5 Team Building Activities to Inspire and Enjoy

01 April 2019

Every environment with large groups can benefit from team building activities.

We know how important morale is in the workplace or any similar environment, and that starts with a strong team.

Activities that foster teamwork will translate over to help a team reach its goals and be happier doing it. So let’s jump right in.

5 Great Team Building Activities:

Any team building activities need to have a few elements to them. They need to require some levels of communication, cooperation, and problem-solving.

The critical thinking aspect of these activities forces the group to brainstorm together in order to come up with solutions. Not only is it great for promoting teamwork, but it is also a great way to boost employee engagement.

Here are some team building ideas to try out with your class, workplace, or recreational group.

1. Nonverbal Line-up:

There is no equipment required for this activity. It is an easy way to get everybody involved to figure out some different ways of communicating with each other.

Simply have the group form a line based off of different criteria. For example, have the group form a line from earliest birthday in the year to the latest.

What’s the catch? They cannot speak.

Once they have formed the line, ask everybody their birthdays to check if they got it right.

This can be done with shoe sizes, favorite colors, or anything you choose.

2. Escape Rooms:

This is a really fun way to facilitate teamwork and collective brainstorming. Everybody needs to think and work together to solve tough problems to achieve the same goal.

You can make your own, or find a professional escape room near you.

3. Team Wall:

This is for adult groups. If you can find a wall that is high enough that most people can’t reach the top and has a standing platform above, then you have what you need.

Tell everybody that the team needs to work together to get everybody on top of that platform. It is best to go over safety precautions first.

4. Helium Hoop:

This is a really simple game that requires a lot of focus and coordination. Have everybody stand around a hula hoop that is flat on the ground.

The rules are that they can only use the sides of their index fingers to lift the hula hoops above their heads and lower it back to the ground without dropping it.

If fingers curl around the hula hoop, or if the hula hoop touches anything other than the sides of their fingers, the game restarts. You can make it harder by making them silent.

While this sounds easy, children and adults will often struggle with this task at the same level.

5. Human Knot:

This is a classic. Have everybody stand in a small circle and tell everybody whose hands they need to grab. Do not have them grab two hands of the same person.

Try to tangle them up in a “human knot” and tell them that they have to untangle themselves without letting go.

Next Steps:

These are some great ways to promote what you want out of your team. Get started on facilitating these team building activities and give your team a fun day to get to know and trust each other better.

If you’re looking for some fun activities to do with children, check out some simple outdoor activities.

Read Also:

Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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Why In-Company Training Results in Better Employees

