We have done some team building activities. The last one was we all went to an Escape Room. We had 1 hour to work together as a team to find the clues and escape the room.
At a previous job we had regular pot lucks where people would bring in foods from different cultures.
We went to Dave & Busters (video games) and we did laser tag once. And there has been talk about doing paint ball in the future.
All of these activities were done during the day. It was like talking a longer lunch break.
In regards to Sante's suggestion, we did come up with a team motto. We kind of never followed through with that one. We were going to laminate it and hang it on our walls. We talked once about getting team t-shirts.
Escape Room that is a good team building activity
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1 reply by Dinah Young
May 16, 2018 5:41 PM
Dinah Young
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I did learn something from this activity. My team likes to talk a lot and listen little
Events and formal recognition are good, but it needs to start with a safe team environment based on mutual respect, shared values & rituals which the team has developed. Regular opportunities for reflection (e.g. retrospectives) with lots of chocolate helps...
Kiron Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
May 16, 2018 3:20 PM
Replying to Vincent Guerard
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Escape Room that is a good team building activity
I did learn something from this activity. My team likes to talk a lot and listen little Saving Changes...
One bad experience to share, We decided to have a happy hour and games to meet after 5pm on Thursday (last day of the week in the Middle East) and hardly anyone shows up, people are so demotivated in that part of the world.
No wonder. You don't see Happy Hour and Middle East in the same sentence very often lol.
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
May 16, 2018 5:56 PM
Rami Kaibni
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That is because every hour is a happy hour there lol
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
May 16, 2018 5:51 PM
Replying to Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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No wonder. You don't see Happy Hour and Middle East in the same sentence very often lol.
That is because every hour is a happy hour there lol
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
May 16, 2018 7:54 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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lol Touche!
Saving Changes...
Karen RowsonSenior Project Management| Elevance HealthRichmond, Va, United States
You need a catch phrase or secret word--something that only makes sense to the team. Once we had a stakeholder whose favorite word was, "bifurcate" so that became our secret word...let's get bifurcated...what time are we bifurcating?...don't forget to bifurcate it. Saving Changes...
Kevin, I agree with all suggestions actually we also do the potluck or Gut busters as mentioned by Vincent and Dinah,
We have a safety reward at the end of the time for any member who spent the time without any safety incident will get a safety gift.
On a hot day we distribute Ice cream for the team
Donuts & muffins runs almost three times in a week, free coffee every day
Manager specials "I surprise the team with Baklava and Turkish delights"
Outdoor activities, Kayaking, Quading quad bike, Participating in stampede rodeo, etc
Any special achievement provide recognition small thanks notes with magnet to stick on refrigerator and keep a photocopy in the file.
But the most important in every day activities to have a sense of humour, don't be too serious, have fun, make some jokes a per the level of friendliness with the team. Saving Changes...
Michael DelaneyPartner| Delaney Management LLCWest Chester, Pa, United States
May 16, 2018 1:55 PM
Replying to Dinah Young
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We have done some team building activities. The last one was we all went to an Escape Room. We had 1 hour to work together as a team to find the clues and escape the room.
At a previous job we had regular pot lucks where people would bring in foods from different cultures.
We went to Dave & Busters (video games) and we did laser tag once. And there has been talk about doing paint ball in the future.
All of these activities were done during the day. It was like talking a longer lunch break.
In regards to Sante's suggestion, we did come up with a team motto. We kind of never followed through with that one. We were going to laminate it and hang it on our walls. We talked once about getting team t-shirts.
Dave & Busters is always a good team night out. I like the escape rooms since it is also team building and challenging Saving Changes...
Good ideas! How about anything for where teams are not co-located, and may only meet via conference call most months, has anyone found anything that helps break the ice there?
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1 reply by Margaret Love
May 17, 2018 7:35 AM
Margaret Love
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Tim, if I were a younger woman this would be my field of research - how to effectively build a virtual team. I'd love to write a book on that, but right now the pages would be mostly blank :-)
One idea I've had is to make each week (or month) have a theme where people can share photos, stories, etc from their lives - like May is "pet month" and June is "dream vacation month" and July is "green thumb month", etc.
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