Was going to suggest this. Even paintballing would be good as both of them allow you to plant a load of plastic/paint balls on some annoying colleague
Team Building Activities
- Thread starter scorza
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Was going to suggest this. Even paintballing would be good as both of them allow you to plant a load of plastic/paint balls on some annoying colleague
As a team manager (and probably an annoying colleague), I am not so keen on this idea
Activities like the above I have no issue with, it's just the majority of the team building events my company holds involves sitting in a big meeting room split into groups doing the usual puzzles everyone has seen before.
Most of it isn't even team building as there's so many different departments in the company you get teamed with people you will never need to contact.
Most of it isn't even team building as there's so many different departments in the company you get teamed with people you will never need to contact.
Personally, the idea of someone being a "nobhead" because they can get paid to suggest the people go on team-building events (which they probably just picked up from a book or TV) and get paid and respected for it doesn't quite tally for me. It seems more like getting paid for nothing. And that it laudable, if you can do it.
By companies TBEs are all based around one simple idea. The team takes one day out a year and does something together that benefits the local community/charities. They tend to be quite good fun, we learn a bit about each other (without getting all "alcoholics anonymous" about it), benefit a worthy cause and spend a day doing something completely different to our normal jobs. They're really quite good and people look forward to them.
The best thing to do is just a fun day trip away somewhere, a weekend in a luxor soa, posh dinner etc.Let employees have fun at employers expense to help build a nicer atmosphere.
Don't turn it into any kind of team building nonsense. At least not directly.
Wevery done things like white water rafting, kayaking, mountain biking which indirectly seems employees interact differently.
Don't turn it into any kind of team building nonsense. At least not directly.
Wevery done things like white water rafting, kayaking, mountain biking which indirectly seems employees interact differently.
Yeah, I thought that too - but that's probably because I'm a nobhead training person who likes to tell people how to do their job despite the fact I couldn't get a real job myself.
Personally, the idea of someone being a "nobhead" because they can get paid to suggest the people go on team-building events (which they probably just picked up from a book or TV) and get paid and respected for it doesn't quite tally for me. It seems more like getting paid for nothing. And that it laudable, if you can do it.
By companies TBEs are all based around one simple idea. The team takes one day out a year and does something together that benefits the local community/charities. They tend to be quite good fun, we learn a bit about each other (without getting all "alcoholics anonymous" about it), benefit a worthy cause and spend a day doing something completely different to our normal jobs. They're really quite good and people look forward to them.
I always liked the idea of a charity event as a company excursion/tam building event.
Yeah so we do the whole going out at lunch time/after work thing but we've done it so much it's getting a bit stale imo and not improving team spirit. I was just thinking what else could be done - day out doing clay pigeon shooting type of thing. I know that people will moan, but that doesn't mean they don't enjoy it in the end
Thought about just doing a walk somewhere that has a prepared picnic or country pub for lunch?
A good trip i have done a few times in different countries was a simple river float. ind of white water rafting but without white water. Just a calm river that you float down for a few hours enjoying the scenery, no guide or instructions because it is very safe. Takes a bit of team work to control a raft.
We always added a few 6 packs to the raft and a bottle of whisky. After a time you get up to a lot of antics like trying to capsize the boat with the managers on, jumping from raft to raft.
Yes, it's because some people have their head in the ****ing clouds. It's the reason British firms are so inefficient.
Go work at somewhere like Thyssenkrup in Germany if you want to see how to run a company. British people in general are crap workers, German workers are great. No messing about they just do things and do them properly.
Personally, the idea of someone being a "nobhead" because they can get paid to suggest the people go on team-building events (which they probably just picked up from a book or TV) and get paid and respected for it doesn't quite tally for me. It seems more like getting paid for nothing. And that it laudable, if you can do it.
They do nothing of actual worth and the idea that some idiot who couldn't make it in the working world thinks he knows better than me about how to run a complex business and manage the human capital is just laughable.
The British Empire didn't have a HR department and they'd have gotten nothing done if they did.
Probably yes, or doesn't that come in the scripted training tosh they dole out to you?
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I write my own tosh, so I wouldn't know anything about doled out scripted training material.
If you have a problem with your team not communicating/bonding and two hour pub lunch doesn't make them friendly towards each other then no amount of money flushed down the toilet on running on coals and catching each other falling will force them to bond, become friends or stop stabbing each other in the back.
Although to me the idea of spending third of my life with people who don't bond on any level wouldn't be particularly acceptable, the simple truth is corporate environment is just that type of place where people do not do anything beyond their 9-5 to get paid. It's created in such a way - full of people in anonymous uniform clothing they wouldn't normally wear, doing bare minimum work they don't really like, one partition apart from people they don't have anything in common with. It's nothing to fix or have trust exercises about, you will just have to accept that it is the kind of environment where they don't need to be buddies or (air quotes) "trust" each other to fulfil their duties and workflows should be adjusted for that.
Although to me the idea of spending third of my life with people who don't bond on any level wouldn't be particularly acceptable, the simple truth is corporate environment is just that type of place where people do not do anything beyond their 9-5 to get paid. It's created in such a way - full of people in anonymous uniform clothing they wouldn't normally wear, doing bare minimum work they don't really like, one partition apart from people they don't have anything in common with. It's nothing to fix or have trust exercises about, you will just have to accept that it is the kind of environment where they don't need to be buddies or (air quotes) "trust" each other to fulfil their duties and workflows should be adjusted for that.
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Soldato
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Boss: 'Today we'll be conducting a team building activity in the staff canteen.'
Me [halfway out the front door already]: 'Great! Let me know how that works out for you.'
I think I've sat next to you on the HR Naughty Step at least once...
I love how you bunch of grumpy sods see having a laugh with work colleagues, getting a fancy meal and an open bar paid for by work as a waste of time
Some of us don't care about 'free stuff'. I can buy my own meals or drinks. It's making it mandatory to go to this nonsense which grinds people's gears. Though in fairness, a drink out is probably the best team building exercise. Playing little childish games aimed at the lowest common denominator is an insult.
HOWEVER, I still see pointless meetings as a bigger sin.
Used to think the same way until I ran into working with NZ colleagues here in Christchurch. Now I'm actively looking for British workers. To be fair, the ones that left have more get-up-and-go anyway. Don't let the 1000s of worthless lazy moaning entitled Brits sway your opinion. There's some of them here working damn hard.
another thread here, might throw up a few ideas http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18611873&highlight=team+building