Three Team Building Tips To Build A Strong Team

In today’s business world, reality is that you are either leading a team, or you’re a member of one.  Moreover, in all aspects of your life you are part of multiple teams.  As human beings, we are quite social, and it shows up in virtually everything we do.  There’s family, friends, work organizations, and even community “teams.”  But no matter how different those teams may seem, they have one element in common:  their members share a common goal or interest.  And, in order to achieve the most desirable outcomes, the team must function smoothly.  The moves of the team members must be choreographed so the performance of the team meets and exceeds expectations.

But how do you enhance team performance?  Here are three team building tips to help build a strong team.

Team Bonding

Have you noticed that the more critical, or dangerous, the task at hand, the more close-knit the team members are?  Team bonding describes the process of becoming intimately familiar with your fellow teammates. Of course, this kind of familiarity will grow naturally with time.  But there are a variety of specific programs and activities out there that speed up the process. These can be classroom-oriented, or outdoor activities of all kinds.   Often, they achieve outcomes that would only very slowly if ever be achieved.

While the content of any team bonding experience may vary, the objectives will often include

• Trust.  Learning to trust other members of the team.
• Affirmation.  Making each team  member feel valued.
• Empowerment.  Encouraging individuals to make decisions on their own.
• Commitment.  Solidifying the belief that each person is part of a team committed to each other and a common goal.

Communication Systems

There’s not much that will get in the way of achieving goals like poor communications.  Whether your team is local or dispersed around the world, if the various members aren’t kept in the flow of what’s currently happening, everyone loses.

With a smaller, mostly local team, this can be as simple as setting up a group text where questions are posed and accomplishments are posted.  Those who need to chime in can do so, and if you simply mute the conversation you won’t be getting unwanted notifications in the middle of other responsibilities.

The next level up can be one of the software options such as Teamwork or Slack.  Those can easily facilitate the transfer of both communications and important files between team members and work as well on a smartphone or tablet as they do on a laptop.

Celebrate Together

We’ve all heard the old adage “the family that plays together stays together.”  That applies equally to the other teams in your life as well.  Surprisingly, the most often heard feedback complaint about team functionality is that this was inadequate.  So not only does it help team productivity, but it’s absence is quickly noticed.

Whether it’s for recognition of a job well done, to hand out special rewards, or just to laugh, there’s a kind of team bond formed in celebration that can’t be duplicated.  It’s what makes that business team feel like extended family.  So when the work is done, it’s definitely time for a little letting down of the hair.

Good Teams Don’t Just Happen

Good teams, teams that are productive and engaged every day, are not accidents.  They’re built by carefully cementing the bonds, communication, and smiles that are shared between its members.