Let’s look back into your past between the ages of 5-10. Do you remember being in school and playing games with your classmates? How was it? Fun right. Little worries and you were just focused enjoying yourself and completing the task in a simplistic manner even though you didn’t realise it.

Disengaged employees cost organisations millions and their uncooperative, negative attitudes, fault-finding, complaining, increased tardiness, gossiping, and backstabbing will have a ripple effect on those around them. Therefore organisations should work towards achieving a childlike synergy within teams when employees are collaborating.

Our advice for boosting morale – Team building activities and games. The greatest advantage is this will cost the organisation nothing apart from time (for the teams to develop themselves) but they will get a lot in return.

So, what are the benefits of these team building activities?

• Powerful teaching tools for driving specific idea and process


• Boosts morale: differs from conventional training techniques and often high energy


• Fun combined with team learning


• Builds trust:  challenges individuals/teams natural behaviours


• Encourages flexibility and innovation in a safe (non-judgemental) space

B.W. Tuckman identified four phases that most teams move through on their way to productivity.

1. Forming: Teams in this stage require games that accelerate the process of getting to know each other's strengths/limitations, frustrations, thresholds and specific skills.


2. Storming: This phase is characterized by authority issues and role challenges within the team. Games that allow them to present their ideas and expertise in both an independent and collaborative capacity is essential. The games also need to define what is prohibited and what is permissible. The key is to encourage teams at this phase to engage each other in innovative and more effective ways.


3. Norming: As a team begins to normalize and the conflict is subsiding? Games will be required to further clarify roles, encourage innovation, and reward cooperation. This will further imbed what they have experienced so far.


4. Performing: At this point the group needs to be challenged in as many areas as possible especially in accountability. They will need to be pushed or pulled outside their comfort zone.

Let us be clear that team building activities and games are fun and light hearted ways to resolve issues within teams but if you notice major workplace misconduct then we advise you take one or any the following steps which may be relevant to your current situation.

• Investigate and identify the problem


• Make your top management team aware of the problems


• Embrace and Communicate change management initiatives/projects


• Invest in training and development


• Standardise reward and recognition programs


• Be an example of the change you want to see

Check out this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEhMA_sH4qg

After this kind of activity we are sure all the employees were highly energized!!!!! (Even the ones that were not dancing)

What is your organisation doing to bring people together? Or do you have any ideas on what an organisation could do to boost morale? Feel free to share your comments here or on the recruit-drive Facebook page. We are always happy to promote best practices amongst our African community.