We’ve all heard the phrase ‘team building’, and to some employees (and managers!) the words fill them with dread.  These activities have become synonymous with raft building, spaghetti tower construction and generally going on a bit of a ‘jolly’ away from the office and feeling slightly uncomfortable with each other while you work your way through the given task.

At the forthcoming World of Learning we’ll be talking about why the positive impact of team building should not be underestimated; specifically, the wider benefits which can be achieved by taking the time out to strengthen and create a robust, efficient and cohesive team.  This will benefit them, and therefore your company, as a whole.

But how can this be achieved through team building activities?  We deliver unique murder mystery challenges, and using our Act of Murder (where teams are tasked with interviewing suspects and investigating a crime scene in order to solve the mystery) as an example, we can now share the list of the 6 key skills we look out for in a team!

Active listening

In the initial phase, observing the interactions between the characters to pick up on non-verbal clues is essential.  This is where the information gathering starts, and you can’t solve a problem without all of the facts.

Observation

Gathering specific facts through interrogation or interview of the characters is crucial.  Rather than just passively hearing the answers, fully concentrating on what is being said and then responding with open questions is the key to success.

Analytical thinking

All that information is not much use unless you can successfully collate and analyse it.  Focusing on facts and evidence helps to eliminate the red herrings and extract key information; logically analysing will help see the wood for the trees.

Lateral thinking

An indirect and creative approach will bring up some fascinating solutions.  Avoiding stereotypical patterns of thought, maintaining an open mind and delaying judgment until all of the evidence has been evaluated works hand in hand with detailed analysis

Communication

Information will be coming from all angles, and the only way to keep it clear and concise is to communicate openly and effectively within the team.  Sharing information, and recognizing and listening to the contributions of other members will ensure that no stone is unturned.

Collaboration

The last step is to come up with a solution based on the evidence.  Functioning effectively as part of a team by agreeing on a plan of action, working hard to fulfil their obligations and giving recognition and respect to one another makes for a strong and effective team.

So, does it work?  During our seminar we’ll be looking into the case study of one particular client, an experiential design company who was experiencing discord between their finance and production departments.  Following a successful team building activity, the ultimate benefit to them was increased efficiency and therefore profitability within the company as a whole.

So, should teambuilding be seen as a dreaded chore to tick a CPD box or should it be fun, engaging, and profitable?  We think we know!