One of the reasons that “team building” has a dubious reputation is the proliferation of recreational experience providers that bill themselves as team building programs. Team building activities can take the shape of any number of experiences, but it is the facilitated discussion during the event that changes the activity from recreation to something more. Without discussion of the activity and its relationship to real-life, very little learning can take place, and still less lasting change is likely. The main function of facilitation is to provide the environment in which that integral discussion and reflection can take place.
The fundamentals of facilitation include:
- Providing a learning experience
- Providing an opportunity for reflection
- Offering tools and techniques to help teams integrate the learning into their day to day reality
- Offering strategies for continuation of the learned behaviors, in order to effect lasting change and improvement
Another common misconception about team building is that one single event can ‘fix’ whatever ails a work team. A day of team building, even with a skilled facilitator and a high-functioning team, is only the beginning. A one-day team builder is akin to seeing the tip of the iceberg. The lasting benefit comes from repetition and integration of the strategies learned in the one-day. In order to effect real change, the team must be able to replicate the learning environment and level of trust on a day-to-day basis. This type of learning can only take place when the facilitator has multiple opportunities to work with the team. In a one-day, the facilitator can plant the seed, but only with nurturing and care can the team blossom into its true potential.
