# data[].attributes.body
Treating people like humans is one of the best way to create a better work environment. The main ones that I find to be the most important are number 3 and 9 from the image. As workers shown respect and given purpose will work better and feel more appreciated.

# data[].attributes.body
I really like the approach to problem solving in this module and especially the TED Talk (https://youtu.be/F6Zg65eK9XU). The way we are supposed to approach conflict is to relate to other and use compassionate curiosity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Compassionate Curiosity – Asking Good Questions – Post-Secondary Peer Support Training Curriculum

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
“Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words.” ~Roy T. Bennett

# data[].attributes.body
Having a strong approach tot eh design process is key to team work. How things are taken and applied are important tot he future and sustainability of a business or project.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Solve any business problem with this approach.

# data[].attributes.body
Building a strong customers base and brining in and making more loyal customer has become a real importance in the modern business world. Training staff on how to provide a better customer service experience is a great way to help grow and develop those loyal customers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Connect with customers through customized interactions and active responses.

You should be reaching customers where they are (e.g., face to face, phone, social media).

Show customers that you appreciate them, and elicit feedback through customer surveys.

This article is for small business owners who want to find ways to better connect with their customers.

Your customers drive your business, which is why it's so important to note how they interact with your brand. Don't just reach out to them when you want their business; find ways to continuously show them you care.

Jessica Alba, founder and CEO of The Honest Company, believes brands can learn a lot by staying connected and listening to their customers.

"I think it's important for brands, especially brands [that] are really consumer-centric, to stay connected," Alba shared at the American Express OPEN Success Makers Summit for Business Platinum Card Members. "Customers tell you so much from their behavior and how they shop with you."

Here are 10 effective ways to connect with your customers and build lasting relationships that can keep them loyal to your brand.

1. Don't use a one-size-fits-all approach.

You want your customers to feel special, and you can achieve this by approaching each one as an individual rather than just another customer. Grouping all your consumers together will only express inauthenticity.

"In our messaging, we will treat a heavy user of our app differently than a light user," said Jon Ziglar, CEO of ParkMobile. "We treat a new user differently than a veteran user. We try to make the messages as relevant as possible to that specific person."

2. Respond to concerns.

Don't just be available when your business is doing well or your customers are satisfied. If you want customers to trust and respect you, you need to earn it by proving your dedication to making them happy.

For example, ParkMobile received a one-star review from a man who complained that the app was inconvenient and took time away from his date. Instead of ignoring the comment or making excuses, Ziglar said, they contacted the reviewer directly to express their remorse and offered a gift card to the exact restaurant where he had been that day.

"He really appreciated the gesture, and we turned a 'hater' into a huge ParkMobile advocate," said Ziglar. "He even let us feature his story in a social media campaign.
Key takeaway: Responding to customer concerns builds trust.
3. Go above and beyond.

Ziglar's story about his interaction with the unhappy-patron-turned-advocate leads us to our next tip: Go above and beyond for your customers. As a small business owner, you will likely have a close connection to your customers, and you can use this to your advantage. Offer special discounts for customer loyalty, recommend specific products based on what you know about a customer's interests, and always remedy an unpleasant experience.

Some customers will have a negative experience with your brand. However, it is your job to make sure your customer or client's experience ends well. Exceptional customer support will keep them coming back for more.

"Sometimes, you have to go above and beyond to build raving fans of your business," Ziglar said.

4. Follow up.

Following up is an easy way to earn customers' appreciation. No one likes to file a complaint or ask a question, only to hear radio silence. Respond to customers throughout their buying journey so they build a connection with you. This is also a great way to keep your business top of mind for your customers.

If an existing customer purchases a new or unique product, follow up with them to make sure they enjoyed it. Thank customers for doing business with you. Everyone likes to feel acknowledged. Follow-up is also a great way to identify unhappy customers before their unsatisfactory experience ends with a negative review online.

