How to improve teamwork

It can be difficult for a manager to get their team to work together in a productive way, but it is vital to the success of any project. You can take courses to help develop teamwork and improve your leadership skills to be able to handle any issues that might arise.

Here are some ideas to foster a better team spirit:

Taking the team off-site

Get together off-site

It is sometimes best to get away from the office to let your employees relax and have a productive discussion. Off-site visits are a great way to brainstorm and share new ideas, or even learn about changes in the law or in working practices in your business. This type of session can be held at specific times throughout the year, such as the start of a project or business year. It is a great way to set goals and to motivate your staff. To celebrate hard work, staff can let off steam at an outdoor adventure experience. Consider a High Ropes Course, for example. For a High Ropes Course, visit 270 Climbing.

You can find many other activities to build your team. A quick search on the internet will allow you to locate those that suit your team or business.

Trying an escape room challenge

Escape Rooms

EScape rooms have become increasingly popular in the past few years. If you’ve never tried one, your team is sure to love it. If you choose a fixed venue or a mobile event all of your colleagues will need to work together and solve puzzles in order to escape from the room. This fun and challenging activity will require teamwork. This indoor event only lasts a few hours, so it should be easy for everyone to fit in their busy schedules.

Activities that build trust outside the office

Shared experiences away from work help people form bonds that pay off when they tackle projects together. They also give staff a break, ease stress and let them have fun while practising skills such as communication and leadership.

Physical challenges work well. A trampoline park adds a twist to familiar games and gives everyone a chance to burn off stress, while kayaking or canoeing forces people with very different working styles to agree a way forward if they want to stay dry. A scavenger hunt in small groups, with challenges and prizes, can be followed by a barbecue or a relaxed meal.

Simple after-work socials should not be underestimated, as they help colleagues find common interests, and if drinks are involved, arrange transport so nobody has to drive. For something nobody has tried before, an unusual experience day gives the team a story they will be talking about for months. Done well, these activities help staff feel valued and build a culture of trust and respect.

More activities that build team spirit

Escape rooms are only one option among many. A smartphone scavenger hunt sends teams out into a town or city to solve riddles, complete physical challenges and take funny photos. It runs for around half a day, involves moderate activity and works at any time of year. Team pursuit events can be held indoors if the weather is poor. Groups take on a series of challenges against the clock, using each person’s strengths to earn points and climb a leaderboard, and the activity level is low enough for everyone to join in.

For teams that enjoy puzzles, a crime scene investigation day has staff following evidence and working together to solve the clues and identify who did it. It is good for morale and gets people collaborating who might not normally work side by side. Those wanting something more active could look at an outdoor castaway style challenge. Whatever the choice, ending the day with food and drinks together helps the goodwill carry back into the office.

Summary

Offers ideas for building better teamwork, from taking staff off-site for brainstorming sessions and discussions about changes in the law or working practices, to organising escape room challenges that require colleagues to solve puzzles together, both aimed at strengthening team spirit outside the usual office routine and daily pressures.

Questions this article raises

• How often should a team schedule off-site sessions to be effective?
• What makes escape rooms particularly effective for building teamwork?
• How can a manager measure whether a teamwork activity actually worked?