What makes a team?

Are team building activities really necessary? A group of people does not a team make. They are simply a group that might be coincidentally in the same area or organisation. It is more than affiliation or relation. They can be strangers, family or friends but until they have a common understanding and goals, they cannot be called a team.

Together Everyone Achieves More.

A team is something that can be fished out nor can it be easily acquired . Although time can sometimes help make a team, it is not a guarantee. Because a person is first and foremost an individual, they come with their own sets of likes, dislikes, talents and prejudices. 

Team building exercises can bring out a harmony to what  once was merely a group of people. A team is one that is bound by a common goal and works toward achieving that goal.

Benefits of team building 

• Team exercises reveal what an individual is good at. Nobody is good at everything. Being encouraged to be more of “yourself” makes one more confident and boosts self-esteem.
• Confidence and self-esteem gives courage to be more outspoken leading to better communication.  Good communication creates trust and could prevent problems. 
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses from these activities for each member of the team in exercises makes distinguishing tasks easier and their delegation faster. The team activities determine the different roles in a group and can point out probable leaders among them.
• Clear roles, good leadership and better delegation makes for smoother transitions and decision-making
• A morale boost becomes the norm for a business that runs smoothly. Motivation increases as well as the general atmosphere.
• A pleasant environment makes for better relationships and more efficient team members.
• Physical activities lead to improved physical and mental health and wellbeing. 

Ultimately, team building is to help each team member be their better selves and be more efficient in the workplace. It is to collaborate and work as a whole. The goal is not to have six best members as a team but to have six unremarkable members and be the best team.