24.10.16

After A Team Building Exercise Baltimore MD Companies Experience Increased Productivity

By Betty Foster


Most progressive companies have long moved away from the management approach where managers make all the decisions and the rest of the employees simply obey instruction. The modern approach is to allow smaller groups of employees to make decisions themselves, to implement new procedures and to take responsibility for their performance. With a team building exercise Baltimore MD companies hope to improve the efficiency of their teams and to motivate their employees to improve their productivity.

Special outings for groups to become better acquainted, to learn more about each other and to learn skills that will help them to perform better as a group has become very popular. The idea is to send the group to a location away from the office, where they cannot be disturbed and to lead them through a variety of activities and lectures all aiming at creating or building upon group cohesion.

There is a bewildering array of facilitators that advertise their expertise in helping groups to perform better, to increase motivation levels and to improve interpersonal relationships between the members of the group. Some facilitators focus on specific fields, such as conflict management, communication techniques and leadership. In order to achieve this they offer a variety of activities. They have good relationships with other professionals and venues.

Word that there is money to be made in this field has spread quickly and there are, sadly, many facilitators that have no or very little experience or qualifications. Reputable facilitators will be more than willing to submit valid references and proof of their qualifications and experience. Many are members of reputable professional organizations. They are able to offer a wide variety of activities and venues.

It is also vital to arrange an information session with prospective contractors prior to inviting quotations. During this session the client needs to make the objectives that it wishes to achieve very clear. Other matters such as the budget available and time constraints must also be discussed as well as the number of participants and special needs such as facilities for disabled people. Only with this information in hand can any reputable contractor prepare a quotation.

Quotations should clearly indicate how the intended objectives will be achieved and a selection of possible activities and lectures should also be submitted, the value of each clearly indicated. If sub contractors will be used, reasons should be provided why they are deemed necessary. Facilitators should preferably present their proposals personally. The participants should then have input in the program before a final decision is made.

To gain full value from a development excursion detailed feedback should be asked from the participants. The group as a whole should compile a report focusing on the quality of service rendered, problems that were encountered and the value of the program in achieving the goals of the excursion. Individual group members should also provide feedback, possibly by means of a questionnaire which will make the compilation of statistics easier.

If groups of employees are to take responsibility for their efforts, their productivity and their contribution to the vision of the employer, then they need to be empowered to grow as a group. Group development excursions can play a valuable role if it is properly planned. This requires an experienced and qualified facilitator.




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