PA and Secretary Community - Deskdemon.com

Can anyone suggest ideas for a team building day?  It cannot be one of those 'fun' days as such, i.e. spa days, treasure hunts, paint balling etc.

It does not necessarily have to be office based but something for various age groups and a way of working/being together as a team - having fun but also actually achieving something at the end of the day - something to encourage staff motivation and improve communication is part of what is trying to be achieved.

Possibly half a day of 'serious' team building 'training' and half a day more relaxed.

All ideas welcome - thank you :)

Previous employees I have worked with have attended these days, seminar in the morning and an event in the afternoon eg. canoeing, raft building, sailing, rock climbing.....is that what you are looking for?  There are various centres that cater for this sort of thing, especially corporate events.

Is there a theme for the day/event?
Is it one particular department?
Are the individuals part of a management team?

Anything that involves them communicating and being focussed is worth investigating.

Rock climbing, canoeing, sailing, etc etc are not allowed I am afraid.

They are looking for a more 'traditional' type of team building - which is seen as being a classroom type environment exercise but they want something up from this but not as far as the above (rock climbing etc).

Finding that middle ground is what we are struggling with.

No theme for the day, a department of admin/secretarial type staff - poss around 15 in total of varying ages and physical ability - no management to be involved in taking part in the day's events.

I think if the morning was taken up by a trainer coming in to present on teambuilding that is easily arranged but the afternoon events are proving difficult to think up.

The team I currently sit with are going to do a Dragons Den Team Building Day - they have been split into two teams to come up with ideas for businesses or products and the remainder are the panellists ...

Could be fun?

Cathy

Ah now I know the group type, what about an Apprentice type scenario?  Split the group into pairs or threes and have them come up with a product to market.

A select few (or others not participating) could form the panel and present a prize to the winner.

(similar to Cathy S suggestion).

How about organizing improvisation exercises? There are tons of them out there. I have done a bunch of them and people always have lots of fun.

http://improvencyclopedia.org/categories//Icebreakers.html (http://improvencyclopedia.org/categories//Icebreakers.html) You might find some ideas here. Many of them work for team building exercises too.

How about team building exercise incorporating one day volunteering (as a team) at, say, a city farm (doing the manual stuff etc), or something else that also helps the team unite, learn new skills and put something back into society/the community (also good for CSR for the firm!). ;D

Thanks everyone.

Boss now thinking about suggestions put forward to him.  I will report back to let you know what was decided.

Excellent idea jess.  I will now quickly add this to the list  :)

Cathy,

Let us know what boss decided.  I assume he must have some kind of objective in mind and ultimately what he wants he expects the group to achieve from their team building day.

Still being discussed I am afraid so no new developments.

Will report back when decided but think i t may be a while........ ::)

Is bossie still mulling things over Cathy?!  ???

Yep  ::)

Wheels turning slowly with regards to this event.  May have some news by end of the week - watch this space.

Team day has finally been decided - all going on a jewellery making day course. 

Sounds as if it will be an enjoyable day - designing and then making up your item.

Oooh get your toolkit out girl and watch those fingernails!! :D

We want pics of your best design! ;)

Not sure designing is a big skill of mine but will have a go.  The last time I did anything like this was many years ago when at school and I designed a sweet bowl in the shape of a goldfish - that just about says it all  :D

Meerkat shaped necklace maybe.....  ;D

Go for it!  Hope you have fun and don't forget to report back.

Reporting Back!

Team building day went ahead - we all turned up expecting a jewellery making day but ............... some of the essential equipment was not working so we did a glass designing course instead.  Quite involved but really interesting. We learnt how to cut glass into various shapes to make designs - not as easy as you may think.

A few cut fingers but nothing too severe  ;D

It is quite amazing what you can do to achieve different effects using different coloured glass and bits of coloured paper, wires etc.  Our designs are now being fired and will be ready to collect later in the week.  I've already cleared a place on a shelf at home to display my effort    :D  If I can work out how, I may post a photo  ;)

If you ever get the chance to attend something like this, you must go.  Even if you think your are not artistic - I don't feel I am - but when you start designing, you find yourself so immersed. it is atually quite relaxing.

