Office "team building"

[bill5]

I've been tagged to come up w/these kind of things and wondering if you have had any that you partiuclarly liked. So far I have:

- happy hours
- escape room
- lunch in conf room with a guest speaker or some game/activity to do
- start monthly mtgs with a 15 min ice-breaker (like "what was your first car" etc)

Not sure what if any funding we can get, but open to either ones which do or don't lend themselves to it....

 

[RDKirk]

Nerf dodge ball.

 

[pdudgeon]

ice breakers are the best!
they relax everyone, get them to think creatively,
do not require physical dexterity,
and they help to form a common bond.

 

[MikeK]

I've been tagged to come up w/these kind of things and wondering if you have had any that you partiuclarly liked. So far I have:

- happy hours
- escape room
- lunch in conf room with a guest speaker or some game/activity to do
- start monthly mtgs with a 15 min ice-breaker (like "what was your first car" etc)

Not sure what if any funding we can get, but open to either ones which do or don't lend themselves to it....

Do we work together?

I like happy hours, booze cruises, sporting events with the food and bar tabs picked up, anything that allows free form conversation and fun. I detest things like cooking classes, escape rooms, etc. I generally prefer freedom to structure though, I usually resent "mandatory fun" events that require us to do some task together. A good compromise event was breakfast and barhopping, followed by a tour of Lambeau Field, followed by an afternoon at a Curling club. I don't like anything that takes place in a conference room or that people wear work clothes to.

 

[bill5]

Nerf dodge ball.

Thx but we have nerf battles around here already. Think bigger.

ice breakers are the best!
they relax everyone, get them to think creatively,
do not require physical dexterity,
and they help to form a common bond.

Thx also, but happy hours also already happen off and on. I was trying to come up with something a little different....

Do we work together?

Sounds like you're way farther north than me, so I doubt it.

I usually resent "mandatory fun" events that require us to do some task together.

Well the whole point is doing something together, but it doesn't have to be a "task" exactly. The idea is something fun.....

I don't like anything that takes place in a conference room or that people wear work clothes to.

Our work clothes are casual so not an issue. And it may be something at work, like in a conf room....

 

[bill5]

. duplicate

 

[Paidiske]

I'd say think of things that suit the introverts, too. For some of us, group activities are a drain rather than a gift. But you can do team building by having people write things that go into a lighthearted newsletter, for example, and that suits introverts well.

And yes, avoid the "mandatory fun" vibe. Awful.

 

[AvilaSurfer]

I did all that garbage when I worked for corporations. I'm glad independent contractors don't have to participate. I thought it was a waste of time.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

Find someone who.......is an ice-breaker I have used that worked well for shy Asian students. Everyone given a piece of paper with a title "find someone who" on the top.
Then they find someone in the room who: (examples)
-will vote for Donald Trump
-got a speeding fine this year
-has been to Alaska
-has driven a BMW
-drinks whiskey
-is Catholic but doesn't go to Church
-is a practising Buddhist
-can solve a Rubiks cube in under a minute
-has a post graduate degree
-likes Japanese food

[They write the name of the person next to each one. Of course try to get different names.]

 

[Gnarwhal]

My favorite youth group ice breaker:

CRUMPLE OR FOLD?


(Toilet paper)

 

[pdudgeon]

Find someone who.......is an ice-breaker I have used that worked well for shy Asian students. Everyone given a piece of paper with a title "find someone who" on the top.
Then they find someone in the room who: (examples)
-will vote for Donald Trump
-got a speeding fine this year
-has been to Alaska
-has driven a BMW
-drinks whiskey
-is Catholic but doesn't go to Church
-is a practising Buddhist
-can solve a Rubiks cube in under a minute
-has a post graduate degree
-likes Japanese food

[They write the name of the person next to each one. Of course try to get different names.]

^^^ this is good.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

We could have an ice-breaker/team builder for our forums here:

-find someone who is not catholic but posts on OBOB every day
-find someone who prays the Rosary every day
-find someone who is a revert to Catholicism
-find someone who converted to Catholicism this year
-find someone who goes to Mass every day
-find someone who is sinless
-find someone who only posts on OBOB
-find someone who has read Summa Theologica
-find someone who can quote the Bible, memorising chapter and verse numbers
-find someone who prefers Old testament to New Testament
-find someone who thinks the Cleveland Indians will win the World Series

 

[Michie]

I've been tagged to come up w/these kind of things and wondering if you have had any that you partiuclarly liked. So far I have:

- happy hours
- escape room
- lunch in conf room with a guest speaker or some game/activity to do
- start monthly mtgs with a 15 min ice-breaker (like "what was your first car" etc)

Not sure what if any funding we can get, but open to either ones which do or don't lend themselves to it....

I vote happy hours.

 

[MikeK]

I vote happy hours.

Everybody likes getting drunk on the company tab, and even the introverts get comfortable. People say things and use language that they wouldn't in the office, and that builds trust. Few things are more effective at building a bond between coworkers than freely letting them have information about you that they could use to portray you in a bad light.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

I will say even more things than usual that I regret later, after having had a few pints.

 

[bill5]

Everybody likes getting drunk on the company tab, and even the introverts get comfortable. People say things and use language that they wouldn't in the office, and that builds trust. Few things are more effective at building a bond between coworkers than freely letting them have information about you that they could use to portray you in a bad light.

Thanks for the positive spin

None of these things are true across the board as you imply; in fact, I've little doubt they are by far the exception. In fact I've been to my share of such things work-related over the years and not once do I recall anyone getting drunk etc etc. Sorry to hear that your experiences have been different.

 

[faroukfarouk]

My vote is for escape rooms! I'm team builder. I know my task is to guarantee a friendly, fun and dynamic atmosphere, the perfect setting for a group to relax and bond together. I often book rooms through calgary escape . I believe such activities can show how things can come together and work as a unit to solve the puzzles and escape the room. So go for it and you never regret!

So did you visit Calgary? I think it's my favourite Canadian large city.