Most large companies recognize the importance of team building, but don’t always understand that there’s more to it than just throwing employees at an unusual activity in the hopes that the experience will benefit working life. Professional team builders introduce the concept, synthesize exercises with real scenarios and carefully supervise everything to maintain a positive atmosphere.
Icebreaker games are a key part of this team development process. An icebreaker is an initial, high-energy game that introduces team members to each other and sets the tone for future team building exercises.
According to Toronto team builders The Xpeerience Group icebreakers serve five important functions in a team building program:
Social Introductions: First off, everyone needs to get to know each other. Even personnel who’ve worked together for a long time need a chance to introduce themselves outside of the usual patterns of work. In a very real way, team building participants are “different people” than their working counterparts. Skilled team builders use icebreakers to let people being out that other personality and by the end of the team building program, integrate its positive attributes into normal working life.
Building Energy: People tend to bring the minimum level of energy they think they need to start a particular activity, but team building programs need more – they require active engagement and the concentration needed to learn new skills. Icebreakers that include lots of physical activities build the required energy level, as do exercises that have a fun, recreational feel.
Creating a Positive Atmosphere: To succeed, team building games need to be fun. Standard work often takes place in a “neutral” atmosphere – not pleasant, but not fun, either. Icebreakers need to take participants beyond the neutral working mode so that they attack each challenge enthusiastically, expecting the results to be enjoyable.
Overcoming Objections: In many teams you’ll have individuals who believe the process is a waste of time, or just can’t see how team building games apply to practical goals. Icebreakers exist to bypass this step using several tactics. First, fun, high energy games have enough momentum to carry objectors away and commit them to the process without providing time to develop a negative response. Secondly, team builders use icebreakers to introduce the team building concept so that potential problem members understand that the benefits are real and that their involvement is vital to team success.
Transitioning from Work Mode: Team building programs are unusual. They aren’t work activities but the experience translates to improved workplace performance. Icebreakers exist to take participants out of the usual expectations of the workplace to create a freer atmosphere where personal initiative and enthusiasm are standard procedure. Icebreakers introduce teams to these expectations before the team development process refines them and re-integrates them back into work life.
Once an icebreaker transforms a group into a learning team it’s time to move to more challenging team building exercises. The icebreaker sets the pace, the team maintains it, and in a successful team building program, team development experts show participants how to enjoy cooperation and take it back into their lives.
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