Team-Building Exercises for Staff Meetings

Author
BY  BARBARA BROWN 

Learning to work effectively in a team environment carries different requirements than functioning successfully as an individual contributor. Many projects fail because team members have not learned how to share, collaborate and communicate with and trust each other, according to Scott Berkun, Microsoft project manager and author of “Making Things Happen–Mastering Project Management." Planned team-building exercises can help people get through the typical stages of learning to work together.

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Change Key Behavior

Marshall Goldsmith of "Harvard Business Review" suggests a team-building exercise for staff meetings that focuses on improving one key behavior of the team members. The activity lasts over several staff meetings and begins by identifying the degree to which team members believe that the team’s performance falls short of needs or expectations.

Team members list two key behaviors affecting project performance that everyone can improve upon. Place each suggestion on a master list and ask the team to vote on the one change that would show the biggest impact. Team members discuss the behavior in enough detail to allow each member to identify specific changes to make in his behavior. For the next four staff meetings, have members provide examples of behavior changes and performance impact.

Logic Puzzle

A logic puzzle, also called an Einstein or Carroll puzzle, offers clues that, when analyzed carefully, lead to a solution, according to BrainBashers.com. Depending on the size of your staff meeting, divide into teams of five to seven people. Give each person a clue from the puzzle. For example, in the softball puzzle from California State University at Pomona, one person holds the clue, “One of the outfield positions is played by either Perry or Sue.”

Ask the team to share clues. In the softball game example, ask the team to identify the names of each player and her position. Multiple teams can compete. Afterward, ask team members to identify strategies that helped or hindered solving the problem.

Survival

Create a scenario that places team members in a challenging situation such as an approaching forest fire. Give the team general information about its location and resources.

Ask the team to generate a list of items to take when members leave the cabin that improves their chances of survival. Begin the team-building exercise by brainstorming a long list of potential items. The team then works to reduce the list to 10 items through cooperation and communication.

For further information log on website :
https://www.livestrong.com/article/198173-team-building-exercises-for-staff-meetings/

Team Building Exercises that Show Respect for Each Other

Author
BY  A.L. KENNEDY 

Overview

Team-building activities help teams learn trust and respect for one another. Whether a team is working on a big project or trying to win a big game, mutual respect is important to the team's success as well as its morale. If your team is having trouble getting along, leading them through a few team-building exercises that show respect for each other can help them see past their differences toward a common goal.

Run Free

This activity helps partners learn trust and respect for one another. You'll need a large, open area, preferably with a soft cover such as grass, sand or rubber. Break the team into pairs and blindfold one member of each pair. The seeing partner takes the hand of the blindfolded partner and leads them across the open area, starting at a slow walk. Then the walk accelerates to a fast walk, a slow jog, a fast jog, and finally a run. Allow about one minute for each speed of movement, or as long as it takes to cross the open area. Pass the blindfold off to the other person and repeat, then bring the team together to discuss the experience.

Proximity

Have the team split into pairs once again and stand facing each other a comfortable distance apart. Have them step closer to one another, maintaining eye contact but not touching one another. Then have them step apart so they are further away than they would be in a normal conversation. Have each team describe what the different distances from their partners felt like and how distance and eye contact might affect communication and respect among team members.

Team Goals

One way to build respect among team members is to have them work toward a common goal. You can make setting the team's goals for its next season, game, or project the common goal of a team-building session. Have team members brainstorm goals for the team to reach during its season. Write each goal on a large pad or chalkboard. Then go through the goals and have the team discuss the pros and cons of each. Specify that only positive or constructive comments are allowed. Write the team's final goals on a separate piece of paper or posterboard and keep this list where team members will see it regularly.

For further information log on website :
https://www.livestrong.com/article/199473-team-building-exercises-that-show-respect-for-each-other/

Teamwork Exercise Games for Employees

Author
BY  CAROLINE THOMPSON 

Teamwork exercises motivate employees, improve communications and help people work together on business projects. Team-building games can be fun and give employees a chance to reduce stress while learning valuable skills. Employees who work as a team have improved communication, greater productivity and mutual respect for each other. Businesses benefit by improving individual and organizational performance, which translates to a better bottom line.

