Ice Breakers

One of the more important skills students will learn outside the classroom is teamwork. This quality can not be taught it must be learned by experience. Members will be on teams to compete in competitions. Students must learn the limits and strengths of their team member if they wish to succeed. This skill prepares students for the team work assignments which will be required in classes, as well as in everyday

In the environment today, it is not unusual to see people working in teams to accomplish certain goals and tasks. During our youth, parents and teachers encourage us through various methods to work as part of a team. Whether a sports team, classroom team, or after school activities, parents and teachers and other authority figures start the introduction of working in teams and teaching the value of being able to work together to accomplish a common goal. As people progress through the various stages of their lives, everyone continues to strive to communicate. Communication is a part of everyday life. It may be overlooked in some areas, but when dealing with a team environment, communication is vital. One

- Help develop a sense of success and accomplishment for the group (put non-confrontational topics in front of topic that could cause a struggle on the agenda)

Teams are formed when individuals with a common taste, preference, liking, and attitude come and work together for a common goal. Teams play a very important role in organizations as well as our personal lives.

I love icebreakers. I hold a monthly meeting for my department at work; we always start our meetings off with a new icebreaker game. It really is a great way to get to know others.

Team building exercises were engaged in to bring the team members together on a personal level. The exercises and the time together engendered greater loyalty, personal connections, appreciation for team mates, and common purpose. Genuinely caring for team members or co-workers should compel team members to always give their best in the interest of the

It allows groups to use the situation in the learning environment to develop their social interaction skills e.g. meeting new people, and share ideas. This enhances the group’s experiences, promotes collaboration, can develop their social relationships skills and allows opportunity for peer

In the workplace, teams play a very important role in goal achievement. With the help and support of a team leader, the organization can become very successful as long as the team is effective and cooperative. There are many different leadership styles/theories that make each leader unique and effective in their own way. It is not just the leader though that has to be effective. The team as a whole needs to come together and being efficient. Team building strategies are very helpful and effective to bring everyone together. Although working in a team is very effective in most cases, conflicts can still arise. In order to bring everyone back together again conflict resolutions need to be put into place such as the problem solving technique.

Teamwork is the product of two or more persons working together to accomplish a given goal. Take for instance the Egyptian Pyramids. If one man alone tried to plan and build these colossal monuments by himself, he would have failed miserably. However, when men bond together and put their efforts to work toward a common goal, they can

In my many years in working for the state of Georgia, I have worked in several groups, but the one that stands out the planning committee that I was serving on with my co-worker. We were trying to organize a non-profit organization called It takes a Village. We had a rough start but we worked to together and everyone understood the main goal and we all got assigned certain duties and once we complete the assigned task we, always assisted the other team members so that we get the job done.

I am a firm believer that group support can be enhanced by the backing of various team functions after practices as well as the games. Team members will be provided the opportunity to know one another on an individual level and, hopefully have the possibility to be friends. Also, the bonding could result in lifelong friendships, which are morally incredible. The other example I would use as a team building procedure is to pair each player up with a player they don’t know, in order for them to learn something different about that player that they didn’t know. I would also allow the team to provide their opinions and concerns, as a group and personally. It highlights to

The fourth aspect of a dysfunctional group is lack of communication. I believe that this is by far the most important aspect of a good team. Without good communication it is hard to maintain accountability, trust, and to express opinions. The key to success in all the ice breaker games was being able to communicate with your team effectively in a manner that everybody you were working with understood the point you were trying to make. We have learned that communication is more than just verbal it is also nonverbal, such as the body language and hand gestures that you use. In my group’s ice breaker game and presentation we tried to demonstrate that non verbal communication was important through the use of video as well as when we required our groups of to use charades type gestures to explain to the person assigned to draw what they were supposed to be drawing.

From an early age we are instilled the importance of teamwork. The lessons may come from a soccer field, a classroom group project, or even a song on Sesame Street. Regardless of our future careers, we are all likely to experience some sort of teamwork requirement, even if it is as simple as getting along with your co-workers.

Dyer, W.G., Dyer, W.G., Jr., & Dyer, J.H. (2007). Team building: Proven strategies for improving team performance, 4th edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

The science of team building is an art. The uncontrollable variables are people. Just putting a group of talented individuals together for the sole purpose of goal achievement can be met with disastrous results. It can leave individuals left feeling unfulfilled and lead to costly mistakes in the long run. While team building can be considered an art, there are some methods and approaches that can assist with successful builds. While no approach is full proof, taking time to acclimate oneself with human