What is Team Building?

Team Building is a term used for a range of activities that improve social interaction within a team. This often involves tasks, which encompasses team collaboration to achieve an effective result. Team Building can sometimes be confused with team training. The difference being, team building is best utilized to improve interpersonal relationships whilst team training is designed to teach in house structures and improve efficiency.

Team Building activities can be used to address social problems within a group. These exercises aim to enhance a team environment. Team building is one of the foundations of organizational development. Activities are used within corporate workplaces, sports teams and volunteer services. Team Building can:

  • Set common goals
  • Improve understanding of team member’s roles
  • Understanding team problems and find solutions
  • Develop workplace relations

Team Building is one of the most utilized group development activities in organizations. Of all organizational activities, team development can have the strongest effect (versus financial measures) for improving organizational performance.

A combination of team building activities with team training, will improve teams performance and understanding of managerial structures in the workplace.

Four key areas in which team building programs focus on include:

Role Clarification – Helps identify individuals knowledge of others members roles in the team. The aim is to create understanding of the importance of structure by performing activities. This highlights the roles individuals collectively play in a team that leads to success.

Interpersonal Relations – The focus is to learn how to effectively communicate, provide support and share ideas. Teams with fewer conflicts often perform more effectively. An activity where open communication and trust is needed to complete a task is the best practice method.

Goal Setting – This outlines the importance of clear objective and common goals in the team. Action planning is used to measure the team’s success. The aim is to motivate and develop ownership within the team.

Problem Solving – Problems are highlighted and collective as a team, solutions are identified. Problem Solving activities assist in critical thinking.

The effectiveness of team building impacts businesses differently. Team building success relies on individuals who are interdependent, experienced and support the organizational leadership in the team.