Team United: How to build relationships and unite your team

How often do you have team-building events?

Building your team chemistry is often overlooked and forgotten about.? Is your team united?? Do they share the same core values?? As a former high school boys basketball coach, I have organized my fair share of team-building activities – Some successful, some not..? In the #CJJblog this week, I give you some of my all-time favorites.? Feel free to use them with your own team to build relationships and unite your team members.

• Sharing.? How well do your team members know each other?? In this exercise, you can partner up, or share as a team.? Everyone shares a bit about themselves by starting their statement with “If you really knew me…” and continues on with feelings, fun facts, etc.
• Communication.? Partner up with the goal of improving communication skills.? The task is to take 45 seconds, pick a topic, and identify a keyword that must be used.? Example: Explain your personal brand in 45 seconds using the word “basketball.”
• Team wraparound.? After a key event (game, scrimmage, practice, meeting), go around the room as a group and have everyone say two things: 1) One thing we did well as a team, and 2) One thing we can improve on as a team.
• The love line.? Line your team up across from each other, forming two lines.? One line is the speaking line, talking about what they appreciate about their partner across from them.? The “Listener” can only say “thank you.”? Take about one minute, then switch.
• Team culture.? When together as a team, outline two scenarios – Scenario One: Our team is boring, distant, blah, and we don’t talk to one another.? Scenario Two: We have high energy, constantly communicate, and love each other like family.? Then, ask which scenario best fits how we want to be as a team.
• Appreciation letter.? Pass out pieces of paper to everyone with the individual names of each team member on it.? Then, everyone takes about 5 minutes to write down a couple things they appreciate about that team member.? Then, read the comments aloud and share the incredible team appreciation.?
• Perfect day.? Have each team member write out what their perfect day looks like.
• Perfect day (in the future).? Have each team member envision themselves ten years into the future and write out their perfect day.
• Question.? Ask your team members “Who is your hero and why?”? Then, listen to their values shine through.
• (BONUS) Jaromir Jagr number 68.? The legendary hockey player, Jaromir Jagr, wore the number 68 in honor of his grandfather, who was killed during the Prague Spring in 1968.? You can have your team write the names of who they are playing for (on a poster, basketball, football, etc.) at the beginning of each year.

Did You Know?? Coach Jim Johnson recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the authors of The Score That Matters, Brook Cupps and Ryan Hawk on his podcast, Limitless Leadership Lounge.? The episode will be released next week, so stay tuned!

Life Tip #82:? Be a great listener – Give eye contact and listen to understand, not just to reply.