On the face of it anyone watching the mess that the BBC apprentice
teams made of organising a team-building day could be forgiven for buying into the
prejudices around Team-building that were re-enforced.
The reality however for the observant viewer was quite the reverse. The task was introduced by the show’s host
Alan Sugar as “an away-day for corporate clients – not a jolly, you understand,
but an exercise in team-building, and communication and listening skills”.
I can only assume that the apprentice candidates had already
switched off at this point because the solutions they provided came straight from
the David Brent School of management development.
The briefing meetings with their blue chip clients so
clearly re-enforced Lord Sugar’s message about outcomes that when it became
clear the 2 teams, Evolve and Endeavour had totally missed the point I began to
wonder how much of the program I could endure.
It certainly made good TV but most of all, once I had managed
to get over my discomfort, it shows just how dysfunctional teams can become
without good communication and listening skills.
Filling a day with activities without understanding how to
turn that experience into learning is, without doubt, a complete waste of time
and money. No shock then when both
clients on the show asked for significant cash back for a complete failure to
satisfy the clearly expressed desired outcomes.
In spite of the show I hope, dear reader, you will still
want to explore the opportunity to develop your team through experiential teambuilding
so let me provide some thoughts to help you get the most out your investment.
- Decide how you need your team to improve, what do those improvements look like?
- Chose a team-building provider with a proven track record.
- Talk to a senior representative of the provider. If they haven’t listened to you and cannot give you total confidence in their understanding of your agenda – move on to another.
- Ask to speak to at least one other client of theirs who is willing to recommend them.
- Make sure the event includes the services of an experienced facilitator.
- Meet the facilitator to ensure the chemistry will be right for your team.
- Only use a provider that can demonstrate results, ideally they should assess and record your team’s performance before, on the day and at agreed intervals after the event.
- Ensure that ALL of the team attend the event.
- Create expectations for them in advance; full participation is key – even for the cynics. A good facilitator will help you achieve this.
- If it’s worth doing don’t skimp, your team will feel valued if it’s clear you have invested in them.
If you are still sceptical about the value of teambuilding contact
me, I will do my best to persuade you and answer your concerns. Good luck.
For more on Teambuilding check out www.sundialteamscapes.com