Offsite Team Building

This is culture in the making

Offsite Team Building

A week ago, our company had a two-day off-site for a little team building, work, and fun. We are in start-up mode, so we didn’t spend much money. We went to the CEO’s cabin. Everything was DIY. The meals were simple. Kick-ass BBQ for dinner, cold cuts, and chips for lunch.  Most of us brought sleeping bags to sleep in. As simple as the schedule and the fare was, everyone had fun and appreciated the change of scenery. The crew had a chance to get on the same page about our business and where the company is headed.

Different things to a lot of different people

For some, team building is group exercises. Ropes courses and trust falls come to mind here with Kool-Aid-drinking–Kumbaya-singing kind of “stuff.” That is NOT us. We’re a startup; we work fast and long hours. So, team building for us is a little different:

• Focus on Company Strategy. Getting everyone on the same page around the strategy of the company. Our off-site focused on our 3-6 months goals. More importantly, the “WHY” is critical to our success. Getting everyone on the same page is important. For companies of any size, it’s key to allow everyone to know what the company goals are.
• Asking Questions and Challenging Decisions. Allowing folks to ask questions and challenge decisions made/being made. This is a value in our company. If employees aren’t on board with the company goals, not only will the company suffer, but the employee image, commitment level, and engagement will suffer in the long run.  Nobody wins.
• Taking Time for Fun. People came and went around the campfire.  We talked about work but also made time for things other than work. Topics included Google+, mobile platforms, startup technologies, bad jokes, and how NOT to roast a s’more. There wasn’t any singing or hand-holding.  There was some semi-responsible drinking and “teasing because we love.”
• Team Swag. Three of our amazing developers were recently named on our patent application. We had a little fun creating T-shirts to celebrate the success.  What kind of team building is there without some swag?

This is team building

It’s a group thing

Anytime folks are doing something as a group, we consider it “team building.”  Yes, we could spend $50.00 a piece and ride go-karts for 20 minutes, but I would prefer a cabin retreat any day.  I think it’s mostly because I prefer this particular set of friends. For me, this offsite proved the simple adage, “It’s the company you keep…”

See you at the after party,
HRNasty

nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky, and manipulative but with a result that can’t help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone good at something. “He has a nasty forkball”.

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