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Team building has been around as a corporate training technique for decades, but recently it’s fallen into disuse. Why? Because many of the techniques of team building seem more like play than work, perhaps.

Or because managers decided that the team building they’d already done was enough to make the group cohesive and maximize their productivity.

However, team building is a continuing process. As the military has found in decades of trial and error, when you have units of people playing and competing together, they grow closer, start thinking as a group instead of as individuals, and find it easier to work as complementary parts rather than as units.

Communication improves. And almost like magic, a bunch of people are transformed into a functioning team.

How Team Building Works

Great team building exercises use a variety of techniques to build group cohesion. Communication is an essential part of team building, as are group focus on a single goal that requires strategy to accomplish.

Often, but not always, it helps to have separate teams competing against one another.

One especially effective method is the scavenger hunt. The manager conducting the team building exercise takes into account the individual strengths and weaknesses of each team member and includes challenges that will exploit both of these for each member.

Team members have to work together at times to accomplish certain goals, like using landmarks that different members are familiar with as markers for the hunt. And the reward at the end must be applied equally to all.

Paintball is used by the military to bring units together. This exercise requires not just physical fitness and good aim, but the more important and hard to train skills of strategic thinking, communication, and learning to bond.

While the sport is a little rough and tumble for many offices, it can be a great teambuilder for the right group.

Other great team building exercises can include things like round-robin quiz games, word puzzles, and ordinary sports. That office softball team? It can be fun and also a great team builder.

Including Team Building Into A Meeting

Team building exercises are generally fairly involved and take a considerable amount of time. For this reason, they are inappropriate for most meetings outside of office half-day or full-day retreats.

For these longer meetings, get away from the office so creativity can flow and natural barriers are broken down. Start the meeting with something relaxing and positive, then move into the team building games.

Only after the team builders should you get into serious work. Why? Because fresh from the team builder, your people will work better together and find fresh creative ideas. You’ll notice an immediate result, and you’ll begin cementing those new bonds right away.

When To Use Team Building

Every office with numerous workers who frequently do not interact directly should look into using team builder exercises. However, there are a number of situations that almost require the use of team building.

For instance, in an office where there has been considerable friction or small groups competing in negative rather than positive ways, team building can break down barriers and create rapport where only strife existed before.

This is really excellent if you can do a contest pitting upper management with the people in cubicles, between whom a natural and healthy rivalry already exists in most cases.

Also, in offices with high turnover a regular team building exercise can build bonds that will help slow that turnover rate as well as improve interworking relationships for new and established employees.

In this case, team building exercises when your turnover hits a critical mass of 10-15% new employees can help bring the new people into your current corporate climate.

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Changing habits is hard work. It has been said that it requires 21 times of doing something in order to make it a habit. Here are some ways to figure out how to turn unhelpful habits into positives.

1. Never Feeling Good Enough - Are you constantly evaluating everything you do and generally finding fault. Do you have an internal voice which critiques you on everything, seeing only the negatives, not the positives? This voice is often described as a “gremlin.” When you are feeling not good enough it can show up by your being indecisive, relying on others to direct you, using language of uncertainty and even having poor posture. Generally there is a feeling of self doubt.

Clearly a change is necessary. First, you need to become aware of your limiting beliefs and in what situations they occur. What actions do you take which might be perpetuating these beliefs?

Sam was recently promoted to a managerial position and was both excited and scared about his new responsibilities. He knew that a lot of his colleagues were envious of his promotion, which added to the pressure he already put on himself. He evaluated and re-evaluated everything he said and did, to the extent that he was immobilizing himself. His “gremlin” was in high gear.

Sam worked with his coach to identify what he needed to change and what action steps were necessary. The result was his “gremlins” went into retirement and he had strategies in place if they returned.

2. Avoiding Conflict - You are by nature a peacekeeper. You like everyone to be happy and agreeable. The problem is that in life there is always some level of disagreement and conflict and how we deal with it can become the problem.

In the workplace, managers need to be able to manage conflict. Your team members will not always agree or like each other. They might not agree with you or like what you are telling them. What if their job performance is interfering with the goals of the company or the team’s morale? How will you deal with it? Avoiding conflict could be an obstacle to your taking on more of a leadership role.

Joyce disliked conflict, but recognized that if she wanted to be seen as a leader she would have to step up. She worked with her coach to develop a 3 step action plan.