5. Keep it personal, not transactional.

Peelu Shivaraju, the owner and operator of a Money Mailer franchise in Michigan, says being more personal with customers strengthens your bonds with them.

Rather than being aggressive when selling, try to be more consultative and conversational so clients understand your intentions are pure, Shivaraju recommended.

"Nobody likes a salesperson," he said. "Don't go in talking about your product; go in and ask them questions about their business."

6. Focus on face-to-face interactions.

It's common to experience miscommunications when using technology as the primary source of contact. While emails and telephone calls are convenient, nothing beats face-to-face contact.

You can understand your customers better in person than over the phone or through a screen. Shivaraju makes it a point to drop in on clients to introduce himself and establish both a professional and personal relationship with them.

"I like to get to know my clients, what their businesses are all about," he said. "I do a lot of research about their business and ask them lots of questions to genuinely show interest. I want to learn everything I possibly can so that I know how best to help their business."

It's easier to learn about a client by talking to them in person. However, some people feel more comfortable speaking to you from a distance. Shivaraju advised asking your clients what their preferred method of communication is and sticking with that.

Companies benefit from having social media accounts; however, simply having a social media account is not enough - you need to be actively engaged. A recent survey shows that 40% of users expect a brand to respond to them within the first hour of connecting, and nearly 80% expect a response within the first 24 hours.

Many shoppers see whether a company has an online presence before they will do business with them. Customers are already using social media platforms to browse new products, leave reviews and share favorite items with their friends, and you should meet them where they are. Interacting on social media can help your company's brand shine, and it is a great way to stay on your customers' minds and feed.

Customers are constantly reviewing and talking about brands on social media, and there is a good chance your company will be the topic of discussion at one point or another. Actively engaging customers on social media and responding to social media comments are great ways to direct the narrative about what is being said about your brand. It can also allow you to resolve negative comments as soon as they arise. [Read related article: Social Media for Business: A Marketer's Guide]

The specific platforms you use will depend on your specific brand and following (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest).

8. Grow with your current clients in mind.

If your customers are happy, your business will continue to develop. Shivaraju said not to get too caught up in quick growth, especially if it means giving less attention to clients and jeopardizing your customer service.
Key takeaway: Prioritizing your existing customers over the acquisition of potential customers is a great way to build long-term loyalty.
"I understand that business owners are always busy, so I always try to work around their schedules," he said. "All new clients get a follow-up visit after the first mailing goes out, as well as another in a few months to see how it's going. As long as [clients] give me a reasonable window of time, I'll always make myself available at a time and place of their choosing. My clients always come first."

9. Show your appreciation.

Just as you would with supportive friends and family, make sure your customers know you recognize their importance.

Shivaraju shows his appreciation to two important groups of people: "The first is to my clients. They pay me money, so it's my responsibility to create the best possible ad I can for their business and get them high-quality new leads. The second is to the consumers of my product. I need to have my envelopes filled with quality hyperlocal content, filled with businesses that me and my family are comfortable doing business with so that they get opened and used."

Shivaraju mails out envelopes to his consumers, thanking them for purchasing local goods and services. He also recommended sending holiday cards and discounts to show gratitude.

10. Survey your customers.
Skye Schooley contributed to the writing and reporting in this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.
A great way to stay informed about your customers' wants and needs is by sending out surveys. For example, your business can send out occasional customer surveys to elicit customer feedback on what products they like best, what changes should be made to existing products and what products should be added to your line. When your customers feel like they have input on what you are providing, it can help build loyalty.

Additionally, surveying your customers can help improve your overall product or service offering and cater to what your customers want. This can result in higher sales, which means more money in your pocket.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Effective Ways to Connect With Your Customers - businessnewsdaily.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Connect with customers through customized interactions and active responses. You should be reaching customers where they are (e.g., face to face, phone, social media). Show customers that you appreciate them, and elicit feedback through customer surveys. This article is for small business owners who want to find ways to better connect with their customers.