What I did notice during this day was that people who when in the office together are normally quite hostile to each other, were working along side each other and getting along well and laughing together.  I suppose this is the sign of a good teambuilding day and so far now we have returned to the office, I am seeing this 'getting along together' continuing.

That sounds like a fantastic day ... actually it sounds better than jewellery making to me.  Definitely want to see a photo of your masterpiece please.

It is great that it had such a positive effect on the team too - long may it last ...

Cathy

Mmm not really my idea of a team building day...little interaction with others, time spent alone immersed in your own work...the idea of cut fingers is a health and safety hazzard in itself.

It's rather false because in the office we are all individuals trying to do our job in a real life context.  In this kind of situation, outside the office, it's much more staged and artificial.

What was the aim Cathy?  What did you get out of it yourself?

I disagree Gee.
1.   There was a lot of interaction with each other. You were never alone.
2.   Cuts – possible, but I get more papercuts in the office each day than I did on the course and these were very minor – others had none. If you followed safety instructions and wore the safety glasses etc, it was fine. (Another department went on a paintballing teambuilding day, someone slipped on some paint and broke his ankle – nobody lost a finger on my course!!).

Let me explain in more detail.

We were split into two groups which consisted of 8 in each group.  Each group was situated around a large work table - in a circle style but in the same room.  On either side of me I had two people who normally work down the other end of the office from me and although our paths cross during the working day, never long enough to have a 'chat' as such. Seated next to each other naturally meant we chatted – in the office this would not necessarily happen.

After the tutor had explained and shown us what to do/not to do, she wandered around us as we began our designs.  While we were doing this, there was a lot of 'banter' and interaction going on. A friendly competition began and we were all laughing and relaxed. None of us had done anything like this before so we were all starting on an equal level – nobody was ‘superior’ to anyone else.

We weren't sitting in silence creating our masterpieces.  We were asking each other advice on various aspects of our design, cribbing ideas and so on.  The atmosphere was relaxed and informal.

And, this I feel is the important teambuilding bit, while doing this we were also talking about so many things – work issues were not mentioned.  By doing this, we all got to know each other a little better. As I said, a couple who are quite hostile in the office and seem to rub each other up the wrong way, got on so well and continue to do so.

I think you see another side to someone when out of the office environment. You see them as someone other than the moaning minnie who is always chasing for expense claims/invoices/dates in diary and so on.  Doesn't mean you will become their life long best friend but isn't it nice just to get on with others?

We had a picnic lunch delivered and sat together on the grass. The group was not too large and did not split up into separate cliques. I talked to a particular colleague and found out so much about her in a 10 minute chat than I ever would in the office. We now chat a little more in the office than just a ‘good morning’ between us.

I’m not sure what you mean Gee by this situation being artificial. Yes, in the office we are doing our jobs as individuals but we are part of a team/company and it makes for a nicer working environment if we all get on. Sometimes, working relationships break down but when we come together outside of the office doing something other than work related, barriers come down and everybody is more social and relaxed.

A quick drink after work does not often achieve this as it is over before it has begun and if in a busy, noisy place, does not lend itself to being relaxed.  A day such as we had was ideal.

The aim of the day was to improve working relationships with each other.  We all felt this was achieved 100%.  During this week, our day has been mentioned several times and how well it went and how we would all like to have another one.

I got to mix with colleagues I work with in a relaxed, non-working environment, have done something I would never have thought of doing and enjoyed it.

That's why I find it false - if people are hostile in work, why would they suddenly change in another situation?  If you can't say good morning and engage with people you work with on a daily basis, then it's a forced environment and you have no choice but to speak to people.  I find that totally fake.

It's human nature to engage with people at work on a daily basis.  I am the same in work as I am outside...reliable, professional, efficient, co-operative, approachable.  I would envisage a team building day for those who had issues engaging with others but not for those who can communicate and work well with others.

