| The experience of 'team islands' forming within the | | | | down team islands. And in fact, some degree of |
| corporate atmosphere is one that is common to | | | | separation within teams is ideal - it simply isn't possible |
| many, many companies. This phenomenon occurs | | | | for people to be especially close to everybody in the |
| when small groups of individuals, usually those that | | | | workplace. However, your will do the most to help |
| have a common goal within the organisation or similar | | | | break down island barriers and encourage when: |
| work function, band together and exclude other | | | | You pay attention to removing markers in the |
| employees. The people involved may be very much | | | | workplace beforehand - create communal car parking |
| team players... but only within a small circle. pose both | | | | areas, the same uniform for all staff, etc. |
| challenges and solutions for companies with a 'team | | | | The removal of markers and boundaries is done |
| islands' experience. A well-chosen, handled and set up | | | | at around the same time as the corporate event |
| well, can be the catalyst that starts breaking down | | | | Choosing a corporate event to facilitate island |
| the inter-team boundaries and fusing them together. | | | | breakdown: |
| Today we look at some guidelines for creating an | | | | Some corporate events are designed to work in |
| organization-wide team island through your! | | | | small teams, others are designed to work on a larger |
| What are team islands and how do they form? | | | | scale. Some,, such as go-karting, can mix these two |
| The 'team islands' phenomenon can be summed up | | | | approaches depending on exactly how the day is |
| very simply: | | | | designed. If you're trying to break down boundaries, |
| - Small groups of people work well together | | | | try to ensure that your staff all have the same |
| - However there are problems in relationships | | | | experience. You'll need to both choose the corporate |
| between the teams | | | | event activity carefully, and have a hand in how it is |
| A 'team island' may be as small as three people, and | | | | set up. |
| as large as thirty, and they will carry over from the | | | | Should you break up a team for an event? |
| workplace to. They usually form because of | | | | There is a temptation to physically force these little |
| differences in work goals, and they can be | | | | team islands apart through your corporate event, |
| strengthened by the presence of markers and | | | | putting one graphic designer with one journalist, one |
| boundaries in the work environment. | | | | sales girl and one manager within a group at your |
| Some examples of the markers and boundaries that | | | | event. You'll need to be careful about the way you |
| help define team islands in the workplace include: | | | | do this, though! If your staff feel they are being |
| Differing work uniforms | | | | manipulated, the net positive effect of your |
| Different versions of the company logo | | | | corporate event will be lost. You shouldn't necessarily |
| Pay scales | | | | pander to existing teams at the corporate event - |
| The type of language used in performing their | | | | simply find a different way of mixing people up. |
| job | | | | These could be: |
| Being in different areas of the office, or in | | | | Based on alphabetical order of last name |
| cubicles compared to enclosed offices, for example. | | | | Based on month of birth |
| Meeting structures that separate teams | | | | Based on a random activity like drawing straws |
| Separated car parking areas | | | | Corporate events are one of the single most |
| Preparing to break down team islands with: | | | | effective ways of integrating the teams within your |
| A corporate event in itself isn't enough to break | | | | organisation... but sue their power wisely! |