# data[].attributes.body
Creativity and new designs are key to business. After all a business that isn't growing is a dying business. So have creative people who are always working outside the box to develop and grow the business' are important to its success.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Creativity is the Backbone of Your Business. Here’s Why. | Entrepreneur

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Here’s why creativity is essential if you want to see success as an entrepreneur.

# data[].attributes.body
I believe that the performing phase is the most important. During the performing phase we actually get to see what a team is capable of. This is when most of the task or goal is completed as well as when the team grow the most. During my work experience I have found that most of the time creating a team or getting a group together isn't the most difficult part, but rather getting the team to work together and actually execute the task efficiently and correctly. Having these stages would have allowed team work to be more cohesive and allowed the job to get done better while also increasing team efficiency.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Back to Blog

Team building is important. It's an essential part of any company's success.

It's also a buzzword.

A boss or team leader isn't going to get very far using team building in their workplace without giving it some serious thought.

Quality team building should lead to specific results. It can improve communication, boost morale, and hone collective skills. At the end of the day, good team building should help you build and retain a unified, cohesive, and effective team.

‍
If you're new to team building, you should also be aware of challenges you might face and ways to encourage employees to engage in activities

Corporate structure

The size of your team

Interdepartmental groups

The goals of your organization

before you get going.
‍

7 team building techniques: Start with purpose

Team building can be fun and interesting. But it also needs to have a purpose. Team building activities for strategic planning, in particular, can vary depending on many factors, such as:

Each of these is important to consider. For instance, is your group made of veteran leaders? Are team members part of a new IT department? Does the group have people from different professional backgrounds? Are they struggling to perform, or are they already effective?

Your team building methods will change depending on your answer to questions like these. As you figure out your needs (more on how to choose your methodology further down), you can figure out which of the following effective team building methods are right for your situation.

‍

1. Ice breakers set the tone

Ice breakers are by far the most common team building tool. They consist of short, quick, and often free team building activities.

Ice breakers can have a few different team building goals. For a new team, they are a good way to "break the ice." They get everyone laughing, talking, and interacting.

Even for veteran teams, a good ice breaker game can set the tone. It can get brains going in the morning. It can also help everyone focus and prepare to work as a group.

‍

2. Activity-driven ideas bring your team together

Activity-driven team building focuses on developing rapport and community. Unlike ice breakers, these tend to focus on more intensive team building. They can be much longer and work well with old and new teams alike.

A few good examples of activity-driven team building include fun things, like:

These team building activities, and others like them, help teams relax and unwind. They foster team bonding, too.

If a team is tired and needs a break, pulling out a good activity-driven team building game can be the perfect solution. It can lighten the mood and help everyone recharge for a bit without the need to use personal time to do so.

‍

3. Communication team building avoids issues

Bad communication is public enemy number one in the workplace. The problem is that there are so many things threatening good communication for most modern teams.

Remote work, in particular, can keep groups from getting on the same page. So can the interactions of full-time, part-time, and contract workers. Trying to sync up teams with flexible schedules is another common issue.

Team building for communication focuses on addressing these ongoing concerns. It focuses on things like emotional intelligence and working as a group - no matter the circumstances - to achieve a common goal.

It doesn't matter if a team is brand new or has a long history of working together. All teams need to communicate well, and communication team building can help.

‍

4. Trust-building is a subtle essential

Things like communication and engagement within a team are all well and good. But they won't get you very far without a solid level of trust within the rank and file. That's where trust-building team building techniques come into play.

These are activities that work on the relationship aspect of your team. They help people learn about one another's personalities, history, and inclinations. They break down digital barriers and humanize your workforce.

Rapid turnover has become common. Remote work creates geographic barriers. If your team is struggling to establish trust due to the natural disruptions of the 21st-century workforce, trust-focused team building is a good option.

