Programming a team

I have been registering few of my technical experience in my blog whenever I'm not lazy 😂 this time I wanted to convey my perspective on a non-technical subject yes, from the title you might have guessed it as Team Building. The core aspect of team building is turn a group of individual contributors into a cohesive team. Have a look into the following pic depicts teamwork (I grabbed it from online just to portray teamwork and not to cut a tree😉).

 

Most of the organization irrespective of size and nature they don't fail to allocate a portion of budget towards team building activities.

But, why do companies allocate budget for team building?

Most of the management guru's believed that team building enables better communication, better relationships that ultimately increases the productivity of the group (do note the management believes it increases productivity of the group which might or might on increase the productivity of individuals in the team).

How the budget is been used quite often?

Unlike other budgets, most of the organizations have some upper limit towards the expenditure that's been involved for the purpose of team building and these budgets are allocated on a quarterly basis or on a annual basis. Based, on the budget and based on the group/team lead/head/manager it's been used by choosing either one of the following:

• Hire Team Building Coach (typically a day of formalities revolving around few boredom activities)
• Team Lunch/Dinner
• Outings

Personally, I feel all options does not add the right essence required for team building (despite after meticulous planning) because of the following reasons:

• Poor turn around
• Lack of interest 
• Not once again
• Non-collocated members

Also, I would like to highlight the trend that's prevailed these days in the name of team building, guess you have got it, yes, it's team lunch/dinner. Where, all in the team gets into the action by concentrating what's there in menu and my choice for the day and gets out as we went inside.

So, how we can effectively achieve the target of team building? 

The following are purely based on my experience and it may vary based on the culture, circumstances and other external or internal factors.

• Try to get consensus on event day (make sure all including remote workers also takes part)
• Play a motivator role so that all are involved the activities
• Share your past or related experiences
• Don't stick to same venue
• Have a mixed bag of activities (physical & mental activities)
• During team lunch/dinner try to share with others as much as possible
• While traveling to/from venue please don't speak anything about technical/work
• Try not to force anything on anyone
• Keep yourself busy and others as much as possible