Team Building

Team Building activities improve the relations and strengthen the bond among the employees.
With good team-building skills, you can unite employees around a common goal and generate greater productivity. Without them, you limit yourself and the staff to the effort each individual can make alone.

Team building is an ongoing process that helps a work group evolve into a cohesive unit. The team members not only share expectations for accomplishing group tasks, but trust and support one another and respect one another's individual differences.

Team building can lead to:
• Good communications with participants as team members and individuals
• Increased department productivity and creativity
• Team members motivated to achieve goals
• A climate of cooperation and collaborative problem-solving
• Higher levels of job satisfaction and commitment
• Higher levels of trust and support
• Diverse co-workers working well together
• Clear work objectives
• Better operating policies and procedures

Steps to Building an Effective Team

The first rule of team building is an obvious one: to lead a team effectively, you must first establish your leadership with each team member. Remember that the most effective team leaders build their relationships of trust and loyalty, rather than fear or the power of their positions.
• Consider each employee's ideas as valuable. Remember that there is no such thing as a stupid idea.
• Be aware of employees' unspoken feelings. Set an example to team members by being open with employees and sensitive to their moods and feelings.
• Act as a harmonizing influence. Look for chances to mediate and resolve minor disputes; point continually toward the team's higher goals.
• Be clear when communicating. Be careful to clarify directives.
• Encourage trust and cooperation among employees on your team. Remember that the relationships team members establish among themselves are every bit as important as those you