Every team needs a regular dose of team spirit to function at its best. That's why managers turn to these easy and effective activities for building camaraderie and cohesion. Now in its second edition, Quick Team-Building Activities for Busy Managers addresses the problems that drag down group productivity and helps teams: Collaborate successfully ∗ Cope with change ∗ Solve problems ∗ Communicate better ∗ Boost creativity ∗ Leverage diversity ∗ Nurture healthy competition ∗ And more Each of the 50 exercises takes just minutes to prep, and most call for everyday items like pens or paper clips. No elaborate training sessions or prepared presentations required. Simply scan the instructions explaining how to run the session, what problems might crop up, and which questions to ask to drive the lessons home. The results are immediate: sullen teams find sparkle, nervous teams gain confidence, teams of strangers get to know one another. New and updated activities get everyone, including virtual teams, working together with purpose and a little bit of fun-fifteen minutes of the workday very well spent!
Table of Contents:
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
Part I. Getting Ready
CHAPTER 1.How to Run a Successful Team-Building Activity 9
STEP 1.
BEFORE: SELECT AN ACTIVITY THAT'S GOOD FOR YOUR TEAM 9
STEP 2.
BEFORE: PREPARE FOR YOUR TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITY 10
STEP 3. DURING: EXPLAIN THE ACTIVITY TO THE TEAM 11
STEP 4.
DURING: CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING BEFORE BEGINNING 13
STEP 5. DURING: RUN THE ACTIVITY 14
STEP 6. DURING: DEBRIEF THE ACTIVITY 15
STEP 7.
AFTER: REINFORCE THE LEARNING BACK ON THE JOB 16
CHAPTER 2.What Could Go Wrong in a Team-Building Activity 19
Part II. The Activities
CHAPTER 3.Communication: Listening and Influencing 31
CARD TRIANGLES 32
COPY CAT 35
LISTEN UP 39
ME, MYSELF, AND I 42
NAPKINS 45
ORIGAMI 48
SHARED VALUES 51
CHAPTER 4.Connecting: Getting to Know Each Other 55
GOSSIP TIME 56
HUMAN BILLBOARDS 59
MY N.A.M.E. 62
NEIGHBORS 64
A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS 67
RATHER THAN 70
READY, SET, REORGANIZE! 73
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES 76
SWEET STORIES 79
CHAPTER 5.Cooperation: Working Together as a Team 83
CATCH! 84
COUNT OFF 87
FLOOR DESIGNS 89
HELIUM STICK 92
PASS THE CARD 95
POPCORN 98
PUZZLED 100
STAR POWER 103
CHAPTER 6.Coping: Dealing with Change 105
BRIDGES AND TOWERS 106
CHANGE TIME LINE 109
INDEX TOWERS 112
MACHINES 115
MAKEOVERS 117
MY ABC'S 119
NUMBERS 122
PUZZLED THUMBS 124
SQUARES 127
CHAPTER 7.Creativity: Solving Problems Together 131
BALLOON SCULPTURES 132
CARD STACK 134
CONSULTANTS 137
IMPROVE THIS 140
MAGIC CARPET RIDE 143
ONE-WORDED STORIES 146
PAPER SHUFFLE 149
CHAPTER 8.Teamwork: Appreciating and Supporting Each Other 151
BLAME GAME 152
BUT NOTHING (FEEDBACK) 155
BUT NOTHING (IDEAS) 158
ENVELOPES 161
FIRST IMPRESSIONS 164
JUNK TO JEWELS 167
KUDOS 170
LABELS 174
THANK-YOU CARDS 177
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT ME 180
Index 183
About the Author 189
About the Author :
BRIAN COLE MILLER is the principal of Working Solutions, Inc., a management training and consulting firm whose clients include Nationwide Insurance, Kellogg's, and the Ohio State University. He is the author of Keeping Employees Accountable for Results and other popular books.