The world of today is continuously changing. Each new day brings new challenges and new problems. But, it also comes with unique learning opportunities. Just like the trials of modern business never stop; the same goes for education. The need for constant growth never stems, regardless of where you and your team are. If you are working apart, you can find an all-in-one training platform that can help you stay on top of your game. No matter how skilled and educated your employees are, it’s certain that they can benefit from additional in-company training. Here are some of the benefits that training can bring to you and your employees. Improved performance Let’s start with the essential thing - training brings improved performance and workers’ motivation. According to research, trained employees possess more knowledge and expertise than others. In return, this boosts their job performance and general efficiency of the workplace. They become more efficient and confident, which saves you valuable resources in the long run. Boost job satisfaction As stated above, the workplace of today continually comes with new challenges. And, if the workers aren’t able to adequately respond to those challenges, their morale drops. Also, low morale brings low job satisfaction, which brings confidence even further down, and the whole process becomes a self-sustaining vicious circle. Here’s research that proves that training sharpens employees’ hard skills, which improves their morale and job satisfaction. Training prepares employees for more significant responsibilities Training programs can also help prepare employees who are moving into higher roles and taking on more responsibilities in an organization. These programs will help them learn the skills that are needed to function effectively in their new positions. For instance, they may be trained in leadership skills or specific software they will use in their new role. Training saves you money Studies on workforce flow show that it almost takes, on average, roughly eight months for any new hire to reach their full productivity after selecting a new job. During this time, they will not be at the peak of their game, without a solid training program that can fill any knowledge and learning gaps that could be keeping an employee on backfoot. By ensuring that all new employees should have a solid understanding of needed skills and practices sooner rather than later, with the help of proper training you can save a plentiful chunk of money. Less need for supervision If the employees get actual scientific training, the responsibility of guidance is lessened also. Training does not eliminate the need for control, but it reduces the need for detailed and constant care. In turn, this means that the workers become more relaxed and less stressed, which once again means improved productivity and higher worker satisfaction. Training means fewer accidents Like with the previous point, it’s worth remembering that errors are likely to occur if the employees lack the knowledge and skills required to do a particular job. The plentiful trained an employee is, the less are the chances of doing disasters in the job, and the more proficient the employee becomes. With fewer setbacks and errors, the entire workplace becomes more comfortable, and that is one more way the overall confidence improves. It shows employees they are valued Performing training programs in the workplace will help the employees to feel like the company is investing in them. By teaching your employees new skills and techniques, they will become better workers and feel like more fruitful members. This will develop their moral value as well as their workplace capabilities. Training is also directly bound to an employee’s commitment levels. Without signs that you consider their development, some individuals no longer feel connected to their responsibility, either cognitively or emotionally, meaning that most will give the bare-minimum work effort. Quality training directly checks this influence. Training makes it easier to spot valuable workers When an organization requires a brand new set of skills, it tends to face great employment difficulties. Training can be used in locating out the most promising employees in the workforce. It can also help with eliminating the defects in the selection method. It is always a better way to pick and train the employees from within the company rather than seek skilled employees from external sources. Training strengthens adherence to the same standards across the board Every field has its peculiarities and requirements. Most of the time, new hires are not aware of the functioning of the organization. A significant benefit of training employees is that it boosts their attachment with the organization’s quality standards. Simultaneously, it equally strengthens the old workforce’s functioning and abilities, keeping them up to date with potential changes and improvements. It will improve your company’s reputation Research from Gallup notes that sixty-six percent of workers are not satisfied with the level of engagement their workplace provides them. But, if you pay attention to developing your workforce’s skills, expertise, and job satisfaction, people will spread the word. Thus, more competent people will join you. They will enjoy working in an organization where they can learn as well as utilize their abilities to maximize the productivity of the company. Employee training creates opportunities for internal promotions The advantages of training and development for an organization are varied. One of the significant beneficial sides of training is for employers to help and fill internal promotion positions. This is a feasible coast beneficial solution, as well, since hiring new talent is an expensive operation. Plus, your present employees are well informed about the organization's operations and work culture, so they can start working instantly. Conclusion As you have seen, quality training can have a direct positive impact on your bottom line. When your employees are more engaged and productive, profitability will also naturally grow, and by improving recollection rates through training, your company can keep valuable employees by its side. The general conclusion is that each of the benefits of train your employees won’t just only to improve your daily work advancements and put workers in a better situation to succeed; they will be responsible to set profitable outcomes for the newcomers. Training modules provide the benefit of developing a framework for regular work on employees’ strengths and ensure progress and profits. Read Also: What Are the Ways to Prepare a New Employee? How to Create an Effective Company Training Program Possible Reasons Why Your Employees Aren’t Too Productive and What to Do About It

