You're struggling to build a strong team. How can you improve your team building skills?

Individual conversations with each member and getting to know their aspirations, struggles and goals for their careers can help lay the groundwork for fruitful teamwork. If you want to take a step further you can consider a Global DISC assessment, which not only helps each person to understand their communication and behavioural patterns better but can also show you the cognitive diversity of the team and it gives you clarity about what you have to build on.

A consideration to bring to the table is asking what is the teams’ common goal or purpose. This is foundational and important to establish before you start to dig into performance improvement needs. If your team does not know where they are going how do you expect them to get there?

what helped me the most in identifying the need was scheduling one-on-one meetings with each team member to discuss their perspectives, challenges, and aspirations. i used open-ended questions to encourage honest feedbacks about their experiences within the team. we must observe team interactions, communication patterns, and collaboration dynamics during meetings and projects and be aware about signs of conflict, disengagement, or lack of cohesion that may hinder team effectiveness. another thing which helped me was unplanned team building activities to identify team bonding and unique strengths, motivations, and challenges that require personalised attention.

When team-building efforts fall flat, the problem might lie with the activities themselves. Create a Safe Space: Ensure the activity fosters a safe and supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable participating and expressing themselves. Balance Challenge and Fun: Strike a balance between activities that are challenging enough to be engaging but not so difficult that they become frustrating or create conflict. Align with Team Goals: Focus on activities that encourage open dialogue and collaboration. By carefully selecting team-building activities that are relevant, engaging, and cater to your team's needs, you can foster stronger connections, improve communication, and ultimately build a more cohesive and successful team.

Anything that starts to build dialog opens up communication. Start with small things that are easy to find a consensus on, then add in slightly more challenging activities. One activity I use is to have each person list and rank their top ten values individually. Discuss why they matter to them. Then create groups and have them agree on five values based on their top fives. You can expand it to add further discussion by asking them to now develop a set of values for a business they own. Ask them how their customers might see their lists. Would the customer believe they would be better served by the business if they live those values in their operations?

When building a strong team, actively involving your team members is key. Here's why: Shared Goals and Vision: Involving your team in goal setting and planning fosters a sense of ownership and buy-in. Everyone feels invested in the team's success. Improved Communication: Working together on projects and challenges naturally fosters open communication and strengthens relationships within the team. Problem-Solving Creativity: When team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and perspectives. By involving your team members, you create a sense of psychological safety where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute which ultimately leads to a stronger, more effective team.

Following up and reinforcement is essential for embedding positive changes, strengthening team cohesion, and sustaining momentum towards building a strong team. Collect feedback from team members immediately after the team-building activity to gather insights into their experiences, what they learned, and suggestions for improvement. We should frequently share outcomes with the entire team for followup. Also reinforce the learning and insights gained from the team-building activity through ongoing discussions and reflections. Encourage team members to apply the lessons learned to their daily work and interactions. Develop action plans and Identify specific goals, tasks, and timelines for implementing changes.

The very most important step to learn and improve yourself as a leader is actively seeking feedback from your team members, peers, and supervisors. Ask them for specific examples of your strengths and areas for improvement, and be open to constructive criticism. Consider how your actions and decisions impact your team and identify areas where you can make positive changes. We should continuously attend leadership workshops, seminars, or training programs to enhance our interpersonal skills. learning from role models and developing EI skills such as self-awareness, empathy, and relationship management is must. we must focus on developing conflict resolution skills to effectively manage conflicts and disagreements within team.

Who are you? Do you have a clear understanding of your own values? What is your passion? What is your vision of the future? If these are unclear to you then how can you develop clear ideals and connect in a meaningful way. The first step to understanding your team and being to support them is understanding yourself.