Team-building activities, when done right, are a great way to boost employee morale and trust. At times, however, these activities can be worse than merely ineffectual; “team building” can turn into a complete disaster if leaders don’t know how to properly plan and implement such exercises.
There are key components that must be present to ensure the success of any team-building activity. Ironically, some of the things leaders deliberately choose to incorporate end up doing the opposite of strengthening a team. 14 members of Forbes Coaches Council discuss some unhelpful, if well-intended, elements that can destroy team-building activities and what leaders can do to avoid these issues.
11. Putting People Into Boxes And Labeling Them
Avoid putting people into boxes and labeling them. Using personality assessments is a great tool to help the team understand each other’s preferences or “starting point” and should never be used to label team members as X or Y. By doing so, you fail to embrace the beauty and richness of each person’s individuality. Instead, use it as a tool to see how you can connect more effectively with one another. – Kristy Busija, Next Conversation Coaching, LLC