Every group can benefit from team-building exercises. But sometimes it's not practical to embark on a full-scale training initiative. Now, supervisors, managers, and team leaders have 50 team-building activities to choose from, all of which can be implemented with no special facilities, big expense, or previous training experience. Readers will find engaging exercises for:

* Building new teams and helping teams with new members * Dealing with change and its effects: anger, fear, frustration, and more * Recognizing individual efforts and team accomplishments * Finding creative ways to work together and solve problems * Increasing and improving communication * Leveraging diversity and individual differences to meet team goals * Keeping competition healthy and productive within the team

Instructions and tips for follow-up and variations are included for each activity, and an additional chapter provides valuable advice for working through unexpected difficulties in team-building.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 30 Ratings

Inspiration and Magic - 2008-06-14
Reviewer Rating:
a) This book delivers what it advertises: Quick team building activities. There's a surprising amount of variety and thought behind the book. It's organized and clear. The goals and methods are obvious.

b) As with everything in life, the success of the activities depends on you. And some luck. And you're going to have to take some chances.

c) The book is arranged by Need (ingenious, really). Say that your team is a bickering crew of backstabbing narcissists that fail to realize the inherent talents of their teammates. Flip to Chapter X and you'll have an activity that helps them understand the value of others. It's like a Jedi mind trick.

d) Stylistically, I can use about 1/3 of the activities in the book today. As teams and groups change, the other 2/3 of the book provides buffer. A few of the activities will never match my style - or yours - but that's Ok; that's the way things work. We don't all like Merlot.

e) Overall, (5) stars for delivering what the title promises (do what you say...), and an equal (5) stars for simple, valuable activities.

f) ps - One that I didn't see in the book is the Truths and a Lie game (maybe because it's everywhere on the net). Here it is: Give everyone (3) index cards. Have them write (2) True Statements and (1) False statement about themselves on the cards. Merge and Shuffle, Read each out loud and try to figure out who said what. It's a fun get-to-know-ya to kick off a project. Most of us don't really know our coworkers, so it works in all situations.

No props necessary - 2008-04-24
Reviewer Rating:
The best part about this book is that the author stays true to his word and presents ideas that require either no props or a handful of items you're guaranteed to have on hand - like paper, pens and paperclips. Although the ideas in this book aren't going to chance your life, they're genuinely designed to make your life as a manager easier and give you some good ideas. I liked it a lot better than many similar books I've read!

A book that keeps its promise! - 2009-07-19
Reviewer Rating:
Of the assortment of books I have in this category, this is the one with the most sticky notes popping out the top and sides. I use games in this book regularly in classes I teach or workshops I give. Team building will always be an investment of time and effort well spent. The preparation is minimal and the payoff is big. Great resource!

Teamwork - 2009-07-01
Reviewer Rating:
The ideas/games presented were helpful and suitable to customize to various situations and age groups. Many of the games did not need a lot of equipment or preparations which is also convenient.

Team building ideas - 2008-05-27
Reviewer Rating:
Great Book....lots of quick and easy ideas to be easily implemented. Arrived VERY quickly and in excellent shape.

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