For some years, companies from the most varied sectors are committed to the activities team building. These are, according to the country manager of the human resources consultancy Great Place to Work (GPTW), Fedra Feola, tools they use to work particular goalss: the bond between employees, the motivation for work, the incentive —or in some cases the creation— of certain values and more.
“They are creative activities that take people out of the everyday space and are used between one and two times a year,” explained Feola, who also said that, although these types of activities have been used for several years, currently they have a more important role. This occurs because, in a context in which the employees of many companies are at home, theas proposal team building they appear as “different” meeting spaces among all those that make up the companies.
However, for the activity to fulfill its purpose, it must be aligned with the objectives that the company wants to achieve. That is why there are the most varied proposals: cooking, music, rowing, and even games, both tabletop and linked to physical activity.
“There are different concepts and activities that aim to impact through the game in the integration of the team”, affirmed the human resources expert, Lucía Malián.
She works developing activities of team building since 2008, and A little over three years ago, he created a board game that acts as a facilitator so that the teams of the different companies can make a insight about your daily life at work through fun. “Many times it happened that the activities were only in the game for the sake of the game, which is valid, but there are groups of companies that have a lot of experience in this line and there comes a time when it is no longer pleasant to do another activity of team buildingMalian explained.
The board game, called Imperio, has a narrative that is based on pre-Columbian times: there are four regions, one empire, and players have to compete for resources. According to Malian, in a game of approximately one hour duration, and a subsequent debriefing To review the actions carried out, concepts such as adaptation to change, internal communication and frustration management are worked on.
“We play the game, and the participants draw conclusions as to whether they want to continue working in their own way or if they want to work in another way,” he explained. “Powerful conversations are being generated through which we reflect on what happened in the game, and in the company”added the creator of Empire.
For his part, the graduate in physical education, Gonzalo Casulo, proposes, through the company he runs, Animate, outdoor games that correspond to the objectives of each of the organizations that hire him. In interview with Coffee & Business He explained that they have different types of days: “From what is more sporting, to more specific team games to achieve an objective among all the members of that team”indicated.
In any case, he pointed out that they propose a kind of typical day, and that it is structured as follows: begins with an icebreaker game in which everyone present participates, Then the teams are divided. generally pre-selected by company references so that those who already know each other are not left together, and each one starts a different game.
Among the most popular, Casulo mentioned “the minefield”, in which one of the participants is blindfolded so that another guides him through a rectangle that has different elements on the floor, and manages to cross it without stepping on any, and “the transport of little balls” from one basket to another, using cut pipes as a means of transport.
Asked about what is achieved in the days of games, the director of Animate maintained that the main objective —and that is usually achieved— is that the employees of different positions of the companies integrate so that later, in the day to day at work, there is a better relationship. However, he pointed out that There are also companies that say what their vision and mission are and what their values are because they want to develop that during the day, and for which particular activities are proposed.
beyond the games
In addition to the playful proposals, there are other activities team building linkedfor example, to sport or culture.
At the Punta Carretas Rowing Club, a couple of years ago they integrated a specialized option for companies, when —as explained by the director, Joaquín Mones—, They got two fixed seat boats that hold 10 people.
Regarding the activity, Mones said that it lasts two hours and one is in the water. Before, there is half an hour of preparation, and then, half an hour of reflection. On the ship, The 10 people sit in a pattern of two people per bench, and each one has a single paddle in their hands. So, Those who participate in the activity have the challenge of learning to row and coordinate with the partner they have on the side so that the boat advances in the most organic way possible.
“In addition to doing an outdoor activity, which is fun in itself, tYou also work teamwork. When a group rises, you always have someone who wants to be stronger, another who wants to stand out and you have to convey that, in reality, for the boat to advance everyone has to do the same rowing” explained the director of the Punta Carretas Rowing Club. He also said that communication is worked on in the activity because, for the boat to advance, each of the rowers has to be clear about what they want to convey to their peers.
Regarding the cultural beta of the team building, the alternative percussion company, Latasónica, offers a musical experience for companies. According to the co-director, José Ramírez, the The idea is that the work teams of organizations have a “memorable, pleasant and also achievable” development space. because the proposal is made so that anyone can make music.
“In this experience what is sought is a path that has two edges: one is the personal, from which the person can overcome their own barriers and another is that of the collective, with assembly, encounter and connection. They are the two pillars of team building: understand that I am part of a whole, and that my individual role is very important,” explained Ramírez.
In addition, according to the co-director of Latasónica, the activity of creating music with what could be a garbage can, for example, is a very interesting metaphor for the life of companies, since it is pure transformation from learning.
Regarding the activities of team building overall, Ramirez said: “All these devices are carriers of meaning and messages, and those messages can be tailored to the message that organizations are processing.”
In conclusion, GPTW’s Feola noted that these activities are a tool thatframed in more strategies that organizations must have and accompany the leaders, also contribute to the smooth running of the business.