What are the benefits associated with crowdfunding for businesses?

In present times, the influence of business is undeniable in everyday life. There are different aspects of the economy that is solely dependent on how well the various startups of the country prosper. Marketing the business along with the funding can together ensure how well it would thrive in the long run. There are different ways in which any type of business can be funded, and if you implement the right method, you can see a significant profit in the minimum possible time. To make sure your business is thriving, you should take calculated risks as well judiciously. If the company fails which is a factor you cannot completely rule out, you will suffer losses, and that would lead to a debt crisis which at its extreme can lead to bankruptcy. One such method of funding which is comparatively less risky is crowdfunding. What is crowdfunding? There are different methods of funding a business like self-funding, crowdfunding, angel financer, bank loans, business schemes, and so on. Among these, crowdfunding is considered among the safest choice when you have a beautiful business plan and need a lot of money that you cannot get from one single source. In the case of crowdfunding, one can appeal with a proper business plan at a funding forum. And those who are interested in being the shareholders or clients for this kind of business can invest in it by getting in touch with you. There are several different benefits associated with crowdfunding and when you have a proper understanding of how it operates you can quickly make the most of this kind of funding. Easy access to capital : It is not easy to get the necessary funds for any business. However, when you have a secure network of people who have the capacity and are willing to invest in your project, you can quickly come across the necessary funds for the business. You can connect with other entrepreneurs as well who may be interested in investing in your business plan in particular. There are various reward-based crowdfunding platforms which help entrepreneurs to raise funds from a community that has a common interest in the kind of business proposal that you have. You can even give tangible gifts or rewards for funding the business like free samples of your products which can get them even more interested in supporting the company that you are trying to establish. This way, you can gather the necessary fund from scratch over a reasonable period. Reduces the risks : Starting a company is a very challenging task, and there is often a very high-risk factor associated with the venture. But with crowdfunding, you can avoid the risk to a large extent since you would be able to learn a lot about the market value of your business and whether this is a feasible and profitable idea at all. You would be able to understand the possible reception that your product is likely to get through a crowdfunding campaign. Only those people who are passionate about such a product would show interest in funding. When you know the number of people who are interested in funding your business, you can estimate the possible outcome of your campaign. Moreover, your company receives a lot of attention and marketing even before it rolls out through crowdfunding. You have a chance of earning consistent profit through the business and so would be able to pay off all those who have funded the business eventually. Validate your business concept : When you are looking for more institutionalized investors, the first and foremost question they are likely to ask you are - why should they invest and do you have any guarantee that your business plan would succeed? These are tricky questions with no easy answers for any business owner. However, when you are opting for crowdfunding, you can show the proof of concept which can convince them to invest in your dream venture as well. A successful crowdfunding campaign would mean that many people are welcoming your product and business concept and there is a good market value of the business that you are starting. The initial success would assure formal investors like banks to give you loans without worrying about the chances of non-payment unless there is a major crisis in your business. The number of people investing in the company also shows the trust and integrity that the masses show towards your brand even at its initial stage which can help to boost your reputation for the future. New and innovative brainstorming : The crowd not only comes up with the funds but they can even provide you with new ideas which would help your business to prosper. New and innovative ideas about the different aspects of the company would ensure that you can cover all the loopholes in the business plans. The entrepreneurs can engage the crowd in a brainstorming session as they would want to have a say in the business where they are investing. Through their discussions and comments, you can even come across good suggestions and ideas which would benefit the company in the long run. Moreover, you can even get legal suggestions about avoiding debt and also debt settlement reviews from different people through their experiences. Consult your lawyers about this and find out what is applicable for your business. This way you can make sure that your business is safe and secure as well against any business trouble related to finance. Conclusion : There are different advantages associated with crowdfunding. It is much safer compared to other methods of funding, and you can rest assured to avoid any debt-related crisis if you can successfully implement the different types of crowdfunding methods. The choice ultimately rests on the business owner about how to collect funds and use them successfully for the company. It can be concluded that business management becomes easier than ever before when you have a proper conception of the process of funding that you are implementing.