1. Acknowledge the conflict.
2. Invite the other person to have a say and listen to their perspective.
3. Jointly develop a game plan for change.

Acknowledging out loud what a challenge conflict was for her, allowed her to “own” it and make changes.

3. Poor Boundaries - We have all known someone who has trouble saying “no,” and therefore might get into situations where they are doing more, but are stressed and unhappy about it. Sometimes people take advantage of them because of this weakness. Being able to set limits about what you can and can’t do is an extremely important skill. Assess your team. Is there someone who has trouble saying “no?” If so, what can you do to help them?

There are other issues which also fall under the category of poor boundaries: being aware of when, where and with whom you speak; the issue of confidentiality. What is the forum and policy for discussing client information? At some companies conversations may inadvertently occur in corridors or at restaurants where talk might be overheard by others. At times there can be a fine line between sharing information and gossiping. Your job as manager is to help create the guidelines and structure, so everyone is clear.

Changing habits is hard work. I’ve just discussed a few ways to help you figure out how to turn unhelpful habits into positives. You can do it, all it takes is 21 times of doing something in order to make it a habit!

Copyright 2007, Gail Solish.

Gail Solish provides executive and personal coaching to managers, directors and executives focused on workplace development and relationship management. Claim your FR-EE e-course “Unleash Your Potential and Increase Productivity and Fulfillment” at http://www.ActualizeYourGoals.com

Although not really well known to the laymen, the term “Hawthorne effect” has resounded in the social science world since the late 20s in America. The Hawthorne effect is basically known as a study of how high worker morale equals better work output.

The morale is based a great deal on the social interactions between workers — more so than the actual type and quality of work that is being done. This will be a small touch on what some of the study found as well as some team building techniques that are used today that are popular.

The name “Hawthorne” does not come from the name of the scientist that conducted the study, but is actually the name of the company that the experiment was conducted on. In 1927 the Hawthorne Plant of the Western Electric Company in Cicero, Illinois was a stage set by scientists to watch a group of workers interact on the job over a span of about three years. The team of scientists was led by Elton Mayo, known as the father of the Human Relations Movement.

There were two parts to the study. First they conducted some physical and environmental pressures and changes to see the effects. Some of those tests were little odd touches to the room surroundings, such as shifting the room humidity and ventilation, piping in music and adjusting the brightness of the lights within the space of work to see how these variations affected productivity. But the most profound experiments were done on how each worker formed their group dynamic and how their group belonging resulted in what amount of work was done.

This test was done on workers who were building telephone relays at the plant. The measurement of production output was charted with all the environmental factors changing. But it was found that the small group’s ability to get along with each other and their immediate boss created a direct relationship to the output.

The Hawthorne studies deducted a lot of results that are heavily debated today, but it spurred the beginnings of team building and the importance of small group morale and how the automaton worker philosophy of yesteryear can only be taken so far. This postulated that acceptance in a group was probably the single most important factor in the group dynamic; and since we spend a majority of our lives at work, it was important to create a relationship not unlike a family.

Practicing to Get Along: Team Building Games

So what a lot of company executives have a tough time boiling down to is the concept of getting their employees to work with the most efficiency, balancing morale, or willingness to work out of joy and group acceptance from their work peers. One technique that has caught on recently is the team building exercise of corporate scavenger hunting. This is an example of breaking the body of workers down to groups.

The corporate scavenger hunt is one of many team building games that specifically engages each team member and extrapolates every skill type from nearly all group members. Scavenger hunts today are set up by organizations with serious intent for their team building clients. High grossing corporate clients like Amazon.com and Microsoft have launched hunts for various departments in the past.

Watson Adventures (http://www.watsonadventures.com/team_building.html) offers a unique series of corporate team building games by hosting scavenger hunts in many metropolitan areas across the U.S. The article was written by Art Gib, who is a freelance writer.

So the top executives want to find out what their workers can do by doing a little experiment that should be “fun” for everyone. You’ll probably get a bunch of rolling eyes. However the feedback can be quite valuable to find out the strengths and abilities of people to see how effective they are together. This is usually done through an exercise that takes the focus off of their daily routine and puts them in a realm where the most basic components of decision making and delegating are put to the test.

