In Brief
Vol. 6, No. 2 December 2012
A publication for members of the Alliance for Student Activities
Winter Teambuilding Strategies w By Lyn Fiscus A random group of individuals who come together as a student organization doesn’t become a team automatically. It takes a conscious effort on the part of the activity adviser and student leaders to forge a cohesive team. What does it take to create a team? Several important elements are necessary: • A common purpose • A willingness to work together and trust each other • Each person contributes something —skills, knowledge, talent—and others recognize and make use of these contributions • Open communication. What can an adviser do to foster these elements among group members? Create a plan to focus on each of these areas with a variety of actions:
Common Purpose It’s very important to take the time to define or reaffirm your group’s purpose. This essential step is sometimes overlooked as busy groups jump into planning activities that often are scheduled on the master calendar before the school year even begins. Initiate a discussion with your group members about why you plan the activities you do. Is your organization merely planning random activities because they sound like fun, or is there a larger purpose behind a Homecoming dance or a teacher appreciation breakfast? Each activity
your organization undertakes should support one of the organization’s goals. When members understand that their activities are helping to build a positive school climate or creating better relations between students and faculty, it adds meaning to the events and helps members feel that they are accomplishing something significant.
had a turn, point out that just as the items in the grab bag had a practical purpose and a symbolic meaning, so too do the activities on campus. Segue into a discussion about the broader significance of the activities your organization plans.
One activity that can lead to a good discussion of the broader meaning
For people to be willing to work together they need to get to know each other and feel comfortable with each other. Plan some activities for your meetings that will get people talking and working with people they don’t already know well. A fun activity for this time of year would be creating holiday jingles in which members work together in small groups to create a song about student leadership set to the tune of a familiar holiday song and then perform the songs for the whole group.
It takes a conscious effort on the part of the activity adviser and student leaders to forge a cohesive team. of activities is Holiday Grab Bag. Put items associated with winter holidays—tree ornament, dreidel, candle, lightbulb from a string of lights, etc.—in a paper grocery bag. Include as many items as there are people in your organization, with perhaps a few extras. Have members sit in a circle and pass the bag around. When the bag comes to them, each member reaches in and pulls out an item without looking. They must then explain how this item relates to them as student leaders. For example, a light bulb from a string of lights might symbolize “we light the way as student leaders” or “we spruce things up around here and create a nice atmosphere.” After everyone has
Willingness to Work Together
Member Contributions Every member of your organization brings skills, talents, and knowledge to the group. For the team to function most effectively, members need to know about each other’s strengths. Often the elected officers and a few others end up doing the bulk of the work, while other members can become disgruntled and stop participating because they feel underappreciated.
One activity that can serve as an introduction to a discussion about what group members bring to the organization is called Pick Pocket. For this activity, divide the group into teams of 3–5 people. Provide groups with a list of items that team members need to find in their wallets, purses, or pockets. Give them 3 minutes to find as many of the items as possible. Each item is worth 2 points. The team with the most points wins. After conducting this activity, point out that just as each member of the groups brought actual items to contribute to the activity, so too do members bring intangible items that they contribute to your organization. Lead a discussion of the talents, skills, and knowledge of group members. If time permits, circle up and go around the circle for everyone to comment on the strengths of each member. This will be a powerful affirmation for each person and will help the group realize all the talents it can draw on.
Open Communication Being able to communicate well with each other and with people outside your organization is essential to the effective operation of your group. One activity that helps students
understand the importance of clear communication is called Draw a Bug. Draw a large ladybug and a caterpillar on separate sheets of paper. Begin with a leader telling the group they are going to draw a bug based on a description they will hear. He or she then describes the ladybug to all participants without mentioning that it’s a ladybug. Don’t allow any questions or clarifications of the description. After students have drawn their bugs, show the original drawing and compare what they drew to the original. Process the experience using these questions: • Did you get a mental image of a bug when you heard we were going to draw a bug? • Why are there so many differences between your drawing and the original? • What could have been done differently so that the drawings would have been more alike?
everyone is finished, compare the drawings. Ask: • Were the drawings closer to the original this time? • Why was the result better when you were able to ask questions? • What role did your preconceived idea of the term “bug” play in this activity? How is that like real life? • How can you apply what you have learned in this activity to your work as a student leader? Many other activities are available to help focus on the elements that will develop your group into a team. Develop an ongoing plan to focus on teambuilding throughout the year and watch your members come together.
Lyn Fiscus is founder of Leadership Logistics (www.leadershiplogistics. us) and a former student activities adviser. She serves as Vice President of the Alliance.
Repeat the activity using the suggestions that were made after round one. This time, have students divide into small groups of 4–6 people, with one person taking on the role of describing the bug. Give these people the caterpillar picture In Brief is published five times per year to describe. Allow students to by the Alliance for Student Activities, a ask questions to clarify. When nonprofit corporation whose mission is to promote the value of cocurricular student activities and to provide professional development and support for advisers and future advisers. Board of Directors Ann Postlewaite, President Lyn Fiscus, Vice President John Glimco, Secretary Todd Burlingham, Treasurer © 2012 Alliance for Student Activities
Alliance for Student Activities www.alliance4studentactivities.org info@alliance4studentactivities.org