The pandemic that struck the world in 2019 has been a tragic event. Many people have lost their lives, and many businesses have shut down due to a lack of staff. But what is there left to do? What can you do when all hope seems lost? You could start planning for your next team building session!
In this blog article, we will discuss how, after the pandemic, teamwork and collaboration are now more important than ever before to survive and thrive in this complex, dynamic market.
Why is it essential to engage your teams NOW?
Team building is a team's process of developing trust, cohesion and interpersonal skills. It happens over time as team members experience challenging tasks together and work towards common goals. Team building has been used in the workforce for decades now, mainly after team relationships have come under strain or are experiencing conflict.
Now, more than ever before, team members will have to work together and collaborate to survive in the current market. Team members need to have an open channel of communication to voice their concerns and feel comfortable sharing that with the team.
How to develop team cohesion?
Team cohesion is vital for any team that is seeking innovation or growth. Team members need to feel comfortable enough to share their ideas, thoughts, and vision and get feedback without feeling belittled.
In-person team building activities for engaging teams post-pandemic
Here are some of our top COVID-safe, in-person team building activities that you can organize to bring your teams closer.
Beat the Box
Beat the Box is an exciting team building event that develops team bonding and collaboration. It all begins with a mysterious video message in which a chilling voice challenges the participants to a game. The teams have only a pre-determined amount of time to crack a special code, stopping the countdown and enabling them to win the game.
Participants use and combine their different skills and develop creative solutions. The part which makes Beat the Box even more interesting is that in the end, all teams have to cooperate as they put all clues together to get the correct abort code. Teamwork and a collaborative mindset play a critical role in this activity.
Flat Out F1
In Flat Out F1, teams are provided with an unusual set of equipment, including sheets of cardboard, cardboard rolls, a wooden chassis, tape, tie-wraps, cutting tools and the all-important blueprints. Their challenge is to build a Formula One racing car that will win the Grand Prix! Participants can draw an analogy to the workplace where everyone has a rewarding role to play; whether they want to build, design, decorate or crew the car, each team member has a valuable contribution to make.
Teamwork, resourcefulness and excellent communication skills are required to turn a flat pack of materials into a Formula 1 racing car. With a good understanding of the end goal and by forming sub-teams and working in parallel, this complex project can be broken down to keep the whole team working effectively to achieve the goal. There is also plenty of creativity required to decorate the Formula 1 racing car. Finally, effective strategic planning and role allocation lead to a successful race.
The Big Picture
In The Biz Picture, teams paint cleverly crafted sections of a bespoke picture, representing your corporate message on authentic artists’ canvasses. Communication and coordination are critical as not all the information is immediately available. When all teams have finished, the canvasses are joined together to create The Big Picture, highlighting the successes and challenges of working together.
The program fosters collaboration across teams and an understanding of the roles of leadership and vision within an organization. Participants also learn the importance of flexible thinking when customers’ expectations change.
An added bonus is that you have created your own bespoke masterpiece that can hang on the wall in your office for years to come!
How to leverage Virtual Team Building Events
If you are still unsure of returning to the office or are working with remote teams across the globe, virtual events are a great way of engaging with your teams in a fun and collaborative way.
Virtual team building uses the internet for team members that can't meet in person. These can be browser-based or app-based. It's important because team members need to be comfortable communicating with each other, whether face-to-face or via computer screens. For instance, if someone needs feedback on an idea and they don't want to be shot down in person, they can send an email, or team members can communicate via a chat session. The team builds trust and relationships this way.
Virtual team building activities for engaging teams post-pandemic
Here are some of our top virtual team building activities for engaging remote teams.
Race Around the World
Race Around the World is designed specifically for remote workers. It has three levels, each with a variety of fun and exciting challenges. Each team represents an explorer. Players communicate with their team using video conferencing and collaborate to guide their team’s explorer avatar across the globe. To complete all three game levels successfully with the maximum amount of points, teams must notice online bulletins and assess information obtained from the game map. Timed stages and the added pressure of managing limited resources makes for a very engaging learning platform.
Race Around The World helps develop soft skills in a way that applies to working remotely. As the objectives unfold throughout the game, teams must take an agile approach to their collaborative strategic thinking and planning. It has an iterative learning framework where participants are encouraged to gather information, think critically and compare their solutions with others in the team. Under the pressure of time, teams find that communicating online is quite different from communicating face-to-face.
The Digital Global Innovation Game
In the Digital Global Innovation Game, teams use interactive game cards to mix ‘object’ ‘data’ and ‘tech’ categories. Tasked to develop a revolutionary Smart Object, Service or Tool, players need to ‘click and drag’ their colour coded cards into combinations to assist their ideation. Then, in breakout groups, teams brainstorm and share concepts, ultimately deciding on the idea that they will present. They collaborate to create a short, persuasive presentation and then showcase it to the other teams in a dragon’s den style pitch.
Global Innovation Game fosters ideation and creative thinking in remote teams. The intelligent yet straightforward game matrix instantly engages participants and cements an inclusive atmosphere. The importance of clear communication and active listening is reinforced as participants are challenged to see how open, fluid ideation can lead to innovation. Choosing and developing a pitch draws on collaborative decision making and team dynamics
Blockbuster Remote
In Blockbuster Remote, teams brainstorm a storyline and produce a storyboard of 6-10 scenes. They then capture the scenes on their phones or tablets and upload them to a shared area, and under the guidance of the Biz Group team, they will assemble their Oscar-winning movie trailer.
In this fun, laughter-filled team challenge, each team is given a theme and must employ forethought planning and expert execution to produce a relevant trailer meeting their specific brief, covering company values, strategy or mission. Time is tight, so teamwork, strategy, efficient allocation and individual accountability is critical to success. With the help of their virtual instructor – quality trailers are produced, and teams enjoy the incredible results.
Impact of team building on the workplace and the business
Team building is proven to have a positive impact on team members, team leaders and team executives. Team members enjoy team building activities and are more motivated to learn new as it encourages them to stretch their knowledge beyond normal work boundaries. Team members become more productive and better at communicating in all aspects of the workplace.
Team building is an excellent way for team leaders to gain a clearer vision of their teams and their skills. Values are developed during this process, giving everyone involved an understanding of what goals need to be completed to succeed as individuals and group members. It helps clarify your skillset and provides a clear vision into how you can strengthen them while being part of a high functioning team with strong core values that will lead it towards success!
It's essential to get your team together post-pandemic, and if you're not sure where to start or what the best way is, we can help. Our experts are ready and waiting for your call! Get in touch with us here.