‍

5. Problem-solving sharpens your group's impact

One of the key functions of a work team is to solve problems together. After all, if you could figure out issues on your own, there's a good chance you wouldn't need to work together in the first place.

This need to problem solve creates an interesting issue for some teams. Even when individuals are excellent problem solvers, often their approaches can vary.

That's where problem-solving team building can be a game-changer. Problem-solving games focus on presenting a challenge to your team. They must group together and pool their collective skills to overcome the issue. This naturally helps them learn to lean on one another's strengths when working together.

Time management.

Leadership.

Critical thinking.

Collaboration.

Active listening.

‍

6. Skill-building invests in the long-term

Problem-solving and communication are skills so important that they get their own official team building methodologies. However, the truth is that there are many other beneficial skills that team members can learn as a unit.

If you have a group working together over the long term, you may want to consider skill-based team building. These can focus on a variety of different talent-based objectives, such as:

Some of these complement other skills. For instance, critical thinking is an important facet of problem-solving. Active listening improves communication, too.

Others stand on their own. A group that knows how to manage time well is invaluable. Stoking leadership potential within your team is also a good idea.

‍

7. CSR-focused activities boost morale

Most of the suggestions on this list are inwardly directed. They both focus on and benefit your team.

In the case of CSR-focused team building, you turn the attention outward. CSR (corporate social responsibility) is about adding value outside of the four walls of your enterprise.

For instance, if your team is physically present "in-office," you can pick a local community to spend time supporting. If you're online, there are plenty of digital CSR options there, as well.

The important thing here is building the dynamic of your group through a common, value-added goal. As you impact others positively, your team shares memories and develops their rapport with one another. As a result, your team will feel a big boost in their morale.

‍

How to do team building the right way

1. Identify your needs and goals: Every company's goals and needs are different. Make sure to ask questions and analyze your team's current situation. Where do you need to improve?

2. Choose the methodologies that will help you reach your goals: Once you've identified needs and goals, you've detailed your problem. Now you need to find a solution. Consider which of the 7 team building techniques listed above will help you address your problem.

3. Make your team building plan: With a clear problem and potential solution in hand, it's time to get into the nitty-gritty details. Consider how you can apply your team building solution. Keep group limitations - the need to team build remotely, for instance - in mind. As you flesh things out, look for solutions, like a quality video conference platform, that can facilitate your team-building efforts.

4. Conduct the team building session: With your plan in place, it's time to invite your group. Some activities will only take 5 minutes before the next meeting whereas others will require a dedicated workshop. Once you're gathered, make sure to explain what's going on. Set ground rules for any games or activities you engage in. Define roles clearly, too. And, for goodness sake, make sure to keep things as light and fun as possible.

5. Follow up: This last step is easy to overlook. It's also one of the primary ways that successful teams are built to last. Remember to circle back around with your team after using a team building method. As you do, strive to accept negative feedback, celebrate success, and reinforce the lessons learned.

There are many team building methods and techniques that you can use. Each one has its distinct purpose and power.

Of course, it's difficult to utilize these correctly if you don't know what kind of team building you're trying to accomplish. So, for this last section, we're going to briefly run over how you lead a team building activity.

Here are the steps that it takes to team build the right way:

‍

This five-step process - backed up by the techniques listed above - can give you the firepower to effectively bring your team together.

‍

Using team building methods to crush your group's goals

Strategic planning team building activities should be ongoing. It requires a lot of thought, effort, and resources.

Fortunately, there are team building tools, tips, and techniques that can make the job easier. The methods recommended above give you a way to address the "technique" part of the equation. A quality team building tool like Gomada can help with the other.

The most important thing for leaders to do is to take team building seriously. This isn't an item on a to-do list. You shouldn't do it just to impress corporate, either.

You need to team build because it's beneficial for your team. So, review the methods and techniques. Then go through the steps to identify, craft, and execute a killer team building strategy. Once you understand have that down, you can continue with making team building a monthly habit.