The team building event will usually involve various scene changes. Corporate adventure is another way of going about doing corporate team building by putting employees in an exciting, risk-taking adventure outdoors. Some corporate team building stunts go as far as whisking everyone away to a whitewater adventure to tackle a grade III rapid. Some are tamer than that, usually depending on what budget the company has and insurance policy (whitewater can be unusually ruthless on the accounting staff).

Some businesses seek something as exiting as an adventure series of team building that gets people interacting outdoors, but without the risk. A clever new adventuring game for team building is the scavenger hunt.

Bean Counting Cubicle Dweller to Sherlock Inspector

For those unfamiliar with the scavenger hunt, it’s simply a game that pits teams competing against each other. There are a series of clues that involve some type of critical thinking between each member in the group to find the answer. The answer will usually lead the group to a destination where another clue lies. The game will have the groups travelling within a range of different locales; some famous places for scavenger hunting are college campuses, museums or anywhere with distinct landmarks and geography. Eventually the final destination is reached by following each clue in sequence. The group that finds the final answer in the shortest time wins.

For those familiar, the sport of scavenger hunting has grown further than what you may remember as a child, or the simple clue seeking Easter egg find mission. In a corporate team building setting it would normally involve an emcee setting the stage and outlining the rules of the game. They would stoke the creative juices while putting up the parameters of the game. The organizers usually give clues on sequenced cards with written questions or photos for the group.

With a good scavenger hunt, questions do not center on a specific task where one person may be better than the other within the group. For instance, someone knowledgeable about the art pieces at the Museum of Fine Arts (if the hunt takes place there) will not necessarily have an advantage over someone who may be good at word games because the questions are varied enough to touch on many different skill sets. One could be trivia based, another could include a hidden anagram or a word may allude to a dual meaning that unlocks to reveal the answer.

Good questions typically ask varied and unusual questions that touch on such a variety of subjects that someone in every group will usually have an answer.

Art Gib writes for Watson Adventures (http://www.watsonadventures.com/corporate.html) who emcee and stage a variety of different private scavenger hunts for businesses. They have had many high profile corporations use their service for corporate team building outings.

Finding a destination management company (DMC) in Baltimore is easy. Finding a destination management company that has both the knowledge and extensive experience required to make your event special isn’t quite so easy, unless you know what to look for:

- How well does the DMC know Baltimore and the Maryland area?
- How many and what kind of clients has the DMC done special events for?
- How much experience does the DMC have?
- What are the attitudes of past clients?

Let’s touch on each of these items in more detail…

How Well Does the DMC Know the Baltimore and Maryland Area?

Obviously you’ll want to go with a DMC that lives in and knows Baltimore and Maryland very well. Using an event planning company that doesn’t know the area very well could result in your special event being less special than it could be.

How Many and What Kind of Clients has the DMC Done Special Events For?

Who has the destination management company planned and executed special events for in the past? This will tell you who trusts the particular DMC to handle their special events. It will also tell you who the company has experience doing corporate event work for. The bigger and better known the client list, the better the DMC is likely to be as a result of the experience gained from working with these clients.

How Much Experience Does the DMC Have?

Planning truly special events in the Baltimore and Annapolis areas in Maryland requires more than just an intimate knowledge of the area. Experience comes in to play quite heavily. Knowing where to hold a special event is one thing, but having the experience of planning and executing a special event at that location is what will make the difference between a barely memorable event and one that will have your people talking for months afterward.

The more settled a DMC is within their area, the more contacts they will have built up, and the smoother your special event is likely to go.

What are the Attitudes of Past Clients?

Perhaps the most telling, and most important, indicator of how your special event will turn out is how they’ve turned out for past clients of the DMC. Ask the special events planning company for a list of past clients. If they are not able to provide that, check for testimonials on their website.

Simply reading a testimonial is not always helpful. If possible, contact the person who gave the testimonial and ask them directly what their experience was. Most people, if pleased with the service they received, will be more than happy to discuss their experience with you (and if their experience was bad, they’ll probably be even more anxious to speak with you).

GEP Baltimore (http://www.gepbaltimore.com) is a destination management company in Baltimore that specializes in planning and executing corporate special events in Baltimore, Annapolis and surrounding areas. Their client list includes some of the largest and most well known corporations in America.

Few cities can boast of as many historical, cultural, and beautiful attractions as Washington, D.C. Its parks, museums, government buildings, and monuments make the city an attractive destination for tourists, school groups, conferences and corporate events. In the midst of so many visitors and venues, you can save yourself substantial time and some serious headaches by employing a destination management company in the D.C. area.

