Team building: Imagine skyrocketing engagement – not just a feel-good notion, but a profit-boosting reality. Unfortunately, not everyone enjoys these activities, and often can backfire in the form of complaints.
Picture this: companies riding the engagement wave don’t just thrive; they dominate, outshining competitors in the following ways:
Source: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/285674/improve-employee-engagement-workplace.aspx#ite-357638
Impressed? Brace yourself for the playbook that’ll kick objections to the curb and make team building your secret weapon.
Here are five reasons why people hate team building activities and how you either as a leader, trainer or facilitator can overcome these objections to ensure a fruitful session:
1. “Team Building is a Waste of Time: I Already Don’t Have Enough!”
Agree, time’s precious! But here’s the twist: team building isn’t a detour; it’s a turbocharger for your goals. Connect activities to objectives – voila, you’re investing, not indulging. Productivity amplified, skepticism silenced.
Ideas to address:
Lay the groundwork: Communicate session goals and tie them to company targets. Highlight that team building isn’t just play; it’s about supercharging performance. Relate activities to learning outcomes, ensuring they see personal development connections.
2. “Banishing the ‘Silliness’ Myth!”
I’m sure many of you have participated in some pretty silly games & activities that many people have seen or participated in, all in the name of team building. Sometimes folks use this as an excuse to hold out and not fully participate and truthfully sometimes there really are silly.
Ideas to address:
Choose wisely: Opt for activities aligned with your team’s training and learning goals. Swap silliness for strategy – scavenger hunts, problem-solving scenarios, or other engaging activities with a purpose. Craft experiences that resonate with your team’s strengths and aspirations.
3. “Team Building Workshops Are Exhausting. They’re Always So High-Energy.”
For some people, the phrase “team building activities” conjures up images of rowdy participants coFor some people, the phrase “team building activities” may evoke visions of boisterous participants competing in a noisy and disordered environment. This can be a highly unconfortable situation for introverts. Introverts account for over 50 percent of the U.S. population, so you can count on needing to factor this in when designing the activities for your team.
Ideas to address:
Incorporate a range of activities throughout the day, as well as providing opportunities for reflection, to ensure that introverts are able to process the information they have taken in. It may also be beneficial to organize some of the groupings for activities in a way that balances extroverts and introverts. Monitor the energy levels and focus of the group, and be flexible with the plan if needed. If part of the plan is not engaging your team don’t be afraid to adjust the activity or move on if needed.
4. “Team Building is Awkward and Uncomfortable!”
Remember a certain level of awkwardness is to be expected as the group tries to break through and connect on new levels. The key is to minimize this aspect with a well-thought plan.
Team building activities can be designed for both groups that are already familiar with each other and groups that are yet to be acquainted. It is important to select activities that best fit the comfort level of the participants. Icebreakers can be used to bridge any gap and foster an atmosphere of camaraderie, regardless of how well the participants know each other. The objective of team building is to create a platform for colleagues to connect beyond the workplace and get to know each other on a more personal level.
Ideas to address:
Start with building connections: Kick off with social events that naturally build rapport. Address hesitations discreetly, ensuring everyone’s onboard. A safe atmosphere fuels trust in the process.
Spending time together outside the office could be a beneficial first step before beginning a specialized program designed to maximize your team’s performance. If you are planning an all-day session, it is essential to build a strong rapport between team members from the very beginning.
Remember that team building has a purpose and can be done in many ways and doesn’t always have to be a formal structured program that involves a professional trainer.
We have many Free Team Building Activities and low-cost Team Building resources for DIY Team Building.
Be mindful of the reactions to the activities and who is not taking part. If a participant is apprehensive, you or the trainer could talk to them privately and address their worries. When participants feel secure in the group, they are more likely to engage in the process and benefit from the overall purpose of the activity.
5. “Who Likes Being on the Losing Team?”
Team building activities can be competitive in nature (i.e. pitting one group against another, with one Team building activities that are competitive in nature can have a detrimental impact on the overall team dynamic, as they do not promote a sense of team success. Consider the example of a team member who is a competent and hard worker, yet loses in a team building activity and then is informed of why their group did not succeed. This can lead to feelings of failure and do the opposite of helping to build stronger teams with more engaged team members.
Ideas to address:
Blend competition with collective achievement. Celebrate solutions born from collaboration. Success transcends individual victory. Use competition in conjunction with collaboration and be sure to frame activities as learning journeys, focusing on insights rather than outcomes.
When leading a team building session, it is important to proactively manage any overly competitive participants. Ensure to emphasize that the process is more important than the outcome, and frame the activity as a learning experience rather than just a success or failure.
Get the Most Out of Your Team Building
Getting the most out of a team building session can be challenging, as it can be a source of anxiety and frustration for those involved. For the best results, it is important to foster a positive attitude among the group and foster participation from everyone. Selecting appropriate team building activities, as well as addressing any objections by using the strategies we’ve discussed above will go a long way to get everyone on board.
We have many Free Team Building Activities and low-cost Team Building resources that can help you on your team building journey.
