Area #2 – Getting to Know Each Other – The team As Individuals
The second of twenty areas we are looking at this fall as an activity to support team development, is getting to know the team as individuals.
In a virtual team, members are sometimes more autonomous than in person teams. Given that team members may need to spend a bulk of their time working alone, or working through other matrix relationships, one area you may want to focus in on is getting to know each other as individuals.
One of my favorite activities which I used to use with my remote teams is “what’s unique about you?”. I would ask the team to share one thing that they uniquely bring to the team. Over the years with my own teams we would explore this question in different ways. From sharing a logo which the team member creates of themselves and shares with each other, to bringing an item which they could share at our annual work sessions, providing team members with an opportunity to share more about themselves is key to creating a cohesive team.
Increasingly in my work over the last decade I have used photographs as a way to get people to introduce themselves as individuals. Whether they bring their own photos or I share a selection of photos such as our Conversation Sparker card deck (http://www.conversationsparker.com).
Time needed: 15-30 minutes
Materials needed: Pen (think marker) and Paper
Instructions: Have team members create a logo which represents that they uniquely bring to the team. Give people 90 seconds to do this. Have team members share their logo with each other (while streaming, or verbally if you are on the phone only). If time, get other group members to share an example of when they have seen their colleague bring that talent to the team.
Check out these other websites for more information about potential activities:
Wilderdom.com (click on over to the Index of Group Activities and Games)
BusinessBalls.com
Warm regards,\Jennifer
The second of twenty areas we are looking at this fall as an activity to support team development, is getting to know the team as individuals.
In a virtual team, members are sometimes more autonomous than in person teams. Given that team members may need to spend a bulk of their time working alone, or working through other matrix relationships, one area you may want to focus in on is getting to know each other as individuals.
One of my favorite activities which I used to use with my remote teams is “what’s unique about you?”. I would ask the team to share one thing that they uniquely bring to the team. Over the years with my own teams we would explore this question in different ways. From sharing a logo which the team member creates of themselves and shares with each other, to bringing an item which they could share at our annual work sessions, providing team members with an opportunity to share more about themselves is key to creating a cohesive team.
Increasingly in my work over the last decade I have used photographs as a way to get people to introduce themselves as individuals. Whether they bring their own photos or I share a selection of photos such as our Conversation Sparker card deck (http://www.conversationsparker.com).
Time needed: 15-30 minutes
Materials needed: Pen (think marker) and Paper
Instructions: Have team members create a logo which represents that they uniquely bring to the team. Give people 90 seconds to do this. Have team members share their logo with each other (while streaming, or verbally if you are on the phone only). If time, get other group members to share an example of when they have seen their colleague bring that talent to the team.
Check out these other websites for more information about potential activities:
Wilderdom.com (click on over to the Index of Group Activities and Games)
BusinessBalls.com
Warm regards,\Jennifer
Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats.
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Phone: (416)996-8326
You can grab a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon. You can also purchase a copy direct from our site, signed by me!
Looking to schedule some team development this fall? Contact me to discuss whether the Everything DiSC or the Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team may be a great starting point.
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats.
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Phone: (416)996-8326
You can grab a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon. You can also purchase a copy direct from our site, signed by me!
Looking to schedule some team development this fall? Contact me to discuss whether the Everything DiSC or the Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team may be a great starting point.
RSS Feed
