Provisional Environment for Team Building- myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theProvisional Environment for Team Building Activities. Answer: Team Building Activities In this unit, I was part of a team building exercise tower activity. In this activity, teambuilding is encouraged for researching human behavior. This exercise is encouraging and great for creative problem solving with the help of teamwork. In this exercise, teams are asked to build free standing towers with the help of any material, like newspapers, cups or even dried spaghetti. Groups are made and the task is introduced to them. At first the challenge is stated that there is the need of building the tallest and cost effective free standing tower that would be able to support itself. The time constraint was mentioned to us, also including the involved costs. Each team got a briefing sheet, explaining all the rules of the game. The main rule reinforced is that ten tower needs to be unsupported and freestanding. The activity was started with the timer, and then the teams were given time checks after five minutes and a regular one and two minutes warning. After the allotted ten minute s were over, extensions were allowed as required. After the activity was over each team was asked to work out and calculate their points. The team that scored the highest number of points was declared the winner. Scoring was conducted based on the height if the tower and its cost efficiency. After all these was over, each person was asked how it felt asking to be carrying out the task. Even the confidence of each participant was judged, both at the beginning and at the end of the task. The idea was to expand on the above for identifying what directed to the ups and downs in confidence. This team building activity acted as the ice breaker for me, as I was new to the team. The activity was designed in helping us form bonds with each other and become a team. With the help of this activity, each of the group members learned about each other, their names and some personal information, focusing on making the team more cohesive. The activity helped build my endurance and lifted my spirit and fostered the team spirit. This activity was made effective when I learned how to identify the challenges my team faces and the areas in which group dynamics require to put in some extra work. It has helped me develop some clear goals for what is required in getting out of the exercise. I understood what weaknesses I have that have contributed to my biggest mistakes. I saw lack of open communication within the group and the team members are not focused on individual achievement, nor on shared success. Even though the team morale is good, and there is an easy camaraderie between everyon e, people needs more appreciation. Going through this exercise has helped in recognizing what are different areas that we lack as a team and what can be done so that everyone works well together. Understanding has been easy as I was open to feedback and even asked for it from other team members. Patterns likely emerged, which ultimately helped me set my goals. Since the activity was not highly competitive, there4 was no worst case scenario. The activity also did not entail and high level of specialized skill as that would have turned people off who are not aware of how to do the activity and strengthen the team. The lessons I learned from the team building activity needs reinforcement and put to use to be back in business as always. Learning needs to be a huge part of the culture and this single team building activity would not be enough. I have planned weekly or monthly events so that the momentum that was created with this can be maintained. Reflection on Topic 3: Cultural Awareness In the present world of globalization and technological improvements, emphasis is put on the importance of proper intercultural and interpersonal communication. Intercultural communication skills are fast becoming the most important thing than ever before in the present environment of organizations having an increasingly diverse workforce and wide travelling for leisure and business. Several considerations coalesce for resulting in improved interpersonal communication skills. The activity on increasing cultural awareness of intercultural communication addressed each of the area that was asking for awareness and mindfulness in different types of intercultural communication. Firmly grounded in innovative academic research, the practice class started with a background of intercultural communication that is inclusive of definitions and reasons for intercultural communication. There was exploration of culture based values that are undergird and has significant role to play in all types of intercultural interactions. From there, this class moved into the examination of barriers for successful intercultural communication that includes cultural shock and the lack of awareness of verbal communication styles and inclinations. Nonverbal communication also has a key role to play in the development of intercultural communication flexibility and that is why it got discussed further. There was discussion regarding challenges in intercultural communication that was aimed in highlighting different methods of improving communication across cultures, in comprehension of obstacles and the method of quality communication is cleared. Dispute and conflict communication also is a major component of intercultural communication and that was also covered in this class. The idea of global identity and cross cultural communication audiences also follows conflict lesson. The class closed with strong considerations regarding intercultural ethics and stratagems for the resolution of ethical d ilemmas inside intercultural contexts. Whether I am engaged in business across borders or cultural areas, meeting with other people via international travels, studying abroad, working with people with a diverse and global organization is beneficial in a better comprehension of intercultural communication. The class was focused on the basics but important concepts. It has helped me better comprehend cross cultural complexity, cultivated my awareness of my own and other peoples cultural identities, and highlighted some important variations in cultural values and communication styles, and signposted paths in the direction of building intercultural competence. This was a journey of self-discovery, sharing with each other cultural stories and exploring different types of cultures. I was amazed in seeing the way cultures have been influential over thinking, perceptions, values, communication styles and beliefs. This understanding and appreciation of the different cultures would be helpful in gaining and helping with adjustment with the new cultural practices that would come into my life whether it is via media or via interpersonal interactions. With the changing world, the communication ability across cultures is becoming more vital as the students are graduating into a diverse workplace, city and world. The class was composed with an equal number of international students, with discussions ranging from intercultural communication and discussions related to different activities in the rest of the time for promoting interaction among students of varied cultures. Most of the participants in the class commented that this was the best experience they had in relation to cultural awareness and intercultural communication. I personally learnt a lot from these classes, as I was completely clueless before of how to deal or communicate with people from other cultural backgrounds. I understood being able to communicate with everyone is beneficial for my social as well as professional lives. I decided on working on the areas where I lacked and made personal objectives for covering those communication gaps. I a positive I would not face issues in cross cultural communication anymore in future and am open to more such classes or any similar communication courses. Bibliography Baker, W., 2012. From cultural awareness to intercultural awareness: Culture in ELT.ELT journal,66(1), pp.62-70. Byram, M., 2012. Language awareness and (critical) cultural awarenessrelationships, comparisons and contrasts.Language Awareness,21(1-2), pp.5-13. Dyer, W.G. and Dyer, J.H., 2013.Team building: Proven strategies for improving team performance. John Wiley Sons. Jandt, F.E., 2012.An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global community. Sage Publications. Miller, B.C., 2015.Quick team-building activities for busy managers: 50 exercises that get results in just 15 minutes. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. Nancarrow, S.A., Booth, A., Ariss, S., Smith, T., Enderby, P. and Roots, A., 2013. Ten principles of good interdisciplinary team work.Human resources for Health,11(1), p.19. Ndulue, U., Pera, F.C., Kayou, B. and Martinez, L.S., 2012. Team-building activities as strategies for improving community-university partnerships: Lessons learned from Nuestro Futuro Saludable.Progress in community health partnerships: research, education, and action,6(2), pp.213-218. Paradis, K.F. and Martin, L.J., 2012. Team building in sport: Linking theory and research to practical application.Journal of Sport Psychology in Action,3(3), pp.159-170. 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