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Group Juggle

"Group juggle," from corporate trainer and motivator Kirk Weisler, is designed to help employees release stress, improve time-management skills and conflict resolution skills. Three different kinds of balls or other soft objects are needed. This is a 30-minute exercise that uses a facilitator to introduce new balls into the exercise. Group juggle starts with all the employees standing in a circle with only a small amount of space between each person. The first ball represents primary tasks. The ball is thrown to someone in the group. That person then must state what his primary work tasks are and then throw the ball to another person in the group. Each person who catches this ball must also state his work tasks. While the first ball is still circulating in the group, the second ball is thrown. The second ball is the “curve ball,” things in life that people have no control over. As with the first ball, the person catching this ball must state one item he has no control over. The third ball follows the same pattern and represents distractions. All three balls will be circulating in the group at one point. When everyone has caught each ball once, the game is over.

Ten-Dollar Auction

"Ten-dollar auction," from corporate trainer and international business consultant Gregory P. Smith, teaches employees the positive and negative effects of workplace competition. An auction is set up with a gavel, auctioneer and a $10 bill. The employee group is told that a $10 bill will be auctioned and the winner will have to pay the auctioned amount for the bill. Immediately after the first auction, a second auction is held for a single $10 bill. This time, both the winner and second place bidder must pay the bid amount; however, only the winning bidder gets the $10. Typically, the auction becomes competitive and the bidding goes beyond the $10 amount. Often, employees get caught up in the frenzy of competition and lose sight of the real value of the item being auctioned. Employees then examine how workplace competition can increase imprudent decision-making that may lead to fiscal irresponsibility. The positive side of competition is the increased excitement and energy that healthy competition can provide.

Mine Field

"Mine field" is a teamwork exercise that builds communication and relationship building through trust. Objects are scattered about the center of a room. The area is taped off in a square. Employees are paired up with one employee blindfolded, while the other is the guide. The challenge is for the blindfolded employee to make it from one end of the course to the other through the mine field, being guided verbally by the other employee.

Day-Colors Exercise

The “day colors” exercise is an employee exercise that illustrates how people see the same things differently. This helps build employee empathy, to help in conflict resolution. Understanding another person’s point of view helps reduce confusion that can lead to conflict because of a misunderstanding. Each employee will need a pen and pad of paper. Everyone closes their eyes and is told to imagine the days of the week. They are then asked what color they see for each day and to write them down. A discussion follows where everyone compares the days of the week and their color choices.

For further information log on website :
https://www.livestrong.com/article/376595-teamwork-exercise-games-for-employees/

How Does Exercise Improve Work Productivity?

Author
BY  JULIE BOEHLKE 

If you exercise regularly, you understand there are many more benefits other than just weight loss or staying in shape. Exercise helps improve all aspects of your life, including work productivity. Being productive and alert at work can help you get your job done faster and even make you more eligible for a promotion. If you don’t exercise regularly, you could be putting your health -- and your job -- at risk.

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Alertness and Energy

One way that exercise can help boost productivity at work is through alertness. When you exercise, you are also increasing blood flow to the brain, which can help sharpen your awareness and make you more ready to tackle your next big project. Exercise can also give you more energy. Having more energy means you will feel more awake at work. Being on top of your game will assure that you perform your work correctly and to the best of your ability. If you don’t have time to put in a full cardio workout each day, make small changes to meet your daily goals, such as walking during your lunch period or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Optimum Physical Health

Being in your best physical health will help improve your overall work ability. Not only can exercising help reduce body weight and the risk for certain medical conditions, you also will have improved cardiovascular health, which will give you more stamina to meet the physical demands of your job. This will also reduce your risk of becoming injured on the job and allow you to meet the expectations required for your position. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily – up to five days a week.

Improves Mental Health

One way to be more productive on the job is to have improved mental health. Regular exercise can help curb feelings of anxiety and depression. When you exercise, your brain releases serotonin that helps you feel better and improves your state of mind, making the stresses of work easier to handle. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that sends messages to the body to stimulate mood and emotion, according to the University of Cambridge. Regular exercise may also help you better deal with stress – which is common in the workplace. When you are able to deal with stress constructively, it can lead to improved relationships with your co-workers and a more secure future with your employer.

Illness Prevention

Regular exercise that includes power walking, running, weight lifting, swimming or jogging can help reduce your risk of developing certain types of illness and disease. This means fewer sick days at work. With an improved immunity, you minimize your chances for getting influenza and the common cold. Exercise reduces your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease – all of which can interfere with work productivity.

For further information log on website :
https://www.livestrong.com/article/422836-how-does-exercise-improve-work-productivity/