Teambuilding - A good Team

Characteristics of a good team and team member

Sponsored by Teambuilding Australia

Characteristics of a good team

-Everyone participates actively and positively in meetings and projects.

-Team goals are understood by everyone.

-Individual members have thought hard about creative solutions to the problem.

-Members are carefully listened to and receive thoughtful feedback.

-Everyone takes initiative to get things done.

-Each teammate trusts the judgement of the others.

-The team is willing to take risks.

-Everyone is supportive of the project and of others.

-There is plenty of communication between team members.

-Team decisions are made using organized, logical methods.

-Full team acceptance is expected as decisions are made.

-Dissenting opinions are recorded, and may be revisited if future situations dictate.

-Team goals are given realistic time frames.

-Everyone is focused on the ultimate goal of the project, while also digging into the underlying details.

Characteristics of a good team member

-Works for consensus on decisions

-Shares openly and authentically with others regarding personal feelings, opinions, thoughts, and perceptions about problems and conditions

-Involves others in the decision-making process

-Trusts, supports, and has genuine concern for other team members.

-"Owns" problems rather than blaming them on others

-When listening, attempts to hear and interpret communication from other's points of view

-Influences others by involving them in the issue(s)

- Encourages the development of other team members

-Respects and is tolerant of individual differences

-Acknowledges and works through conflict openly

-Considers and uses new ideas and suggestions from others

-Encourages feedback on own behavior

-Understands and is committed to team objectives.

-Does not engage in win/lose activities with other team members

-Has skills in understanding what's going on in the group

Teambuilding Australia can be contacted through www.teambuildingaustralia.com.au

Free Teambuilding Activities

teambuilding exercises:Egg Drop

Supplies: Roll of making tape, box of straws, and raw egg for each Team. Virtual money account with supply price list-listed on a chalk or dry erase board. Time: 30-45 minutes

You need to find a location where an egg can be dropped two or three floors down. Instructions: Each team is given a virtual of $5,000 allocation to buy supplies. It costs $250 per straw and $100 for every inch of masking tape. Instruct the teams to build a basket/container in which they put the egg and then drop it the two to three floors without breaking the egg. Encourage the teams to plan out their strategy before they start to buy products. All teams must stay within their budget. When the teams have completed their baskets test them out. Let them drop. Have your cleaning supplies ready!

teambuilding exercises:Scavenger Hunt

Instructions: Pick out 20 to 30 different items or information resources within the company, organization, or on campus. It is good idea to alert the other departments or individuals in your organization that this scavenger hunts will take place. Give each team a specified time to find the items on the list. The debriefing of this activity creates a bonding and the team members can learn a lot about the organization in fast time. This works great with new teams and new employees.

teambuilding exercises :Earthquake Drill

Supplies: 10-12 different size rocks and blindfolds Creating a rock formation into a unique design. Explain to the team that there has been an earthquake. Instructions: Send half of the team out of the room. Ask the team remaining in the room to study the rock formation for one or two minutes. When the time is up ask the team back into the room. Have them close their eyes. Give them a blindfold and explain to them there has been an explosion. They are blind. Explain to the team that stayed in the room, that they must now get verbal instructions from the blind team members. Using their verbal skills they must get the team to reconstruct the rock formation in order to "Save the World." This is a great communication exercise.

teambuilding exercises :Greenlighting

This activity is to look for different options and promote creativity.

Instructions: Identify a problem you would like to tackle or correct. Appoint a scribe for the group to gather all the ideas. Have the group form a circle. Tell the group that no one is allowed to make a negative comment. Like brainstorming, every idea is okay. Each member then gives his or her ideas on how to solve the problem. Only greenlighting, positive ideas are spoken. Go around the circle until all ideas have been shared. This is great idea to solve problems.