We all work on projects where we don’t have the time or cash for old-fashioned, traditional team-building activities. Our brain may be screaming at us that we should make the time to do it…but our sponsor has a louder voice. And, that sponsor usually wins. So, what do you do?
Take the microwave approach to team building. Do something small. Do something fast. And, make it personal. After all, the goal with team building is to build trust and deepen the connections between members of the team. Here’s a recent example.
Last week, I mentioned the PMI Advisory Group and my new BFFs from all over the globe. For most of us, this event in Dublin was our first face-to-face meeting. We wanted to make the best use of our limited meeting time, so we participated in team building before the meeting started. Each of us filled out a short “bio” by responding to questions and sharing with the group. Each member included pictures and answers to questions about favorite foods, movies, books, comedians, non-work activities, etc. It was designed for rapid turnaround – not a big time commitment. And, everyone participated. When we gathered for our first meetings, it was as if the introductions had already been made. We knew each other, to some degree, because we’d shared a few, personal details in the days prior to the kickoff. How much did it cost? Zippo. Nada. How long did it take? 15 minutes or less.
Do you have other “microwave team building” techniques that worked well with your team? If so, please share. I’m going to find some popcorn…got a sudden urge for some reason…
By the way, here’s a picture of our Dublin team:
