Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
I work in the Information Technology (IT) field, and I recently overheard some team members discussing the online multiplayer game they play together. They frequently devise battle strategies while they work, and this makes me think online gaming could be a good team building tool for my engineers. Multiplayer gaming would suit my teams’ natural competitiveness far better than traditional team building exercises like ropes courses and corporate retreats. Gaming would be considerably less expensive than these exercises, and could be permanently incorporated into the organizational culture, instead of being a one-time event.
I could also use gaming to resolve certain kinds of team conflict. IT professionals often argue about the best approach to resolve a technical issue. There are usually several different possibilities that will produce identical results, but IT professionals can be passionate in their defense of a particular idea, to the point their fractiousness negatively impacts the entire team. To prevent this I could have different factions square off in a quick online battle, with the victors winning the right to decide which approach we’ll use. Saving Changes...
George LewisProgram/Project Manager| DXC Technology CompanyHeredia, Costa Rica
Schedule a mandatory team meeting, not to discuss project related issues, but to discuss personal matters... Know the team, this would help understand your stakeholders behaviors, time zones, language, family matters, personal issues, organizational situations, company related issues. After all tasks are performed by humans, and as such we work better or worse according to different situations.
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2 replies by Eric Simms and Vincent Guerard
Mar 10, 2017 10:18 AM
Eric Simms
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A mandatory team meeting to discuss personal matters... that's a very interesting concept. I can see some people resisting it initially, but I like the idea.
Mar 14, 2017 5:00 PM
Vincent Guerard
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Like the idea, I believe you need some level of trust already in place, to get in personal matters.
Saving Changes...
George LewisProgram/Project Manager| DXC Technology CompanyHeredia, Costa Rica
Interesting Discussion... Saving Changes...
Aejaz ShaikhPM I| Alyx Technologies India Pvt LtdPune, Maharshatra, India
The primary aim of team building activity should be to get the team to gel together and remove all their apprehensions and then as per the Tuckmann Ladder - Performing. Performing in order to make the project a success. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Team building activities may include outdoor events Hiking, Travelling Site Seeing, Any Team Sport. On the Other side you can have different team formalized within teams to participate in some unique event and decide the winner Saving Changes...
Lisa KomidarService Delivery Manager - Sr. Engagement Manager| Optimum Healthcare ITKane, Pa, United States
Our team of 5 programmers (and a teenage child of the supervisor) got together at a local lake where we had to pair up and canoe together. It was really a lot of fun and required teamwork. None of us really had experience. We had to develop a rhythm and communicate to each other. At times we got a little competitive with the other teams. After we finally got back to shore, we worked together to grill lunch.
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1 reply by Tom Crea
Mar 14, 2017 4:04 PM
Tom Crea
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I'm sure the team building was great during your cookout as well. Firefighters prepare meals together for this very purpose. Check out this December 2015 HBR article, “Team Building in the Cafeteria”
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Mar 08, 2017 3:32 PM
Replying to George Lewis
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Schedule a mandatory team meeting, not to discuss project related issues, but to discuss personal matters... Know the team, this would help understand your stakeholders behaviors, time zones, language, family matters, personal issues, organizational situations, company related issues. After all tasks are performed by humans, and as such we work better or worse according to different situations.
A mandatory team meeting to discuss personal matters... that's a very interesting concept. I can see some people resisting it initially, but I like the idea. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Usually team building exercises have two main purposes: building trust and fostering team work.
The trust building is a little easier to do. I often ask people to introduce themselves by sharing something most people don't know about them. Saving Changes...
Tom CreaPresident| Blackhawk Consulting Group, LLC dba Blackhawk Leadership DevelopmentBethel Park, Pa, United States
Mar 10, 2017 6:11 AM
Replying to Lisa Komidar
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Our team of 5 programmers (and a teenage child of the supervisor) got together at a local lake where we had to pair up and canoe together. It was really a lot of fun and required teamwork. None of us really had experience. We had to develop a rhythm and communicate to each other. At times we got a little competitive with the other teams. After we finally got back to shore, we worked together to grill lunch.
I'm sure the team building was great during your cookout as well. Firefighters prepare meals together for this very purpose. Check out this December 2015 HBR article, “Team Building in the Cafeteria”
One I liked the most from the ones I have participated is the Jeopardy. Teams are created and one member is selected to provide answers. All participate to provide an answer. Hope this one helps you. Saving Changes...
Schedule a mandatory team meeting, not to discuss project related issues, but to discuss personal matters... Know the team, this would help understand your stakeholders behaviors, time zones, language, family matters, personal issues, organizational situations, company related issues. After all tasks are performed by humans, and as such we work better or worse according to different situations.
Like the idea, I believe you need some level of trust already in place, to get in personal matters. Saving Changes...