In work the atmosphere is not relaxed and informal.  It's hit the ground running and fast-moving.  I am a team player right from the start.  I don't understand why others aren't.  We engage with people every day of our lives, whether it's looking after a boss, or our own families, taking the car to have an MOT, or hiring a builder to do some work.

I just find it quite strange that you outline some particular scenarios in work, and think such a team building day has rectified all that.

The value of these type of events is that everyone is on a level playing field (unless you have a hobbyist glass designer in the group).

At work everyone has their roles and their specialist knowledge, which can create barriers.  Everyone doing an activity which is new and equal creates an openness and that allows people to do something I regularly advocate - trying on each other's shoes!

I don't think for one minute that Cathy is saying that all the problems have been rectified, but individuals have a new opportunity to contribute to rectifying them through seeing them from a different perspective.

Cathy

No one in work is on a level playing field - we all have different jobs, at different levels and earn different amounts of money.

Why does it take a day out of work and money spent to house individuals in one location, to see others from a different perspective.  That's part of human nature....no?

Exact - it creates hierarchies and seniority and that is what causes a number of team related problems.

An off site with a common shared activity is proven as an excellent way of removing the hierarchy and letting us see the human aspects of our colleagues ... just because we are not focusing on that detail they forgot to pass on to us, or the invoice they are hassling us about, and can focus on them instead.

It is a major error to think that team building is only for teams with problems - even the best teams need to consolidate the tea relationships on a regular basis.

An off site with a common shared activity is temporary, we are in work permanently, 5 days a week in a more realistic environment.  It's a false situation. 

I can see the human aspects of people I work with every day, it's human nature as I said and common sense.  If individuals cannot engage with others and appear hostile, they need help.

By the way paper cuts are part and parcel of our daily life in the office, injuries as a result of glass cutting are not.

Were you covered insurance wise Cathy for any mishaps, whilst employees were off site and out of the office?

Gee – you said you find it “strange I outlined some particular scenario … and think that a team building day rectified all that”, I only mentioned this particular situation as it had a positive outcome and isn’t that part of what teambuilding (in what ever way you choose to do it – paintballing, canoeing, climbing trees, in a classroom, down the pub and so on), is all about? 

Yes, of course people engage each day and it is not a case of ‘suddenly changing’ when they are put in a different situation – our day was not arranged with these two in mind but during the course of the day, they did change. Therefore teambuilding was achieved. A positive outcome even if not planned and isn’t that something to be pleased about?

Why did the ‘unfriendliness’ between them stop? – who knows for sure but the fact they were removed from their pressures of work may have helped and they found common ground. They weren’t forced together, it happened naturally. One mentioned somewhere their child had visited with the school, the other joined in and hey presto, common ground.

As I also mentioned, I had a chance to speak to someone who I only used to say ‘good morning’ and ‘good bye’ to – therefore I got to know them a little more and again, teambuilding happened.  I still only see this person twice a day but can add a little more to the ‘good morning’ since I found out something about a hobby of theirs.

Removing people from a ‘pressured’ working environment and placing them in a different environment gives everybody a chance to relax and talk. Why do you use the word ‘false’ – surely it is just different and what is wrong with that? I think everybody could learn from attending teambuilding days – they are not only for people who have problems engaging with others, they are for everybody. The connect you to each other. If you think you are so great not to need to attend, that in itself is a reason to attend.

Most of us work in a “hit the ground running” environment and it is appreciated when managers suggest a day out of this to ‘team build’ or ‘boost’ working relationships. 

The brief was to “improve working relationships with each other” – not because management felt there were major problems – but they wanted to give us all a chance to spend time together doing something other than work related issues and getting to know each other a little more. They hold such days and isn’t it considerate they want to invest money in us also?

We all saw it as a chance to do something different from our day to day routine while at the same time, having the time to talk to each other, there was no hierarchy, we were all equal. We had no need to think about who did what job, how much we all earn, why hasn’t she returned her holiday form to me……… we just had a great day. End of.

