Team building is defined by Cambridge University as “the process of encouraging members of a group to work well together, for example by having them take part in activities or games”. Well, that sounds fun but have we ever stopped to consider that encouraging a group to work together is pretty vague? Do we sign on for “team building” to have fun? Collaborate? Be less toxic? Reach common ground?
Over the holidays, I came across a sweet story of improv being used in Philadelphia
classrooms. CBS Mornings explains the “Unscripted Project,” a nonprofit program, that seeks to help middle and high school students gain confidence and other life skills. They even note that improv will help students think fast on their feet, communicate, and collaborate with others.
If middle and high school students can find fun in improv in the classroom and can collaborate and increase communication, and students feel that they can belong in a classroom…can’t that be the same for your team or office?
I’ve included the video below, and hope you’ll take a few minutes to see the joy on these students' faces and the security they feel in school.