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The Industrial Revolution significantly changed the business world. Modern workers have become more specialized, found themselves to be more isolated, and work more impersonally than before. Despite the fact that technology has dramatically increased productivity, long-term business success still requires effective human interaction and collaboration. Since the time of the Industrial Revolution, there have been continued evolutions to the world of business. Work conditions for the modern employee are more and more specialized, restricted, and detached. In spite of the fact of modern technology's ability to maximize human productivity, continuing success in business will require more human interaction and cooperation. Although people no longer need to be in the same place at the same time in order for communication to happen, there is still no replacement for in-person physical interactions for building relationships and team cohesiveness. People become more than just impersonal names on email distribution lists. They become partners and members of a team, united in working toward a common purpose. Employees become much more energized and capable of working together to accomplish shared goals. The competitive nature of the business world means companies must adapt quickly and solve logistical issues creatively. Collaboration allows teams to see and grab opportunities as markets change. Employers who want to increase collaboration use both internal and external opportunities to build team spirit. If workers aren't comfortable sharing ideas and contributing to group projects, the team goals will not be aligned and the resulting efforts will be ineffective. During the growth of a company things becomes more complex. There are many businesses that have looked to pioneering settlers, and the military throughout history for their inspiration. Seeing that people faced logistical and physical changes built quick bonds, developing problem-solving abilities that are critical to a team. Thus people become more motivated to strive for group success. These models have been used to create team building exercises to help companies improve. For examples, one such method involves dividing participants into teams with 8-12 members each, and challenging each team with the threats that existed during the days of migration in covered wagons in the Old West. A covered wagon must be built by each team with specific technical instructions. A budget is provided to each team to purchase other supplies to put together their wagon. Each team must abide by the same rules, limits, and specifications. A team flag and camp song must also be picked by each team. Team will race their wagons after they have built them. Throughout this event, team members must practice communicating, decision-making, exercising leadership, and working in tandem. They practice problem solving in a group setting. People get a fun opportunity to develop trust in their teammates as they define roles and responsibilities to accomplish group challenges. The accompanying adrenaline rush from this activity's speed and novelty is also chemically conducive to feelings of group camaraderie. Team building events tend to take individuals out of their comfort zones. The goal is to help them overcome self-limiting fears, and mental barriers. These exercises are a fun, safe, and exciting way for companies to initiate effective project teams. Team building helps companies become more effectively interdependent. Once this happens things progress internally, and externally much smoother. Everyone involved feels highly motivated and comfortable working towards their goals. Daiv Russell is a management and marketing consultant with Envision Consulting in Tampa, Florida. Find more Team Building Ideas, techniques, and exercises or learn more about finding the root cause of your organization's teamwork issues.
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