In an earlier blog, I wrote about the irreplaceable experiences I had as a Chef on busy nights witnessing my team effectively execute each of their roles into one beautiful gastronomic experience for our guests. I know that teamwork rules!
In the food distribution business, it was amazing to understand the process and number of people it takes to assure our customers got what they ordered. No less than 6 departments are involved. All one must do is watch an orchestra, big band, or sports team to see teamwork in action.
So, I feel proper teambuilding is an essential skill all leaders should understand. I remember co- training an effective teambuilding workshop when a Senior Executive of the company stumbled in. He asked, “What the hell is going on here?” I explained and his reply was, “Teambuilding is where I tell the team what to do, and they do it.” His remark was within earshot of all the participants in the program. Being a highly respected Executive at the time, I lost the interest of many of the students who heard his ignorant statement.
Fast forward several years to my transition from being a corporate employee to a sole business owner/ consultant. With that change I gained many benefits: you can more easily make choices when and what you eat, dress, work, and sleep. Teambuilding for 1 is not one of them. It is like the many “table for one” dining experiences for those of us traveling for business. Especially when the dining room host says, “are you alone? or just one of you?” Many of my best clients enrolled me in their teams, and it warms my heart. But in the back of my mind, I know I don’t have the same sweat equity invested as they do.
Teambuilding is not just a “one- off” experiential outing that gets checked off once it has been completed. There should be a solid objective for the team that is communicated ahead of time, clear expectations and roles defined, all held within an environment of trust. The best learning comes in the debrief, evaluation, and follow up. One of my favorite team building experiences was held at Sur La Table, (because it involved our team making food).
So, bottom line. If you are going to do teambuilding, do it right. Invest in a process with someone that knows what they are doing. Most of all, if you are a Leader, get involved.