Doing this the right way will bring your team together and keep them working smoothly and productively for a long time to come.

‍

Jaron Pak

Entrepreneur & Writer

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Filter

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Team building is important. It's an essential part of any company's success.

It's also a buzzword.

A boss or team leader isn't going to get very far using team building in their workplace without giving it some serious thought.

Quality team building should lead to specific results. It can improve communication, boost morale, and hone collective skills. At the end of the day, good team building should help you build and retain a unified, cohesive, and effective team.

‍
If you're new to team building, you should also be aware of challenges you might face and ways to encourage employees to engage in activities

Corporate structure

The size of your team

Interdepartmental groups

The goals of your organization

before you get going.
‍

7 team building techniques: Start with purpose

Team building can be fun and interesting. But it also needs to have a purpose. Team building activities for strategic planning, in particular, can vary depending on many factors, such as:

Each of these is important to consider. For instance, is your group made of veteran leaders? Are team members part of a new IT department? Does the group have people from different professional backgrounds? Are they struggling to perform, or are they already effective?

Your team building methods will change depending on your answer to questions like these. As you figure out your needs (more on how to choose your methodology further down), you can figure out which of the following effective team building methods are right for your situation.

‍

1. Ice breakers set the tone

Ice breakers are by far the most common team building tool. They consist of short, quick, and often free team building activities.

Ice breakers can have a few different team building goals. For a new team, they are a good way to "break the ice." They get everyone laughing, talking, and interacting.

Even for veteran teams, a good ice breaker game can set the tone. It can get brains going in the morning. It can also help everyone focus and prepare to work as a group.

‍

2. Activity-driven ideas bring your team together

Activity-driven team building focuses on developing rapport and community. Unlike ice breakers, these tend to focus on more intensive team building. They can be much longer and work well with old and new teams alike.

A few good examples of activity-driven team building include fun things, like:

These team building activities, and others like them, help teams relax and unwind. They foster team bonding, too.

If a team is tired and needs a break, pulling out a good activity-driven team building game can be the perfect solution. It can lighten the mood and help everyone recharge for a bit without the need to use personal time to do so.

‍

3. Communication team building avoids issues

Bad communication is public enemy number one in the workplace. The problem is that there are so many things threatening good communication for most modern teams.

Remote work, in particular, can keep groups from getting on the same page. So can the interactions of full-time, part-time, and contract workers. Trying to sync up teams with flexible schedules is another common issue.

Team building for communication focuses on addressing these ongoing concerns. It focuses on things like emotional intelligence and working as a group - no matter the circumstances - to achieve a common goal.

It doesn't matter if a team is brand new or has a long history of working together. All teams need to communicate well, and communication team building can help.

‍

4. Trust-building is a subtle essential

Things like communication and engagement within a team are all well and good. But they won't get you very far without a solid level of trust within the rank and file. That's where trust-building team building techniques come into play.

These are activities that work on the relationship aspect of your team. They help people learn about one another's personalities, history, and inclinations. They break down digital barriers and humanize your workforce.

Rapid turnover has become common. Remote work creates geographic barriers. If your team is struggling to establish trust due to the natural disruptions of the 21st-century workforce, trust-focused team building is a good option.

‍

5. Problem-solving sharpens your group's impact

One of the key functions of a work team is to solve problems together. After all, if you could figure out issues on your own, there's a good chance you wouldn't need to work together in the first place.

This need to problem solve creates an interesting issue for some teams. Even when individuals are excellent problem solvers, often their approaches can vary.

That's where problem-solving team building can be a game-changer. Problem-solving games focus on presenting a challenge to your team. They must group together and pool their collective skills to overcome the issue. This naturally helps them learn to lean on one another's strengths when working together.

Time management.

Leadership.

Critical thinking.

Collaboration.

Active listening.

