Tips for effective team building:
- Develop a mission statement/company creed that staff members can associate with and feel a part of.
- Use appraisal forms on existing management and work practices. Let employees know that their opinion counts.
- Promote employee suggestions for improving the work place, cutting costs or increasing profits etc.
- Have regular brain storming sessions and team meetings. Involve staff members; make them feel wanted, needed, appreciated.
- Have regular team (as well as individual) competitions, with incentives and rewards. Post the current scores and final results for all to see.
- Find the leaders and encourage them to promote team effort. (Tip to find the leader in a group of people: Ask a question and see who everyone turns to for approval.) Give shared responsibility for certain team building tasks.
- Socialise in groups. Let your hair down and get to know your people.
- Develop a spirit of openness. (One manager took his door off its hinges.) Cultivate an atmosphere of ‘no secrets’ and no gossip.