Team Building Games & The Power of Play
Team building games and training have been played for centuries. The game of chess was created in the 4th Century for teaching strategy to military and political leaders.
A major benefit of team building play is learning to tap into the brain's right hemisphere, which is often underutilized in the workplace. This is the cerebral real estate that hosts imagination, creativity and intuition. Long thought to be useful only to artists, writers and musicians, we now understand that right-brain thinking also plays a vital role in the business world. After all, where would any successful enterprise be without innovative thinkers and innovative thinking
So why is "play" such a wonderful learning tool?
1. It's involving
The best way to learn new skills is through action -- actually doing things. Research shows that subjects who just sit and listen to a teacher retain only 20% of what they hear. But participants involved in active learning (doing a real job, a simulation, a dramatic presentation, etc.) retain 90% of the information. Playing a team building training game, participating in a simulation, and role playing all deeply involve the participants in active learning.
2. It’s Low Risk
Play offers participants a safe environment in which to explore, risk, try new ideas and make mistakes without the threat of termination or castigation. We can all learn a lot by making mistakes. While inventing the light bulb, Edison discovered over 1,800 ways not to build one. One of Madame Curie's "failures" gave us radium. Columbus was looking for India when he found America . Each of these mistakes had valuable lessons and benefits attached to it. Woody Allen summed it up well: "If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative."
3. Team Dynamics
Team play is a means by which the dynamics of a group can be evaluated under controlled conditions. Every group or team develops a distinct personality of its own. How does this group function, breathe, eat, produce, communicate and plan? How does this group make its decisions? What are its unique weaknesses and strengths? What roles do the various members assume in different situations? How does the group adapt to change? All these questions and more can be examined in a play environment.
4. Self-Awareness
Just as a team can be evaluated in a controlled play environment, so can the team’s individual members. Participants are given an opportunity to try new experiences and new ideas. This makes for moments of self-examination and awareness. It also affords team members an opportunity to view teammates in a new light. We hear it again and again: "I had no idea Harry was so creative!" or "Who knew Mary was that clever?" An increased awareness of ourselves, and of those around us, can only improve team effectiveness, opening up exciting new possibilities.
5. Building Trust
A Everyone in a group becomes more comfortable as members become more familiar with their teammates, sharpen their awareness of group dynamics, and begin to understand where they fit in. Allowing people to work together in a play environment builds trust within the team.
6. The Value of the Team
Play is an excellent tool for convincing the skeptics of teamwork's value. Many workers are so competitive, or so inexperienced at working as part of a team, that they doubt the benefits of teamwork. This makes for hesitation in sharing information and responsibilities. Fun team exercises afford skeptics the opportunity to observe first-hand how two (or more) heads are better than one. They see that sharing information and responsibilities can bring amazing results. This group play also affords participants an opportunity to discover the value of diversity. The more diverse a group, and the broader its knowledge base, the more successful it tends to be at solving problems or achieving goals.
7. Pleasure
Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between pleasure and productivity. Surprise! It makes perfect sense that pleasure would be a powerful motivator. The pleasure of learning through play can work wonders to revitalize a group and rebuild morale. Pleasure also effects participants' commitment to the exercises, helping them learn more and retain knowledge longer.
8. Specific lessons
Each teambonding event offers its own lessons, skills and experiences for the participants.. Some of these are group lessons. Others are more individually targeted. Many involve problem solving, while others tend to be more physical. Some are designed to enhance communication skills, while others focus on organization.