The Team Is The Trestle
By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate
Great leaders know that even the most brilliant plans fail without the support of members of the team. Motivating workers to leap on board to work collaboratively toward a common goal is a challenging yet important part of being a leader. Don’t be daunted or intimidated by the collective roll of the eyes when you introduce the topic of teambuilding. Instead, appreciate the importance of inspiring team spirit by doing projects outside the scope of normal work. In addition to uniting team members, they will experience the reward of creative collaboration and the energy generated from the project will be carried back into the workplace.
On teambuilding.com, Samantha Mc Duffee identifies several essential benefits from teambuilding activities and puts improved communication/collaboration at the top of the list. When a group who works together daily is removed from the normal workplace and given an open-ended challenge to solve a problem, an amazing spirit of collaboration emerges. Take for example a teambuilding activity that was used with a group of nurse managers during a leadership course.
- The large group of eager participants was divided into 5 groups of 5 people; each group was given 25 pieces of uncooked spaghetti, a string, a role of scotch tape and a pair of scissors; the individual groups were challenged to build the tallest tower in 15 minutes. The simple rules were to use only the materials provided and to work collaborative with a positive focus on what is possible with the available resources. During the first 5 minutes each group quickly constructed a tower and each tower collapsed; then each group spent the next 10 minutes collaborating to create a better design and re-build the tower. At the end of the allotted time, each group had a standing tower; however, two tables opted to combine resources, work as a larger group and constructed the tallest tower. Remember, they were told to work collaboratively and seek the best use of available resources and there was no rule about working across group lines.
Brian Scudamore, founder and CEO of O2E brands, took another avenue toward teambuilding by treating his team to a country music concert at a local dance hall. They enjoyed sharing the evening together with music, adult beverages and learning the two-step and taking advantage of the relaxed venue outside the workplace to appreciate each other as individuals. Brian encouraged the team to continue the networking within the workplace and to share personal interests with one another. From interaction developed during the two-step, a book club emerged. You might not be permitted to treat your workgroup to a night out; however, you may be able to arrange a group discount at the ballpark or reserve a park pavilion for a barbecue.
Community service is important to the image of a company and opens another opportunity for teambuilding. By serving the community outside the scope of normal business, a bond is created between the organization and the people it serves. Employees’ hidden talents are revealed and, as well, the community receives support for projects and events important to the local area. Here are two examples of teambuilding projects that solidified ties between the organization and the community.
Example 1 While on faculty at the University of Kansas Medical Center, I participated in the annual KU community service day. Over 100 energetic volunteers from the hospital assembled in a cold parking lot at 7am on a Saturday morning and were greeted with hot coffee and pastries. We were told ahead of time to wear work clothes and bring a few basic tools. The Medical Center had identified a two-block area within the city with run down homes that were inhabited by elderly indigent people and pre-arranged permission for us to do basic repairs on their homes. We went to the neighborhood, divided into teams and went to work. Some raked, some cleaned gardens and others did inside repairs. We re-attached cupboard doors, fixed locks, patched cracks and even fixed some plumbing leaks. At the end of the day the residents of the area were all smiles as were the UKMC volunteers. I spent my day working with one person from radiology and another from the lab and from that day forward had a point of contact in each area.
Example 2 A group of nurse anesthetists, at The Johns Hopkins was actively seeking a teambuilding activity that would serve the community and arranged to do a craft night at the local Ronald McDonald house. After scheduling the activity, the team set a goal of providing the most amazing “craft night” ever for the children and families staying at the facility. Planning sessions were held where creative ideas were shared and then supplies were assembled. On the big night, children cautiously entered the craft room and quickly became energetic as they engaged in the numerous projects provided. Parents and siblings jumped into the fun and none were ready to quit at the end of the evening. As with the experience at KU Med, when the evening was over it was difficult to tell whether the residents of the Ronald McDonald house or the volunteers were the happiest.
Workgroups across the country routinely participate in community service teambuilding activities. Use the comments box below to share your project with other readers.
Successful teambuilding is evidenced by the momentum that is brought back into the workplace following the event. Whether joining in a social interaction event or a community volunteer enterprise, those who work collaboratively outside the workplace are more likely to work well together on projects serving the organization. Encouraging people to enjoy one another’s company and appreciate creative ideas carries innovative vitality forward and becomes contagious. A collaborative environment is the bridge to elevated productivity in a preferred workplace. A collaborative team is the trestle linking the organization to the community. Teambuilding activities strengthen both.
Tom is a clinical anesthetist, noted author and requested speaker.