If you reach for a team-building manual from years ago, some of the ideas contained in it may surprise you. And yet, some trainers still use such ineffective, long-outdated integration methods. We check what their effects are and what can replace them.

Ordinary party vs integration with the idea 

More than one comedy has already been made about corporate integration trips. This stripped such trips of secrecy, and as a result, many companies were pressured to give them up. In addition, the culture and lifestyle have also changed. What used to be the norm two decades ago is no longer the case today. That is why many employees avoid too much drunken parties, after which they will have a whole weekend of bad mood. How to replace such integration methods? It's not about completely giving up fun and alcohol at company meetings. Today they are much more popular parties with an idea, such as: 

• vineyard tour, 
• sommelier workshops, 
• bartending workshops, 
• integration hearth, 
• craft beer tasting. 

They allow you to relax, strengthen ties with the team, but at the same time it is more than sitting at the table all night. Looking for more inspiration like this? Look Event Configurator on the website of the Crown of the Karkonosze Court. 

Radical integration methods 

Some teambuilding methods of integration have already penetrated into cabarets or comedies. teambuilding it should force you to get out of your comfort zone to some extent. However, workshops and exercises, which are very uncomfortable for the participants, are being abandoned. Many years ago, corporations were expected to engage in such integration methods. Refusing to participate was considered a sign of weakness. Fortunately, today is different. 

You don't have to do anything against your will to integrate with the team. Much more attention is paid to respecting the culture and customs of each participant. Thanks to this, they feel more at ease during the workshops. There are even complete lists. 15 reliable team building games your employees will love. 

Competitive integration methods 

There is also a departure from the overt "rat race" that was popular in the 1990s. Today, it is popular to talk about cooperation and integration rather than eliminating one employee at the expense of others. Invasive selection methods like sieve modelare conducive to professional burnout. Therefore, some integration methods also had to be transformed. It's mainly about those based on aggressive competition techniques. 

It's still being used paintball or military maneuvers as an element of team games, but rather for integration purposes. It is worth organizing this type of games in such a way that the motivation to win is positive (SPA for all participants, and an additional massage for the winners) and not negative (losers go to sleep without dinner). Similarly for more military exercises - survival workshops collaborative is better idea, than fierce competition in the "barracks" style. 

Deceptive honesty is not conducive to integration

A certified psychologist or therapist must undergo hundreds of hours of practice and complete many years of study. It is different among coaches and self-proclaimed trainers. Today, the market is slightly better regulated, but a dozen or so years ago people without appropriate qualifications often applied to companies and were allowed to conduct classes. There are legends about the effects to this day.

On the Quickbase recruitment portal, you can read the history of training for a poorly coordinated team. The trainer instructed the participants to confess to each other what they disliked each other for. One of the participants recalled that after a while some of them were crying, and others were simply offended. This is the end of workshops conducted without supervision, but only on the basis of exercises taken from the Internet. To prevent this, it is better to stick to lighter forms of teambuilding, or use integration methods under the guidance of an experienced trainer. 

When will integration methods not work?

The last group of exercises that are being abandoned today are those based on physical activity, and not adapted to the moment or capabilities of the participants. There is nothing worse than workshops where employees feel awkward because they are simply not able to fully participate in the classes. It is also better not to force anyone from the team to practice in office clothes.

 

If you want to run a yoga or running class, you must first inform staff and give them the opportunity to withdraw if they do not want or cannot attend. Then give them time to get changed and then freshen up after class. It is best if they are led by a qualified trainer - this ensures warming up and adjusting the activity to the health condition of each person.