Most RAs and even professional staff can see team-building day as a drag going in but come out enjoying it. The dread of the team-building day always comes from not knowing what your team needs or what to do. Here are some tips for a successful team-building day.
- Build your team based on feedback! Each year, identify where your team needs development. Conduct a pre-training assessment and use the feedback to guide your team-building activities. Reflect on past years. What has worked and what hasn’t? By involving your team in this process, you empower them to be integral to their own development.
- Don’t reinvent the wheel, but make modifications. We have a habit of doing the same thing repeatedly without any change. We did relay races last year, but we can do them differently each year. When doing exercises you’ve done before, make new people go first and tell returners to wait their turn.
- Include elevated RAs, Returning RAs, GAs, and other Pro Staff in your day. You can plan, but you can delegate as well. Your team was hired for a reason. Use that reason to help you help your staff. Give them pre-built team builders and allow them to do it their way.
- Going off-site doesn’t have to be expensive. Reach out to your local community, alumni, and libraries. They love having you in their space. Offer to share pics and tag them on social media. Positive publicity for them is just as important as it is for you.
- If staying on-site, include multiple buildings. Go from department to department and really familiarize everyone with campus. Even if they know the campus, refreshers are great.
- Be adaptable. Things will go wrong, but that’s okay. We have had to pivot several times during team-building days before. It will all work out. If you feel the team is connected but tired, end early. No shame, and the team may even bond over ending early.
- Spread some out on other days. Have some back-pocket team builders for other days of training that build on what your team has already done. Incorporate team-building examples in your slides (and even do them again). Your RAs will learn and grow from the experience.
- Reach out to other schools. Many of us have team builders in a document folder and are willing to share. Please reach out. We’re here to help.
- Have Fun. I never take myself too seriously on team building day. It’s supposed to be fun. Enjoy it.
Overall, team-building day should be something to look forward to, not dreaded. Have a good time, and do not sweat the small stuff!
John Kendall (he/him/his) is a residence life professional in Southern Indiana. He received his Interpersonal Communication Studies degree from Ball State University with a double minor in Leadership Studies and Sociology. John loves giraffes, reading, writing, board games, and working with students.
