Thursday, April 19, 2012

Team Cooking to Improve Performance

Many people ask whether there is any easy way to build stronger teams in their business.  It has been frequently suggested that people go beyond the occasional activity or retreat and create an overall culture of team building in their organization.  Creating a culture of team building means establishing an environment where employees are encouraged to collaborate with each other.  The ultimate goal is to build a workplace where people collaborate well and help each other succeed.
 
The employees and organizations are more productive and experience better morale when we build highly functional teams but many of us don’t use this valuable tool on a regular basis.  Successful team building requires conscious and ongoing commitment from leadership so that it can take root in the organization. 

In order to build strong teams there is need buy-in and participation from the company leaders.  While it’s possible for individual departments or work groups to do some activities on their own it’s always more effective when leaders are actively and continuously involved and showing their commitment to being part of the team.  When leaders participate it sends a positive message of dedication and shared purpose.  The employees get the idea that we value team building.

Every business has a culture that it creates based its core values.  Team building Gold Coast can design a culture of team building at any time if they choose to do so.  They create this type of environment by giving people the opportunity to work together effectively and supporting them along the way.  This may require shifting from a competitive or compartmentalized culture to one that encourages collaboration.  As leaders, they can set a positive example by being role models and practicing the culture we claim we’re trying to create.

Team building takes commitment, time and practice.  Team building Melbourne can’t build cohesive teams if we only provide a one-hour training every few years and then do no follow-up.  Team building is an ongoing process where people continually practice the skills related to collaborating and working together.  The goal is to create a workplace where team building becomes the standard way of doing things.  Leaders play an important part because they decide and demonstrate through their actions whether team building is really a priority or a token gesture.
Identify a team building activity like team cooking  that makes sense to you and do it once a week.  We should realize creating teams is really about celebrating the employees and developing their amazing talents and abilities.  Team building isn’t a burden; it’s about helping people enjoy working together.  When people are allowed to collaborate positively they tend to perform better and do it with fewer problems.  Leaders can have a profound effect on the productivity and well-being of their employees when they focus on praising them and building effective teams.

Team building is about helping your employees come together so they can get more work done with less effort and more fun.  There’s no secret to the process, it just takes a commitment from leadership and allocating the time to do it.  The rewards are numerous because, when we build strong teams, our workplaces simply function better. 

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Advantages of Corporate Events

The cut throat competition of the business world has led to a mushrooming of events being held to improve the working of office staff. More and more business houses are trying to make their team members or office staff to give their best in a cohesive manner. They all are trying that the whole working of the team should be successful; to achieve this objective they are trying their best to hold corporate events that will boost the morale of the employees.

Whether at a corporate environment, association, non-profit or government agency, the most popular corporate events typically fall into one of the following programs. The first one is the conference events. Organizations plan and hold these meetings with targeted audiences, and provide them with relevant information. Conferences have multiple sessions that occur concurrently. They are typically held at hotels, begin with a keynote session and then hold breakout sessions by topic. A conference is usually planned for 2/3 of a day, one day, two days or sometimes longer.

Organizations attend trade shows as a lead generation activity, or host one to reinforce their image as an industry leader among those who attend, such as members, customers, prospects and suppliers. Event planning for trade shows involves negotiating sponsorship rates for trade show booth space, advertising and promotion at the event, and sometimes speaking opportunities at the event for the leadership at your company to speak. Many logistical details exist to assure that the trade show booth, promotional materials, giveaways, and staffs arrive on time for your company.

The business houses also take the different team members to leisure events often held at luxury resorts in exclusive destinations, and they receive the most visibility in an organization. Business development and organizational planning are the topics of the agenda. In between there are relaxing activities like cooking team building that serve the purpose of uniting the team and relaxing the team members.

Executive retreats and incentive trips typically last between three and five days, and require attention to site selection, lodging, transportation, catering, business meetings, and golf and other activities. Negotiation skills must be sharp because these programs involve all aspects of event planning.

One favourite event at every organization is to hold its annual golf outing. Relationship management is the primary objective; however, business content must always drive event planning, not the other way around.

Most golf courses prefer their clients to reserve tee times either first thing in the morning or at 1 p.m., if you are not renting out the course and clubhouse for the whole day. That can cause scheduling issues as it relates to the business meeting content. During the planning phase, it is important to keep internal clients on track, and not allow them to minimize the business time. These programs allow an event host to spend informal time with its guests in a non-traditional environment, giving both parties an opportunity to build a rapport and learn more about mutual business priorities. There are limitless possibilities and types of appreciation events that organizations hold throughout the year. Holding any such event will make the team members inclined to work more and as a united team.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Team Building Ideas that makes United Team

The term "team building" has become a catchphrase in recent years, and has many connotations. In terms of corporate development, team-building exercises are important not for the immediate experience of the activities performed by the team, but also for the group skills, communication and bonding that result. The activity can be an obstacle course or corporate treasure hunt it is merely the means to the end: a high-impact learning experience. Team-building programmes provide realistic experiences that empower individuals to contribute to common goals. The success of most organisations depends on the ability of individuals to build effective teams.

