A missed opportunity to teach people new skills.

So, what can you do when you want to implement a program that actually works? Create a methodology that goes much deeper and includes elements such as:

• Effective communication.
• Listening.
• Emotional intelligence.
• Talking about difficult subjects.
• Connecting meaningfully.
• Interacting respectfully.
• Collaboration.
• Positive reinforcement.
• Eliminating power differentials.
• Valuing people.
• Giving individuals decision-making power.
• Increasing self-awareness.
• Kindness.
• Empathy.

When you focus on more meaningful elements like these, you create a work environment where people feel supported. Imagine what your workplace would look and feel like if you and everyone on your staff did all these things. You’d be the envy of the vast majority of companies and organizations out there.

The best team building activity is one that encourages people to think and behave in positive ways instead of the terrible habits that permeate and damage most workplaces. It’s within your grasp to create a much happier, productive, and profitable enterprise by implementing an ongoing program that teaches people how to interact and work well together.

You can begin practicing much better team building whenever you choose. All you have to do is commit to making it a reality. Cheers, Guy.

Bring Your People Together and Create a Thriving Culture of Team Building with My Advanced Team Building Program