Team Building Categories

Relevant options for a Team Development programme will include a focus on the following:

 

• Teambuilding and Team Development

• Personal Development of Individuals in the team.

 

 

The programme topics will include issues relevant to both these objectives and will include

 

Team skills and Team Dynamics

Communication

Leadership

Taking Responsibility/Accountability

Challenge and Support

Respecting individuals

Team Synergy

Conflict Handling

Co-operation

 

 

The programme content will focus on the characteristics of effective teams and how teams develop.

Approach and Methodology:

Our courses are designed in conjunction with the client to ensure that the specific objectives of each programme are met. Our Experiential Learning approach is based on the following process:

 

Experiential Task   >   Review of Learning   >   Application to the Workplace

In experiential training and particularly the outdoors, people are brought face to face with the real fundamentals of management and teamwork and are required to identify and solve real practical problems.

 

Teamwork is essentially a set of practical behaviours. It is not possible to really learn about and understand the advantages and indeed the difficulties of working in a team without actually doing something together. We use a series of structured tasks each of which is designed to highlight some element of effective team behaviours and management style. The tasks will require all participants to contribute and to interact and will have to be completed within a given time frame. The advantage is that the teams and the observers can quickly see whether there was success or failure and what were the behaviours that contributed to the overall result.

 

After each task there is a structured review session during which the group is encouraged to examine their actions, behaviours and the process by which they tackled the task. The group will also discuss how the learning experience can be related to day-to-day life in the work place. The Facilitator will also expand on various aspects of management and team development theory that were highlighted during the particular task. It must be emphasised that the task itself is not important other than as a vehicle to highlight specific behaviours and skills.

 

It is also important to note that the tasks are not designed to put the participants in any danger. It is not a survival course and anyone in reasonable physical condition will have no difficulty in completing the exercises.

 

The outdoor training tasks and review sessions are also supplemented by a number of indoor working sessions. We believe that this approach offers a powerful combination of experiential learning and effective “classroom style” training. 

Facilitator Profile

Our Facilitator has over 20 years experience in designing and facilitating training and development courses. He has extensive experience in delivering developmental courses on a wide range of subjects to different audiences.

 

Sample Tasks

‘Be Crateful’

 

Description

 

An enclosure with crates laid out in an offset grid pattern. The team or sub-teams must cross and recross the enclosure using equipment provided. This consists of a 6-foot plank, an 8-foot length of rope, and a bucket of water.

Dynamics

A team engaged on this task must put aside any competitive urge and work together closely. Concentration, communication, co-operation, and attention to detail are all essential elements in the successful completion of Be Crateful. A team leader prepared to take the wider view can improve the efficiency of the whole team.

Key Processes: -Teamwork, Planning, Communication, Problem solving, Creativity.

 

‘Easy Does It’

 

Description

 

A restricted area with an exclusion zone in the center containing a vessel with a floating canister in it. The team must construct a vehicle capable of entering the restricted area with a person on board to assist in the retrieval of the canister from the exclusion zone. Equipment provided includes a number of rollers, a 2×4 foot board, rope, string, helmet with a bucket on top, and a spoon.

Dynamics

The large number of constraints should warn the team engaged on this task not to rush in. Time is critical and all the equipment has a specific purpose. Some careful planning and lateral thinking should have the team on the right track but disputes over use of equipment can arise. The right plan can, with close teamwork, be executed reasonably swiftly and success will follow.

Key Processes: Teamwork, Leadership, Planning, and Conflict Resolution.

 

‘All Around The House’

 

Description

 

A restricted area inside which there is a ball set upon an out of equilibrium fulcrum kept level by a bungee cord under tension. The team must endeavour to release the ball and transfer it to a container outside the restricted area. The equipment provided includes a bottle, a bucket, some eave run, bungee cord, and string.

Dynamics

A team working on this task is subject to many rules constraints and penalties. The team will only be truly successful if careful thought and planning are pursued. Team co-operation and understanding of the task constraints are essential for the solution to emerge.

Key Processes: -Teamwork, Planning, recourse management.

 

Contact us today for more details.