The main goals of team-building are to improve productivity and motivation. Taking employees out of the office helps groups break down political and personal barriers, eliminate distractions, and have fun. The benefits of team-building programs are so significant that many corporations have incorporated teambuilding strategies into their standard training curriculum.

The team building events improves morale and leadership skills and at the same time finds the barriers that thwart creativity. Clearly defines objectives and goals, improves processes and procedures, improves organisational productivity, identifies a team's strengths and weaknesses, improves the ability to problem solve, taps into hidden potential

Activities in the team building ideas are designed to motivate people to pool their talents and perform at their best individually and as team players. Team members discover that diversity is their greatest asset and trust, cooperation and effective communication are the key to a team’s success. Structured activities not only encourage individual development, but bring all members together for a common cause.

Team-building programs provide upbeat and powerful team experiences allowing companies to compete effectively by enabling staff at all corporate levels to work as true team players.

Event planning can turn even the most capable person into a ball of nerves. But if you’ve been selected to plan your company’s next holiday party, awards banquet or open house, relax. Our helpful tips can make the process go more smoothly and successfully.

First, consider how you want your event to look and feel. Think about: What kind of event are you holding? Who will attend? What is the reason for the event or celebration? What do you hope to accomplish? Do you have specific goals or outcomes that you expect? Keep in mind that your event should generate goodwill, excitement and enthusiasm about your company. You should use it to grow your business and as an opportunity to strengthen relationships with employees and your clients and customers.

This will provide you with a financial "blueprint" for the event. The budget should be specific, and include revenue opportunities (sponsorship, ticket sales, donations, etc.) as well as expenses such as printing, permits, insurance, speakers, food, supplies and security.

The location and site of your event is critical for success. Selecting a site is more than just finding out what rooms are available. There are many factors to consider, including room capacity, whether you’re having an indoor or outdoor event, if there are special needs for ramps/elevators, if you’ll need a podium, stage or special equipment, and how many tables and chairs will be necessary for guests.

So just follow these ideas and you will have successfully running team in your hands.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Understanding Good Team Building

The basic aspect of promoting teamwork in the workplace is that there has to be increased interaction among the employees or team members. This helps them in learning to understand each other and deal with the different aspects of their behaviour, both negative and positive within the context of the organizational tasks. Here are some of the ways in which effective teamwork can be promoted in the workplace.

There has to be a clear understanding of what teamwork is and that there is no place for 'ME' or 'I' in an organization. This attitude will only hamper the idea of the 'team'. Teamwork becomes easier to promote when there is an efficient leader in place to guide the team.

It is important that team building should be built in such a way that all the team members feel important in the organization. They have to be encouraged to provide their inputs and any other suggestions. When team members know that they are an important part of the organization and that their contributions are valued, they will be more willing to work.

It is very important to have clear goals in place and an understanding of how to achieve them well enough in corporate team building. This needs to be discussed in the meetings. Most companies arrange for monthly or bi-monthly meetings for their employees whereby they provide a platform to discuss their problems and find solutions for the same. This leads to clearing of any conflicts, problems and lends for a better understanding of the goals and how to get there. This is one of the simple ways to improve team communication.

Team building activities are some of the most common devices used for promoting teamwork in the workplace. Why is that? These activities aim at promoting not only teamwork, but also at enhancing the many skills required in a company like problem solving, analytical thinking and critical thinking among others. There are thus several types of team building activities that can be undertaken. The other ways in which this can be achieved is to arrange for general trips for the employees like a picnic or a movie. This helps them interact beyond the scope of work and get in a more personal feel to the whole deal.

Teamwork allows for so much more to be achieved in terms of goals and in improving the efficiency and productivity of the team members. Now that we have seen the ways in which team work can be promoted in the work place, one can get to implementing the same and working towards a better work force environment.

Although the relationship that the team members share in the workplace is completely professional and work oriented, but then it is human to seek some 'play time' in the midst of workload and team targets. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy...so if you want to eliminate the dullness in your team members and rejuvenate them to work with all their enthusiasm, then include some fun activities in the team like the team amazing race at regular basis. You can introduce some interesting games wherein your team can interact in an informal basis. You can even give away some prizes and coupons to the winning persons or conduct inter team competitions. The sense of winning as a team informally will also motivate the workers to work together to achieve their goals in a formal way as well.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Team Building Activities are Fun

Corporate team building is a useful tool to improve a company's productivity and profit on a long term basis. Team building aims at the improvement of communication, participation and functioning of company members in company activities.

