Monday, April 21, 2008

Team Building Torture: This is why Team builidng has a bad name

Reading through the Internet I came across this article of team building torture Every time I find these articles I am amazed at how some organizations feel this will add to the team commitment.

There is also general agreement that Hudgens volunteered for the "team-building exercise," that he lay on his back with his head downhill, and that co-workers knelt on either side of him, pinning the young sales rep down while their supervisor poured water from a gallon jug over his nose and mouth. from The Washington Post

I have led several 1000 team building activities and never thought of water boarding - as a motivational activity. This is the struggle that we face - Team Building in NOT TORTURE!

The odd thing is that the organizations leadership said;

"The sales team leaders are very focused here," Brunt said. "There was an incident, so it's not fabricated. There was a training exercise. He did lie down on a hill. The entire exercise lasted less than 20 seconds. A little bit of water was poured and then Josh would stop and say, 'Are you okay?'

Very focused?? is this an acceptable behavior to inspire others??

At Create-Learning Team Building we use activities as a vehicle to deliver the training - Water Boarding is never used!