Human beings are natural team builders. From the earliest hunters working together to catch a large animal for food to a bunch of designers working together on the latest computer games, we are a team species.
Yes, many of us need our own time, just to do things that we enjoy, if nothing else. But from school to family units to work departments, much of our life is about working with others, building a team with our classmates, relatives and colleagues. Some people find that more challenging than others, but essentially much of human life is carried out in a team environment.
There are many ways of reinforcing that behaviour, from teachers always trying to involve everyone in the class at every stage, to uniforms to show that employees are all part of the same organisation, and the hive-mind thinking which characterises some families, where they have a single view on the world from many sets of eyes.
One of the biggest problems facing many otherwise fit and well individuals is loneliness. At school, the loner was rarely alone for long, because there would always be someone there to bring them back into class or group activity. Many singletons, home workers, new parents and elderly people have no such support, and find that their own company is not always enough. Working in a team environment can be beneficial for those who have a career, but simply leaving the house and going to the shops can help others stay connected as well as keeping their mind engaged. One older gentleman walks around the local bus stops every morning, stopping to greet anyone waiting there and chatting for a while before moving on to the next stop. He says the exercise helps him stay mobile as well as in touch with the local community.
It may be that a colleague who doesn’t appear to contribute to departmental meetings is shy, or unsure of expressing themselves for fear of other people’s reactions. A gentle team building exercise where everyone is contributing equally could make someone like this feel involved with the latest project or offer an increased sense of self-worth. For those who only want to lead and not to work with the rest of the team, the solution could be to offer them exclusive responsibility for one particular area of the project, according to team building experts.
Team building is a vital part of life. Think how much more work you can feel as if you’ve done when working with someone else. Gardening, household chores, and work projects with steep deadlines are all easier when working together to complete the task. The best thing about humanity is the ability to work in a team without compromising the need for time alone. By using team building skills and exercises as part of your daily routine, you can maximise that potential.
