As you can probably tell, we here at Mosaic are very happy to be done with winter and snow, and get on to warmer weather and fun activities. If you’d like to shake things up and have a little fun in the office…..and build a stronger team in the process…..you might want to try one of these team building activities at your next staff meeting.
“Pictionary” for the Dental Office – You will need paper and a pen or pencil for each staff member. You will also need two different photos or pictures for each pair. Have partners sit back to back and decide who will be the “listener” and who will be the “talker” first. Each will have a chance at both roles. Give each Talker a copy of the photo or picture. The Listener must sketch what they hear described, and in this round 1, is not allowed to speak or ask questions. This pair is using “one-way communication.” Allow 3-4 minutes for this round. Partners compare finished drawings to see how close they came to the actual picture. In the 2nd round, partners switch roles and try to improve results. In this 2nd round, the Talker gets a different picture or photo, and the Listener is allowed to speak and ask questions. Now we’re using “two-way communication.” After the allotted time, partners should compare results again. Then bring the group together to discuss the benefits of “two-way communication.”
Three Questions – Everyone on the staff writes down 3 questions they would like to ask others in the office. Not the normal “where do you live” questions, but something more like “Where is the most interesting place you’ve ever been on vacation?’ or “Name a topic you feel absolutely passionate about, and tell us why.” This is an excellent way to get to know each other better and to find out things about your staff you never would have guessed.
Ten Degrees of Common Ground – Divide the staff into two or three groups, depending on the size of the staff. Instruct each group to find 5-10 (depending on the time frame) things they all have in common. Challenge them to think creatively; places they’ve travelled, a movie they’ve all seen, or an experience they’ve all shared. The first group to come up with the designated number of things wins…..you can also agree on points for creativity with the doctor or consultant as the judge. Have some small fun prizes……small denomination gift cards, chocolate treats, etc. for the members of the winning team.
