Team Building Key Terms

Know these key terms and ideas for team building

The phenomenon known as "team building" has been getting a lot of attention from businesses that profit from great communication, teamwork and cooperation within the corporate walls. Many different kinds of businesses can take advantage of team-building strategies to push greater productivity, higher morale and a greater sense of confidence and mission for their employees. Knowing some of the basic key terms and ideas associated with team building will help a business prepare its own team-building platform.

 

Team-building leadership

This might seem like a given, but actually, defining a leader is an important part of team building. A leader and a goal give definition to the activities and aspects of teams that need to be nurtured.
Try: Get a detailed description of leadership roles in team building from Team Building for Leaders.

Meyers Briggs personality testing

One way to determine team roles for team building is to use the Meyers Briggs standard, a set of basic personality type definitions used in a "personality test" that many businesses rely on for learning more about cognitive roles in teams.
Try: Find out more about the Meyers Briggs at Personality Pathways.

DISC

Another kind of personality test is called DISC or Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Compliance. This test can also fit neatly into a team-building structure.
Try: Read up on DISC for team building at DiscusOnline.

Wilderness adventure

This type of activity is often a way for managers to build teams; this can take place either "out in the field" (in a wilderness area) or "on paper" (part of a normal orientation or team-building seminar in an office). Teams work on problem solving and constructing solutions. The wilderness adventure is great practice for dealing with the challenges that an office team may face.
Try: Check out Wilderness Adventure to see what a real wilderness adventure might look like for a team-building exercise.

Shared purpose

One general team-building strategy that managers and leaders pay close attention to is the idea of a shared purpose. Teams with defined goals can tackle them confidently. Shared purpose also assists individuals in working together as a cohesive group.
Try: For a definition and description of shared purpose in team building, check out TeamBuildingInformation.com.

Ice breakers

Another tool in a team-building leader's tool kit is ice breakers. These small activities provide a segue to the main event. Basically, if team members do not know each other, ice breakers help forge basic connections before team members need to work with one another on a more intimate basis.
Try: Find out more about ice breaker activities at Team Building Guide.

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