Platinum Author
I thought I'd take a shot at choosing one word most suited to the best team building experience for each letter in the alphabet. Sometimes it was easy with just the one, obvious contender for the position. Other times it was difficult as there were a few of merit. Other times still, it was hard because nothing immediately sprang to mind. Anyway, these are my choices.
A is for Activity - note I didn't put "activities". Teams get so much more out of choosing a single activity, albeit one with lots of variety (see "v") than they do if they have one thing in the morning and something quite different in the afternoon.
B is for Building - not only is it half the main term all by itself, but it is a vital half. Building suggests a process of making something bigger as time goes on. Team building is therefore making teams bigger and better over time.
C is for Client - a successful team building event is one in which the client is as committed to it as the provider. I'd expect the provider to take the lion's share of the work, but the client must help with timely decisions on key aspects of the event and the logistics within his, her or their organisation.
D is for Debrief - as suggested under "b", a real team building event is one in which the team leaves better in some way than it came in. The best way of ensuring this is the case is to have a professional debrief session, focused on transferring the learning back to organisation.
E is for Event - using this word helps remind all involved that a great team activity is just part of the package. To be a complete success, the venue, food, business elements, audio-visual, room layout etc. all needs to be spot on too.
F is for Fun - without this, what's the point? Of course, different people get their kicks in different ways, so variety (see "v" again!) is important.
G is for Group - in fact, all the group characteristics. Size, levels of the hierarchy involved, gender mix, ages, ability levels, ethnic diversity etc. Vital information for making sure the activity is right for the, well, group.
H is for Heal - for teams that have issues between its members. A team building event is an ideal opportunity ion a safe environment to start the healing process and overcome barriers to team effectiveness.
I is for Improvement - a vital and necessary outcome if the time spent is a real team building session (see "B").
J is for Judgement - if a client doesn't know how they will judge the success of the event then it makes it harder to deliver the very best event possible for them. So decide beforehand how you will judge the success or otherwise of your event.
K is for Kicks - as providers, we get our biggest kicks from those individuals who come up to us at the end of an event and tell us how much they were dreading the session, yet found it great! When we get our kicks, we're very confident that a client has got what they wanted too.
L is for Learning - see "b" and "d". For us, team building is about combining an enjoyable experience with real team learning that makes a difference back in the workplace. Otherwise it is just socialising.
M is for Motivational - you will want to send your people away "champing at the bit" to get back to work and do (even) better. Ready, able and willing is a combination that makes for great teams.
N is for Nearby - except for geographically spread teams that want to meet somewhere neutral, you'll want it, as the Carpenters sang, close to you.
O is for Outcomes - essentially what you want to achieve from the event. It may be something as simples as "fun" or involve a wide selection of team behavioural changes that you want to start seeing shortly after the event. A vital ingredient of any real team building session.
P is for Participants - clients often call these people "delegates", but we've never liked that term. For a great team building event, you want people to participate in it and preferably willingly!
Q is for Quick wins - come debrief time, as much as it is important to identify those bigger team improvements that you want to shot for, it is also important to identify a few "quick wins". Things that the team can implement quickly and see real benefit from in the short term. It is fuel to the team effort to achieve the bigger goals that take longer.
R is for Requirements - team requirements, in this case. The logistical details. Are there any participants with special needs, such as diet or wheelchair access? Are there people with conditions of any kind that might rule out certain options? Are there any ethic or religious considerations?
S is for Synergy - ah, synergy! For those in the know, this less than elegant word is a useful one. In team matters it means making the whole add up to more than the sum of the parts. And surely that what being in a team is all about?
T is for Team - of course.
U is for Uniqueness - when it comes to team building, participants don't particularly enjoy doing something that they have done before. It's a challenge, sure, but it is worth finding an activity that is genuinely different.
V is for Variety - the spice of life. And of team building events. We're all different. We have different interests, likes, dislikes and skill sets. A great team building event recognises this and offers a wide selection of activities for people to engage in.
W is for Weather - your event may be at a great location with wonderful grounds that would be a pleasure to use. If the weather is willing, that is. Hope for good weather if you do want to go outside, but plan for bad weather and your event won't be ruined by the whim of a rain cloud or two.
X is for X factor - choose an activity that generates a "buzz" immediately and then builds upon it, getting better and better as time (hopefully) flies by. No Simon Cowell link required. Just a great option delivered by an experienced team.
Y is for Yes - a can do attitude from your supplier can help generate an equal one from all your participants.
Z is for Zest - send everyone away refreshed and with a zest to get back to work with a smile on their faces!
Phew. Enjoy - and feel free to suggest alternatives!
About this Author
The author's company, Sandstone Limited, are team building specialists with a range of unique activities. Their activities are so different that they have attracted partners around the world who deliver them to Sandstone's exacting standards. They even have one that is delivered completely over the web.
Their client list is impressive and their references impeccable. You can call Sandstone on 01158 715690 for an informal chat that will help you choose the best activity for your team building requirement.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Hunt