‍

6. Skill-building invests in the long-term

Problem-solving and communication are skills so important that they get their own official team building methodologies. However, the truth is that there are many other beneficial skills that team members can learn as a unit.

If you have a group working together over the long term, you may want to consider skill-based team building. These can focus on a variety of different talent-based objectives, such as:

Some of these complement other skills. For instance, critical thinking is an important facet of problem-solving. Active listening improves communication, too.

Others stand on their own. A group that knows how to manage time well is invaluable. Stoking leadership potential within your team is also a good idea.

‍

7. CSR-focused activities boost morale

Most of the suggestions on this list are inwardly directed. They both focus on and benefit your team.

In the case of CSR-focused team building, you turn the attention outward. CSR (corporate social responsibility) is about adding value outside of the four walls of your enterprise.

For instance, if your team is physically present "in-office," you can pick a local community to spend time supporting. If you're online, there are plenty of digital CSR options there, as well.

The important thing here is building the dynamic of your group through a common, value-added goal. As you impact others positively, your team shares memories and develops their rapport with one another. As a result, your team will feel a big boost in their morale.

‍

How to do team building the right way

1. Identify your needs and goals: Every company's goals and needs are different. Make sure to ask questions and analyze your team's current situation. Where do you need to improve?

2. Choose the methodologies that will help you reach your goals: Once you've identified needs and goals, you've detailed your problem. Now you need to find a solution. Consider which of the 7 team building techniques listed above will help you address your problem.

3. Make your team building plan: With a clear problem and potential solution in hand, it's time to get into the nitty-gritty details. Consider how you can apply your team building solution. Keep group limitations - the need to team build remotely, for instance - in mind. As you flesh things out, look for solutions, like a quality video conference platform, that can facilitate your team-building efforts.

4. Conduct the team building session: With your plan in place, it's time to invite your group. Some activities will only take 5 minutes before the next meeting whereas others will require a dedicated workshop. Once you're gathered, make sure to explain what's going on. Set ground rules for any games or activities you engage in. Define roles clearly, too. And, for goodness sake, make sure to keep things as light and fun as possible.

5. Follow up: This last step is easy to overlook. It's also one of the primary ways that successful teams are built to last. Remember to circle back around with your team after using a team building method. As you do, strive to accept negative feedback, celebrate success, and reinforce the lessons learned.

There are many team building methods and techniques that you can use. Each one has its distinct purpose and power.

Of course, it's difficult to utilize these correctly if you don't know what kind of team building you're trying to accomplish. So, for this last section, we're going to briefly run over how you lead a team building activity.

Here are the steps that it takes to team build the right way:

‍

This five-step process - backed up by the techniques listed above - can give you the firepower to effectively bring your team together.

‍

Using team building methods to crush your group's goals

Strategic planning team building activities should be ongoing. It requires a lot of thought, effort, and resources.

Fortunately, there are team building tools, tips, and techniques that can make the job easier. The methods recommended above give you a way to address the "technique" part of the equation. A quality team building tool like Gomada can help with the other.

The most important thing for leaders to do is to take team building seriously. This isn't an item on a to-do list. You shouldn't do it just to impress corporate, either.

You need to team build because it's beneficial for your team. So, review the methods and techniques. Then go through the steps to identify, craft, and execute a killer team building strategy. Once you understand have that down, you can continue with making team building a monthly habit.

Doing this the right way will bring your team together and keep them working smoothly and productively for a long time to come.

‍

Related articles

Have a blast with your remote team 🔥

Our team building activities are rated 9/10 by over 900 remote teams.

It's the easiest way to feel close when working remotely!
See activities

Subscribe to get our latest updates

Subscribe to get our latest updates

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Team Building Methods & How to Choose the Right One

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Back to Blog Team building is important. It's an essential part of any company's success. It's also a buzzword. A boss or team leader isn't going to get very far using team building in their workplace without giving it some serious thought. Quality team building should lead to specific results.