Top 10 Best Serial Entrepreneur Of All Time – 2024 Update

Most of us are accustomed to the term entrepreneur. But in case you do not know what is a serial entrepreneur is, let me define a serial entrepreneur for you. A serial entrepreneur is someone who has more than one business in their bucket. They start one business, and then if they fail, they start another one. Or, in some cases, they sell the existing business in a great deal and start another one. What Are The Characteristics Of A Serial Entrepreneur Inc. Magazine says a strong sense of optimism and a high impact threshold characterizes successful entrepreneurs. These qualities are necessary due to the high risks that they take and the long hours of launching a small company when success seems to be a mirage in the desert. They also show strong self-reliance and a desire to stay innovative. They understand that money is not everything. Entrepreneurs do not always have a guarantee of success when they open a chain of different businesses. Sometimes, just one business takes all of the focus of an entrepreneur. Top 10 Best Serial Entrepreneur Of All Time Here are the top 10 entrepreneurs of all time. Who never fails to amaze us with their new innovative business ideas. Here are the serial entrepreneur examples. 1. Anthony Mongeluzo At the age of 21, Anthony Mongeluzo started his first professional company from his parent’s house and took a step towards being a serial entrepreneur. And that is Pro Computer Services. He also had other companies when he was a teenager. He is also the CEO and President of an information technology firm in Marlton, N.J. After some time, PCS has gained regional as well as national recognition as one of the fastest-growing companies. With an annual revenue of $25 and 25 employees, PCS has offices in four states. Companies: PilotLight studios Pro Computer Services Dynamic Telecom Solutions 2. James Currier At the age of 6, James Currier started his entrepreneurial career as a worm seller, and now she is one of the best serial entrepreneurs. When he was in the 8th grade, he opened a store in his school cafeteria. By the time he graduated from Princeton University, he already had 18 little ventures in his bucket. Jiff Inc., which is well known for making HIPAA-compliant mobile software for the medical industry, is led by James Currier. He is not only the lead investor here but also the Executive Chairperson. He has also founded Palo Alto-based Ooga Labs. It helps to develop e-commerce and mobile startups along with medical software. Companies: Tickle Ooga Labs Jiff Inc 3. Ellen Thompson Ellen Thompson has experience in starting and selling companies for more than 20 years. In 1993, Thompson founded a skill-testing firm named Know It All. In 2000, Kenexa Corp. had bought more than 300,000 shares. After she founded another company named 4 Walls, she is now the CEO of the company. This company is based near Philadelphia and helps apartment owners get customers via search engine marketing and social media. The list of serial entrepreneurs will be incomplete without this name. Companies: 4 Walls. Know It All. 4. Rod Drury This New Zealand serial entrepreneur has had a fascination with computer technology since his teenage years, and he has transformed this fascination into his career. He helped found the software company Glazier Systems. In 1999, it was sold for around $7 million. He was also the founder of AfterMail, which is an email intelligence concern. In 2006, the QSFT, or Quest Software, acquired AfterMail for $15 million. At present, Drury is the director of the New Zealand Stock Exchange, the director and founder of Pacific Fibre, and lastly, the Chief Executive Officer of an online accounting portal, Xero. Companies: Pacific Fibre. AfterMail. Glazier Systems. 5. Janet Kraus Janet Kraus is the senior lecturer at the Harvard Business School and has already started and sold 2 businesses. She is the co-founder of the concierge service company Circles. With her hard work, she developed the company with a revenue of $50 million. In 2007, she sold Circles to Sodexo. Just after that, she started leading Spire. This is a high-end social media business that is related to travel. In 2010, it was sold to Perfect Escapes. He is another serial entrepreneur who finds it fascinating to start new ventures. Companies: Spire. Circles. 6. Josh Kopelman The managing director of First Round Capital, Josh Kopelman, is very fond of forming and investing in Internet companies. It has already been around two decades since he is doing this. In 1992, the Infonautics Corporation came to the public in 1996. At that time, he was attending the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Three years later, in 1999, he started Half.com, which is an online store for used music and books. But just after one year, it was acquired by eBay. He has also invested in several startups, like mint.com and StumbleUpon. Companies: TurnTide. Half.com. Infonautics. 7. Harpal Sandhu Harpal Sandhu is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Integral Development Corporation. It is a Sunnyvale, California-based company owned by this serial entrepreneur. It was 1993 when he was the co-founder of this company. This organization claims to be the only multi-sided trading network that works for foreign exchanges. Earlier, Sandhu was the president and founder of Infinity Financial Technology. In 1998, the software company SunGard Data Systems acquired Infinity Financial Technology. Companies: Integral Development Corporation Infinity Financial technology 8. Gerard Ferro It has already been more than two decades since Gerard Ferro has been setting up and running technology and health businesses. He is also the co-founder and CEO of a prescription discount business, Free For All, which is based in Marlton. Gerer Ferro also cofounded a pharmacy benefits management concern, SUNRx. He was also the chairperson and CEO of the organization. Under his leadership, this company was able to gather a revenue of $49 million in its first five years. During the late 1980s, he was also the co-founder and CEO of Simacre. Companies: SUNRx. Simcare. Free For All. 9. Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey is another shining star in the sky of serial entrepreneurs. When she was in high school, he started his career in the broadcasting industry. The media empire and her group of businesses across magazine publishing, radio, and television have made her a billionaire. As per Forbes, her estimated net worth was $2.8 billion in 2018, and she is the wealthiest woman in show business. In 2011, she launched OWN or Oprah Winfrey Network. The official website of OWN claims that 70% of homes in the United States have OWN. Companies: Oprah Winfrey Network. Harpo Productions. 10. Richard Branson In 1970, when Sir Richard Branson was around 20 years old, he started a mail-order record business. After that, it was time for a record shop in London. Within a couple of years, he built a studio, where “Tubular Bells,” an instrumental by Mike Oldfield. His Virgin Group now has around 200 companies in more than 30 different countries. Branson is also famous for promoting various social causes using celebrity power and his wealth. Being a prolific blogger, he also has written a book, which is published with the name “Screw Business as Usual.” Companies: Virgin group. 11. Elon Musk Any list of entrepreneurs is incomplete without Elon Musk. He is the billionaire mind behind Tesla CEO and the richest person alive as of 2023. Musk’s first try at business was a small start-up called Zip2. It was a searchable business directory, which is an online equivalent of Yellow Pages. Four years after the establishment of Zip2 in 1995, it was sold to Compaq Computers for $307 million. Later, it was integrated into the AltaVista search engine. After the sale of Zip2, Musk moved on to build another company, x.com, which is an online payments app that was later known as PayPal. The company was sold to eBay for $1.5 billion. Highly by the success he invested in and founded SpaceX, Tesla Motors, and The Boring Company. In 2022, he bought the social media company Twitter and renamed it X. Companies: Virgin Group Conclusion They are those entrepreneurs who have never failed to come up with new ideas in case one fails or is acquired by others. They have a bucket full of new and innovative ideas to lead and build a successful career path. They are inspirations for this generation’s entrepreneurs who are willing to make their own identity. Learn More About: Mistakes Entrepreneurs Should Avoid When Using SMS Marketing Starting An Ecommerce Business: 9 Easy Tips For The New Entrepreneur 5 Ways College Prepares Young Adults To Become Successful Entrepreneurs

5 Team Building Activities to Inspire and Enjoy