The process of team building can be an immense boost to the motivation and performance of any team. Effectively designed and implemented group building exercises can bring your group to better understanding, a clearer vision, and a greater determination to achieve success in teamwork.
The planning of a team-building event is a huge job that requires the ability to lead a team of customers. If the task falls on you, take these ten ideas for customer service ideas to ensure your event is successful and well-planned.
1. Create a mood by choosing an inspiring theme.
Utilize your leadership and customer service skills to communicate the tone and the purpose of your event using an event theme that’s on point. “The Third Annual Team Building Program” will not be able to be an arousing experience for many attendees.
Here are some examples of the themes my clients have utilized to inspire and communicate with the teams they work with: “Rocket to the Top, Together!” (for an IT company looking to gain shares of the market), “The Winning Team” (for a financial services firm trying to outdo the competition and financial adversity), “Forging a New Alliance” (for an apex medical services company that is undergoing the complete restructuring of departments and roles).
2. Pump up the engine for maximum participation.
Utilize the skills of a leader in customer service and utilize internal communications to make sure everyone is engaged and prepared for the occasion. Utilize e-mail, printed memos and bulletin boards, websites posters, and meetings to spark interest and then distribute the agenda and the issues to be discussed at the meeting.
You can conduct a survey prior to the event and then announce the results at the end of the program. Make sure that participants create essential business presentations. Set up cross-functional teams that will provide the entertainment for the evening.
3. Run the event on the offsite.
Most team-building activities are held in different locations. It allows participants to be away from their work physically (minimizing interruptions) as well as mentally (opening their minds to different perspectives). Moving the location is a great way to use customer service leadership skills to help improve the overall program.
4. Make use of a mixture of business, energy, and entertainment.
Utilize customer service leadership to create enthusiasm and participation by employing various group-building activities. You can create “work hard” sections with speeches on the future and seminars on current business issues. You could also have “play hard” sections with group games or outdoor activities—the balance between the two shows the customer service leader.
Additionally, you can add social areas with activities during mealtimes along with awards and evening entertainment.
Utilize your leadership qualities as a customer service representative to plan your activities carefully during the course of your day as well as in the evening. Take care to ensure that you follow meals with some exercise and finish your session with a clear message of commitment and confidence.
5. Take the time necessary to process, review and decide.
Make sure to allow some time between each activity to have a discussion about learning new skills and how they can be applied to work. It is better to have an entire day of games for team building and plenty of time for discussions, rather as opposed to having a “stuffed” day with three or four games with little time to reflect. The ability to moderate is a sign of superior customer service leadership.
6. Make sure you are focusing on new actions by using “more, less, begin or stop’.
In the course, practice the leadership of customer service and ask participants to provide clear answers for the questions below:
“‘What do you want (the other person, department, etc.) to do more of?”
“What do you want (the other person, department, etc.) to do less of?”
“What do you want (the other person, department, etc.) to start doing?”
“What do you want (the other person, department, etc.) to stop doing?”
In the final moments of your session, make sure that participants write down their personal commitments to themselves:
“What am I committed to do more of?”
“What am I committed to do less of?”
“What am I committed to start doing?”
“What am I committed to stop doing?”
7. Utilize videos and images to increase the impact of the program.
Employ a photographer for your team-building event. Send copies of your special photographs to your attendees following the program. Display the most memorable photos in your boards for bulletins in the cafeteria, or include them in your company’s newsletter. Upload them to your website so that your team’s family members are able to view them at home.
If your film is on video, make sure that the footage is edited using images and music. This vignette is fun to show another time during a meeting at work or at a social gathering.
8. Utilize the potential of your peripheral players.
When deciding on the participants to your program, consider using leadership in customer service and be prepared to include people who are closely related with, however not members of the group. Suppliers, internal customers, and departments with a neighbor could offer a handful of participants that can be “closely related” to your core group.
The “peripheral players” can add substantial value, perspective, and perspective to your event. They also can assist with proper communication within and outside the organization once the event is finished. This is all part of excellent customer service leadership.
9. Take a moment to get personal.
Be sure that everyone understands the connection to “group team building” and “individual action” on the task. Make sure you exercise customer service leadership and ensure that each employee completes the commitment card, an action plan, personal commitment statement, or another method to ensure that they follow the appropriate new behavior.
The closing of a team-building program by having everyone present their commitments as well as action plans is an effective method to get the support of individuals and to unite the whole group. It’s also a fantastic display of the leadership of customer service.
10. Recognize the organizers.
Making plans and planning the team-building program for your employees is a significant task. It is important to demonstrate customer service leadership and provide acknowledgment to those who have done all the hard jobs “behind the scenes.” A thoughtful present, made to everyone in front of the entire audience at the conclusion of the event, is sure to be remembered and kept in mind.
