Team building tips from the makers of the world's best free inventory software.
In a recent post we discussed ways to build your team, today we’re going to offer some tips for helping all those new employees actually become part of the team. Team building exercises are very popular, especially during the summertime when everyone is looking for reasons to get away from the office and enjoy some recreational activities. The key to a successful team building exercise is to have a clearly defined goal before you plan your activity. And if you want to actually have time for team building, you really need to try our free inventory software. Signup here.
If you are simply trying to introduce new team members and help them establish a rapport with their coworkers almost any fun outing will get the job done. Think company picnic, miniature golf, bowling; any activity that gives employees a chance to mingle and chat. It’s best to schedule the event during work hours so that everyone can attend without giving up personal time. After hours events can be fun, but they can cause resentment if employees feel pressured to attend on their own time. Even in a casual setting, some thought needs to be given to helping new people mingle. You don’t want a new vs. old scenario. Playing an ice breaker game can be a great way to get people talking. If you choose an event that lends itself to partners or teams pair employees up in advance. That way you can match up new employees with seasoned team members.
For groups that have some issues they need to work out, more specific exercises are required. While a sporting event, such as a baseball or basketball game, might be fun it encourages competition. While it might promote teamwork among a small group of employees pitting one group against another can exacerbate underlying conflicts that already exist in the workplace. The goal is to help everyone work together. To encourage collaboration and teamwork try a drawing exercise. Pairs stand back to back, one person describes an object while their partner draws it. Comparing the drawing to the original can really illustrate any communication issues that the pairs face. This is a great way to see how people communicate and how well they understand one another. For a more active communication game try creating a “minefield.” Lay out an obstacle course with chairs, boxes, etc. One person is blindfolded, their partner stands outside the course and gives them directions so that they can navigate the course. Again, you will clearly be able to see how well the partners are able to communicate with each other.
Summer can be a great time to employ some team building exercises. Done properly, they can significantly improve employee relations and positively impact all areas of your business. As your business grows, small challenges can seem more significant. Employing these and some of other tips can help you manage the process with ease.
As you've seen in this post, it takes serious effort to keep your team moving and organized in a harmonious fashion. Our free inventory software was designed with this in mind. Each feature is super easy to use and there's only a few buttons showing at any given time so training is a breeze. Most free inventory software is chalk full of features and functions users rarely touch. We realized this and tailored our free inventory software such that it's easy to configure, requires little knowledge of computers, and is available online at all times. Need to check things from home? Our free inventory software is just a login away. Want to get a headstart on the day without interruption? Go to a coffee shop and inventory away! Signup for our free inventory software solution today.
