Successful organizations are increasingly moving toward team-based approaches to solve technical and organizational challenges. Oftentimes with new ways of solving problems, other problems emerge . . . in the case of using teams to tackle the tough organizational challenges, new challenges develop from the interaction of team members, especially in multi-discipline and matrixed teams.
 
Teambuilding can help the cause. Looking at a sports metaphor – any team, be it baseball, football, basketball, or hockey, has members that are highly interdependent, that is, every team member is dependent upon every other team member to interact, as planned, practiced, and agreed, to make the plays and to give their best effort to win the game. There’s a strong level of trust. In organizations the interdependence is just as real, with social skills often substituted for physical and coordination skills. Planning and executing are the same for both.
 
Then why are so many team projects determined by their executives to be . . ."not successful?" "Lack of teamwork" many executives say. Why is that? Perhaps the teams were asked to ‘team’ and deliver a team product without any practice sessions on how to interact as a team.
 
The term "team building" has perhaps become an overused buzzword in recent years, and has many connotations. In terms of corporate development, team-building exercises and initiatives could be important, not only for the immediate experience of the activities performed by the team, but also for the group skills, communication and bonding that result.
 
Team-building development efforts provide realistic experiences that empower individuals to contribute to common goals. The success of most organizations depends on the ability of individuals to build effective teams, while the main goals of team-building are to improve productivity, motivation, and trust among team members.
 
Occasionally taking employees out of the workplace helps groups break down political and personal barriers, eliminate distractions, and have fun. The benefits of team-building programs are so significant that many corporations have incorporated teambuilding strategies into their standard training curriculum. Most benefits are contained within the following five improvement areas:

• Facilitating change and transition with groups and organizational teams
  
• Coaching employees to work more effectively together between and among individuals, groups, and departments
  
• Improving the ability of individuals to perform their roles more effectively with individual employees, managers, and executives at all levels
  
• Recognizing and overcoming barriers in communication and workflow
  
• Identifying, addressing and resolving conflict between and among
  individuals, groups and departments

At the WorkPlace Cornerstone Group, we believe that teambuilding is an essential ingredient of an organization’s success . . . we have focused experience in teambuilding in small and large groups, and stand ready to structure and facilitate your organization’s teambuilding efforts.