Summer has flown by and now many of us are looking at a busy season ahead. It’s not only teachers that are “getting back to work” in September. Summer often means slower business for everyone. Beaches, cabins, and sunshine have given our teams a much-needed refresher. After Labor Day it seems as though most industries pick up. As we head into the fall months, it is key to gather our teams and refocus our energies. Team building is a perfect way to make this happen.
Getting straight down to business without regrouping can feel disjointed and inauthentic. There is no reason to neglect the social needs of our teams. Taking a short time to bring our teams together will lead to higher levels of connectivity and production. Over the next few months, we will dive into ideas to help keep those levels up. To get us started, here are three ideas to rally your team as September starts.
The Ways
Host a Virtual Picnic. Take advantage of the last warm days. Clearly you are not in the same spot if you are working virtually! That is ok. Plan it out. Perhaps you can order lunch for everyone on your team to be delivered at the same time. Invite your team to lunch on their patios and porches together. Keep it light and enjoy the weather. If you are using Zoom with a larger team, try doing a few break out rooms to foster some conversations.
Short Stories. Gather everyone together in a larger Zoom to give them this fun task. Each team or individual can write a short story to share using a prompt. Stories should be 3-4 sentences and don’t have to make a lot of sense. Assign a prompt, send everyone to break out rooms, and then give a time limit. Pull everyone back together to share after 10 minutes. Here are some prompts you can use...
The last time I rode in a hot air balloon...
If I didn’t buy a cow, I probably could have...
I once met a famous landscaper who...
When the wind blows just right I can hear...
Pun Contest. Laugh together. Have some fun. That’s really the best rallying point heading into the busy season. Before getting together, tell everyone to look up 3-4 puns. You know your work environment so be sure to give instructions on levels of appropriateness. Get together and take turns sharing your favorite puns or short jokes. It will certainly be silly and goofy but that’s just what you need.
Let us host an event. If you don’t feel like you can pull off one of these on your own, we are here for you. We are also super-affordable. Take a look at our catalog and find an activity that will allow for some bonding over laughs and conversation. You could try Feud or Bingo or our newest offering, Just the Facts!
In Conclusion
The biggest key is to allow this time to just be fun. Set aside the agenda during this activity. If there is business that needs attention, schedule a separate time for it.
Recognizing our team members need time to reorient themselves to the rest of the team. Hopefully you take advantage of one of these ideas.
If you have another idea, please share it!