Paper cuts each day, yes, a risk, but we are all adults here, we have risk assessments for everything and were happy to attend a glass cutting course – not exactly swimming with sharks.  Do you think that safety measures were not in place?  Do you honestly think we were put in a dangerous situation – of course not, for goodness sake, lighten up Gee.

Insurance? Stop trying to find problems where there are none Gee.  Why are you even thinking of this? My thread was one of a teambuilding day that worked well for us. It may have given someone else reading this an idea for an office day out.

Realistically it was a false situatation.   I am merely pointing out this cannot be compared to a work environment.  How does it change individuals?  One day they are hostile, the next they are reborn?! ???  I feel sorry for those who cannot engage and communicate with others on a daily basis in their workplae, as well as those who are hostile.  I would certainly be wary of trusting those who had caused problems in the past yet had miraculously found their inner self.  Who needs a course to learn that - it's human nature.

As for insurance, all sides have to be considered when you are removed from your every day workplace.  Why am I thinking of these things?  Because it's normal, common sense.  Wouldn't you be concerned if it was your kids being taken out of school for something similar?  How can you not think about it??

Pressures of work sometimes cause tempers to get a little frayed, disagreements start - most are resolved by a quick chat to work things out. Sometimes things fester. Managers should notice and try to sort in whatever way they feel is appropriate.  Mediators perhaps. Some people just needs a little guidance to get them back on track.

But, there are some people who find it difficult to communicate with others at times for various reasons. Some people find it hard to be assertive and speak up for themselves and would rather keep quiet even if something is annoying or upsetting them.  But when away from the office, perhaps at my awayday/teambuilding day, they felt relaxed and being in a different environment felt able to make the first move in being friendly and so it continued.

Sometimes human nature needs a gentle nudge. Nobody's perfect.

Insurance - yes, essential of course but I doubt if any company nowadays would not have this legal requirement in place.  When our HR department arranges courses for anybody, on or off site, an insurance clause is automatically on the confirmation document. This was the case at my last two companies also. 

Hi Cathy

Well I organised my Team Awayday which was last week and we went to The Coppid Beech Hotel in Bracknell and had a meeting in the morning then the afternoon after lunch I organised a team building event called Quest for Best through KDM Events in the field in the afternoon and it was fantastic!  Everyone enjoyed it, not too expensive and I provided some goody bags afterwards as well......hope that helps.

Hi lynnk - goodie bags, good idea - wish I had thought of that  :)

What sort of things did you include?

Goodie bags were distributed at an admin professional's day I attended with a previous company a few years ago.  They can be used at all sorts of events.

Items can include anything from stress balls for the office (!) to the usual pens, notebooks, or in some cases if all female attendees, mini beauty products depending on the event or who is sponsoring it.

We did a raffle that day and I won a weekend break for 2.

For some children's events, home made goodie bags are ideal with stitched on appliques, or even a beach bag if it's a summer event.

Hi OfficePA

Sorry its taken so long to get back to you - been a busy  few years!  With regards to the goodie bags they were fun things. 

As it was FA Cup year..... I went to Morrisons and bought their fun prty stuff as they had princess bags and football boy bags and I just bought say 60 of bounc balls, whistles, tiaras, fairy wands etc whatever they had which in all came to about £30 for the whole lot as each item of say 12 balls or wands to a bag would say cost no more than £2 so was really cheap. 

Then I took the items to work, sat in a room and distributed and sorted the items between boys and girls.... and then when the day came, at the end of the day before everyone went home I announced that to make the day complete there was a fun goody bag they could take home either for them if they were a big kid like me  :P or take home to their kids... and everyone loved them! 

Just something simple is all it takes...
 :o 8) :D ;)

Hi lynnk - good to hear from you!!!!  I was surprised to see my posting back again but was very interested in your reply.  Even though I have moved jobs since I initially posted my question, it is still relevant with my new company so thanks for the tips.

Best wishes and thanks again