Some useful tips for building and maintaining a good corporate team are using a performance evaluation and reward system to promote member commitment, rotating team membership and leadership responsibilities over time, shifting team goals to match changing assignments and taking suitable action based on team performance results.

There are typical symptoms that signal the need for team building. They include an increased number of complaints among workers, conflict or hostility among members, confusion about assignments, misunderstanding of decisions, lack of interest or involvement among members, ineffectual staff meetings, negative reactions to the manager, and complaints from customers about poor quality of service. Studies on corporate team building prove that team building events enable all members of a team to work as a single soul.

Team building activities are motivational corporate events from expert team builders. An effective corporate team building event will make the team responsible for challenging assignments, encourage team leaders to promote individual and team efforts, allow teams to develop specific performance goals and objectives, and demonstrate executive commitment and support. It helps to select team members with the right skills and professional preparation, promote external supplier team participation, use the performance evaluation and reward system to encourage member effort and commitment, and provide the sourcing team with internal and external decision making authority.

Effectiveness of a company's team building is seen in the timely achievement of a goal, overall team effectiveness, satisfaction in relation to the quality of information exchanged between team members, and the reduced number of problems in coordinating work activities. Many standard studies on corporate team building are available on the Internet, most of which are helpful in putting up your own strategy.

Team building games ideas can come from anywhere like parties you've attended, magazines and library resources or the internet. Before you initiate the research process make a list of tasks which is going to be done. Create this by visualizing your definition of a flawless event, and then note all the intricate details you need to create that winning outcome.

Instead of just holding a lot of meetings, try to schedule several corporate team building events each day and include activities like amazing race in it. These can be fun and informative. Make them motivational by being competitive against another group. For example, have sales compete against managers in a contest to come up with marketing ideas. Consider hiring a corporate Team Building planner to help. They often have a lot of ideas.

Lastly, consider throwing a corporate event party as a bonding experience. Renting out an aquarium or restaurant for a corporate event is a great way to bring the company together for one event. It can be a onetime thing or in conjunction with the conference. Most places have corporate event staffs that are willing to give you a great deal and plan everything.
   

Monday, April 2, 2012

Team Building Perth Provides Good Facility

You may be familiar with team-building events that promise to generate team spirit and a healthier company culture but actually produce annoyance and ill feelings. Theoretically, team-building activities help employees work more effectively in teams, which should lead to better performance.

As adults, we are much more complicated now as we have been when we were much younger.  We are no longer as naive in our ideas about other people.  Combined with the rapid shifts in workplace environments and personnel, this eventually makes it harder to work as a team. You can take the help of Team Building Adelaide to achieve better results.

As we grow, we become more inflexible and intolerable of others.  We may not accept others views and opinions and therefore, might not so easily change ourselves so that we may be able to work with others.  However, we may try to compromise as we work along.  Therefore, by just asking adults to work together is not the answer.  Working together takes time, it takes effort.  Some people may not even gel together after years of being in the same office.  It does not help by asking people to work as a team; they have to experience and understand other people's ways of working and being in order to really believe in their capacity to find effective ways of working together.

The term "team building" has become a buzzword in recent years, and has many connotations. In terms of corporate development, team-building exercises are important not for the immediate experience of the activities performed by the team, but also for the group skills, communication and bonding that result. The activity can be an obstacle course or the team cooking classes is merely the means to the end: a high-impact learning experience. Team-building programmes provide realistic experiences that empower individuals to contribute to common goals. The success of most organisations depends on the ability of individuals to build effective teams.

The main goals of team-building are to improve productivity and motivation. Taking employees out of the office helps groups break down political and personal barriers, eliminate distractions, and have fun. The benefits of team-building programs are so significant that many corporations have incorporated teambuilding strategies into their standard training curriculum

Team building events will therefore be more successful when there is a structured programme which will allow specific objectives to be met.  Activities that allow opportunity to reveal the way we think, make decisions and react will create better and further understanding of work mates.  Finally, a team building event that allows each other’s attitudes and behaviour to surface creates better relationships in the office.  However, managers are reminded that team building does not just happen in one day or two days, it has to happen in the workplace every day and it takes time.  Managers must promote interaction in the workplace among work mates to learn how each member thinks and works, to allow team building to work.  This might also involve several different training methods including class room training, role plays, profiling tests and many others.  Managers need to contribute to the process rather than being hopeful for the best results from one or two team building events.  Based on the understanding of the principles of team building as cited above, team building Perth will be able to make a better decision when organising team building events.