We know that every culture and team has unique nuances that either create a competitive advantage or hinder progress. We believe every investment a client makes in team building should be aligned with the firm’s talent strategy and be designed to renew the team’s energy and focus. We also think about “first things first”. Team building investments won’t have a real impact unless strategic priorities have been clearly communicated and your leaders are invested in building trusting relationships. Once those are in place, team’s often want to have some fun.
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In our experience, the best way to create the kind of environment where people can do their best work is to provide opportunities to learn about themselves and each other and to develop additional skills.
It's important to us that participants have a voice in what they want to learn and what kind of a team building experience will really create progress. At The Corporate Greenhouse, prior to team building retreats, we lay the groundwork for self-discovery and collaboration by surveying participants and administering behavioral assessments.
Our clients ask us to design unique learning opportunities to strengthen trust, improve communication and collaboration. We spend many hours designing meetings that are memorable and impactful. Sample teaming events include experiential learning with horses in an arena, boat building culminating in competitive team races and volunteer projects in the local community. Sometimes, during a multi-day retreat we maintain momentum with a friendly team competitions (e.g. team Jeopardy, Lego building, gingerbread house and cooking competitions). Other times we bring in themes around mindfulness and stress reduction (yoga, silent walks, inspirational speakers and videos). We listen intently so we can meet very specific challenges all teams face at one point or another.
Our clients ask us to design unique learning opportunities to strengthen trust, improve communication and collaboration. We spend many hours designing meetings that are memorable and impactful. Sample teaming events include experiential learning with horses in an arena, boat building culminating in competitive team races and volunteer projects in the local community. Sometimes, during a multi-day retreat we maintain momentum with a friendly team competitions (e.g. team Jeopardy, Lego building, gingerbread house and cooking competitions). Other times we bring in themes around mindfulness and stress reduction (yoga, silent walks, inspirational speakers and videos). We listen intently so we can meet very specific challenges all teams face at one point or another.
Important Questions When Considering Team Building
Is teamwork an idea or a reality in your organization?
A team works more effectively when its members trust one another. When a team lacks trust, the resulting uncertainty, apathy, conflict and confusion can lead to overload, boredom and burnout. At The Corporate Greenhouse, we design and facilitate workshops that build trust, integrate goals and open lines of communication. Our work fosters a sense of purpose, mutual regard, goal clarity, commitment and alignment. |
What does team building mean to you?
When clients ask for help with "team building" we become really curious. In our line of work, sometimes clients struggle to find words to describe the challenge their team is facing. Often times “team-building” becomes a catch phrase, so our task is to discover what will solve real challenges and improve team performance. We ask lots of questions including:
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Team building works best when it is part of a larger talent strategy. When properly timed and well designed, it renews people's focus and energy. We know that team building is an on-going, iterative process because life at work is fluid and dynamic. As a result, our clients often express a renewed accountability and greater enthusiasm for their work.