Why Employers Encourage Self Empowerment Through Team Building

By Brian Young


The way in which businesses are run have change in many ways over the past decade or two. Employees no longer merely follow instructions received from above but are instead organized into self directed teams. These teams each have certain goals to achieve and every member of the team has a clearly defined role to play. However, for such a system to work a high level of trust and cooperation between all members of the teas are required. To this end, employers routinely promote self empowerment through team building.

The idea behind teambuilding exercises is to remove teams from their places of work and to retire to a venue where they can concentrate upon becoming better teams. The objectives of these exercises differ from case to case. Sometimes they are meant to motivate the members of teams, or they may aim to help teams to get along better or just for members to get each other better outside the work environment.

Teambuilding exercises have become so popular that an entire industry has sprung up. Event organizers, venues, caterers, entertainers and a host of other professionals in the hospitality and human resources development industries have all realized that this is a lucrative market and that many companies are willing to spend huge amounts on these exercises. Many venues have even purchased costly equipment and constructed facilities that cater specifically for teambuilding events.

Experience has shown that teambuilding exercises work better if they are controlled and lead by an independent professional human resources development expert. These event organizers are highly paid individuals but their services are comprehensive. They scout suitable venues, devise programs that will help ensure that the objectives are met and they make sure that every single detail related to the excursion is arranged professionally. They remain involved prior to, during and after the exercise.

Teambuilding experts cannot organize a useful event if they are not properly briefed on the purpose of the exercise. They need this information in order to book the best venue, speakers and activities that will ensure that the objectives of the exercise are achieved. Top event organizers will take care of all the arrangements. They will book the venue, caterers and other role players necessary to conduct the various activities.

It is not just the teambuilding expert that needs to be briefed. The participants also need to be very clear on the objectives. These excursions are all too often treated as holidays but then the employer is just wasting time and money. It may also be important to allow the participants to have some say in the selection of a venue and the proposed program. This will help them to be motivated to make the exercise worthwhile.

It is necessary to know whether a teambuilding exercise has achieved its goals or not. That is why evaluation is important. The event coordinator as well as the participants needs to give feedback constantly and when the event is done, they need to submit reports. If this is not done, there is no way of knowing whether further interventions are required or whether existing objectives have been achieved.

Teambuilding exercises can be extremely helpful in empowering teams to make a valuable contribution towards the goals of the company. Motivated teams simply perform better and teams can only remain motivated if every member knows his role and performs his duties with enthusiasm. Instead of just following orders, teams become self driven productive units.




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