For a lone tourist, a couple, or even a small family, a new city can be exciting at best and highly aggravating at worst. But, for a convention or corporate events coordinator, planning a meeting in a new city can be as dangerous as tromping through a jungle.

No matter where your company, organization, or clients convene, the gathering will be more enticing, impressive and memorable if it is well-planned and runs smoothly. Planning a special event, particularly a corporate event — whether for a trade show, training session, or just to help employees bond — can quickly become very overwhelming.

That’s where destination management companies (DMCs) come into play. A DMC in Washington D.C will be able to handle everything from start to finish, including all parts of planning and execution. But be wary when searching destination management companies in the Washington, D.C. area, as not all DMCs are created equal. You want your experience to be unforgettable for the smoothness of the execution and the enjoyment to be had on the trip, not for the incredible disappointment in services and non-stop aggravations that occur.

A DMC with the expertise and connections necessary to make an event truly special ensures that all of your needs and expectations will not just be met, but exceeded.

With a good Washington D.C. DMC in charge, the logistics of transportation, accommodations, entertainment and dining do not need to be part of your worries. From the moment your planes start to arrive to the hour that the last guest departs, a truly professional and efficient company will entertain, serve, and eliminate stress in a myriad number of ways. You ought to be able to expect a great variety of entertainment — including musicians, speakers, comedians and more — as well as transportation, such as shuttles (or even limousines if you so choose!) to pick you up at the airport and take you around the city without the hassle of parking.

Washington D.C. has a lot of significant American history built in, and a properly qualified Washington destination management company will have all the connections to make a historical trip well worth the visit. Whether you want an elegant atmosphere with a formal touch to prevail or a playful environment with an easy-going air, a qualified Washington D.C. destination management company will have no problems creating a customized experience with a creative flare no matter how big or small your budget may be.

Art Gib writes for GEP Washington, which is a professional Destination Management Company in Washington D.C. that also serves the surrounding area. Visit their website (http://www.gepwashington.com) to learn more about the venues and attractions that they offer.

Scavenger Hunting is catching on with how some corporate execs think would help their staff bond, work together and find each other’s strengths in the city of brotherly love. A private treasure hunt for an afternoon outing involves some legwork, riddle solving and the combination of unique skills and brain power.

Scavenger hunting within the city of Philadelphia can hinge on a variety of unique themes. For instance a hunt to-do question list can bring hunters wandering the old neighborhood of Philly, touching on such landmarks like the Liberty Bell, and from there walking on to Carpenter’s Hall (the meeting place for the first Continental Congress).

Any hunt can be done either inside or out, on foot or in a vehicle (hunting via Limo is not unheard of).

Scavenger Hunting and how it Foster’s Team Building

The scavenger hunt is more than just a game; it involves the interaction of the group as a whole. The Hunt questions do not center on a specific task where one person may be better. For instance, someone who is good at history of Philadelphia will not necessarily have an advantage or scene steal from the rest. The questions are varied enough to touch on many different skill sets. One could be trivia based, another could include a hidden anagram or a word may allude to a dual meaning that unlocks to reveal the answer, something tongue and cheek so to speak.

Team building in Philadelphia with a scavenger hunt provides great fodder for game questions and also helps the corporate team learn some things about themselves and other. The corporation and workers reap social rewards such as:

- How to be more relaxed, and laugh care free
- Build teamwork and not feel forced
- Build history between each other to look back with fondness and something to talk about in the future
- Know more about the city and surroundings of Philadelphia
- Have a great excuse to meet up afterward for drinks and lively chat

Some Big Names in Industry Used Scavenger Hunts

Corporations across the nation are using team building: Philadelphia to LA some CEOs have raved about the experience. CEO of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos was quoted saying “I can’t think of a better way to bring people together and have fun.”

There are names like Microsoft, BASF and Apple that have also been known to use this as a get away for their teams.

It is important that the emcees get it right during when they organize and explain the hunt. For a good hunt the emcee needs to psyche them up while informing. If you are looking for an organization that will help with your team building in Philadelphia effort, check their background to see what past experiences they’ve had.

Art Gib writes for Watson Adventures (http://www.watsonadventures.com/philadelphia.html) who organize and arrange scavenger hunts both public and private. They have specific private hunts such as team building in Philadelphia hunts that tour renowned city districts and museums.