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Icebreakers 9

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ChemFemme

ChemFemme

Chemical
Jul 15, 2005
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All,

Our human resources manager, in his infinate wisdom, has decided that there is a lack of synergy in our technical group and is planning a team building day. He has asked for suggestions for games or icebreakers to focus on listening, team work, and "getting to know each other outside of work". Have any of you been to these type of outings? What is your opinion on this, and/or have you participated in any helpful or, dare I say, entertaining icebreakers???
 
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I've been through dozens of these things and if your company is just starting this process my advice is QUIT THE COMPANY BEFORE YOU WASTE WHOLE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE THAT YOU'LL NEVER GET BACK.

The only one of these things that didn't make me want to shove a spoon in my ear was a volunteer day for Habitat for Humanity. No "rah rha", no "ice breakers", just hard work that helps the community.

David

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
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The harder I work, the luckier I seem
 
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Heh heh... rather than wasting a full day with nonsense I guess it would make more sense to analyse WHY there's a lack of synergy. The behaviour of a group or a department usually depends on their objectives.

The maintenance department has to reduce their budget. That's why they're reluctant to do any maintenance. They would even complain before they fix the light in the toilet. They're not "team players". Duh - they're just trying to meet the objective that was given to them.

I've had my share of entertaining icebreakers. They do help to get to know your colleagues. They can be a lot of fun. They will not help reach synergy though, imho.
 
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Sounds like you have new mngmt in last couple years! It's their way of looking like they know what they are doing!
Wast of time IMO.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716
 
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Actually, the management's been here for quite awhile. I think the problem lies in the tech group. We've had significant turn-over in recent years (several people quitting, getting fired, restructuring and moving into operations, etc.), and now have a diverse group (from an experience stand point). One of the members has been here ~15 years, another has about 10 years experience, but only been here 2.5 years, others are very young and just out of college, then we also have a couple of interns/co-ops. A lot of different personalities in a small area. One of the group was just fired a few months ago and we're all trying to take on extra work to cover the absence until he's replaced. Morale is pretty low overall. I think they're just trying to re-motivate the group.
 
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At a smaller company I worked for for 10 years, Business was good, and we woekd a lot of stressfull hours. We'd go to Hooters for a long lunch just about every Friday. Definately a good way to wind up the week. Oh yea, the boss would buy. Of course, it was just 6 employees. I find it was good for becoming friends with your coworkers, and getting to know them personally. I think it let us work more closely, and get along better overall.
Of course, when the economy started to wain, and money got tight, this stopped.
I think a company picnic, or open house is highly underated. As it is, I've been here for 2 months, and barely know names of half the people I work with. (100 employees)

David
 
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I've always found the first thing people say at ice-breaker type events when they are made to talk to each other is "I hate these kinds of things". The most successful events I've been to have been straightforward social occasions like a trip to a comedy club or a bowling alley or a barbeque. Contrary to the opinion of most management types, people will talk to each other without having to take part in stupid games and exercises!
 
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Schedule a bowling night with your Tech Group, bowl a few "beer frames"... what more is needed?

[green]"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."[/green]
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
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The best teambuilding we've done tends to be either a relatively informal night out with some beer and food after bwling / paintballing / karting / whatever. Giving people shared things to laugh about gives them common ground for the future: "Do you remember when I whupped your ass at bowls...?" "Yeah, but it was funnier when I shot you two dozen time at paintball and ran over your foot karting...". These events can build a team relationship close to brotherhood given time and the right people in the group.

So far as I have seen, rigidly organised HR events don't work - you can't force people to build relationships. As was said before, the most common reaction at the ones I have attended is to deride the latest round of HR nonsense being foisted upon us.



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One day my ship will come in.
But with my luck, I'll be at the airport!
 
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vooter, I hope you work with better looking people than I do. I would have to take zdas04's spoon and stick it in my eyes instead of my ear. [flush2]
 
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Foada,

I second that!!!!! I think the male population would get a lot more out of an outing like that where I work than the female population would. That wasn't exactly the type of "team bonding" I was referring to. [censored]
 
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Is this a bit like "Alcoholics anonymous"?
Will you all have to get up and say things like "Hi, I'm Mutt and I'm a workaholic. I want to be a team player"
Could make a great fly on the wall documentary...

In the UK there is a program called "Investors in People" which involves a lot of external specialists coming in and surveying the company. This usually happens when the Management finally recognise that there is a problem and that ad nauseum repeats of restructuring, downsizing, rationalising etc etc may be beginning to take a toll on the remaining workers.

This program lasts for just as long as the Management think it is a worker problem and is dropped when the inevitable reports start to come back that it is a management problem.

"Team Bonding" exercises are usually a unilateral attempt by one manager to get browny points and he thinks it represents a win win situation for him (he did something and its not his fault all anyone was interested in was getting to the bar).

Incidentally Managers ideas about "Team work" usually require everyone from the contract cleaners to the big boss having a say in things they know nothing about but usually fall short of recognising that every team needs a captain to take decisions and responsibilities.

I think I'll side with Dave (Zdas04) on this one.

JMW
 
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If we had a nude company picnic, I would be out of work for weeks sick! I should be allowed to drink on the job, that would break the ice!

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716
 
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Here's what has been suggested so far:

Spending an entire 8hr day (normal work hours) out of the plant and outdoors, breakfast and lunch provided, with minimal expenses, (The teambuilding budget is not well funded.)and possibly a social event afterwords like bowling, going to the bar, etc. They want to make the first 8 hours mandatory and the social event optional.

Some of the suggestions for games/ice breakers so far are the human knot, where everyone stands in a circle, entangles their arms and grasps hands with two different people in the goup. The objective is to work together to untangle the knot without letting go of any of the hands.

Another is where everyone is blindfolded and given an animal sound. Sounds are assigned in pairs, and each group has to find each other making only their animal sound and no talking. The objective here would be to learn to listen to one another.

Also, they're talking about a scavenger hunt throughout the community to get people out and about and working together for a common goal.

So far, the nude picinic has not yet been suggested :eek:)
 
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I've had pretty good luck with these "team building" events at my work. There are two types: the whole company (roughly 600 people in the metropolitan area), and just our small group (4 of us). The large group picnic and christmas parties are nice because it's free food and they go ALL OUT. As far as it becoming an "ice-breaker" event... well, it's not that great, but like i said: free food, drinks, and lots of prizes. The "team-building" day with the small group was great because we skipped one afternoon of work and went to the baseball game. Again: free food, free drinks, and add on a professional baseball game. These things happen about twice a year, so it's not like we miss much work for them.
 
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