What are the best ways to develop your team building skills in a graduate program?

To enhance team-building skills in a graduate program, actively participate in group projects to gain practical experience in collaboration and communication. Seek out opportunities to lead discussions, facilitate teamwork, and navigate conflicts within the group. Additionally, engage in workshops, seminars, or extracurricular activities that focus on leadership, interpersonal skills, and team dynamics to further refine and develop your team-building abilities.

Developing team-building skills during a graduate program is a dynamic process that combines practical experiences, continuous learning, and self-reflection. Actively engaging in group projects, seeking leadership roles, attending relevant workshops, and participating in team-building activities all contribute to honing the essential skills needed for effective collaboration. By integrating theoretical knowledge with hands-on experiences, graduates can navigate diverse team dynamics, communicate effectively, and excel as team players and leaders in their future professional endeavors. The commitment to ongoing improvement and adaptability will serve graduates well as they transition from academic settings to collaborative work environments.

Group projects are an eye opener to team dynamics that include communication, cohesion, problem solving and differences. The roles in a study group gives you a feel of job descriptions that are applicable at the workplace. Clarity in the communication of roles, expectations and timelines.

When I was going through my graduate program, it was not easy to find a study group, because the people in the MPA program I was in, were part-time, and working full-time. In one of my classes, it appeared everyone was frustrated, so I decided to use my team-building training and start a study group. We met before class so that we could eat and relax and go over the homework from the week before. There were 10 of us, and each of us took a different week to run the study group. A couple of things we did team building wise, was on the first day, we did a mind map to outline the different classes and assignments based on the syllabus. We also did flash card swaps, which gave us different views of how people study and where people need help.

One key skill that you gain through participation is communication. You learn about the channels of communication, medium and packaging. This also teaches you about collaboration which is another study area that you will experience in the workplace setting. You learn a lot about report writing and feedback management.

Volunteering is great for emotional intelligence and awareness. The different scenarios help you identify emotional triggers that can derail your contribution to team performance. You also get to build relationships and networks that build up to your social capital. Volunteering helps you interact with real-life problem solving which is instrumental to team and personal development.

Be deliberate in participating and learning. Having initiative is important as it builds your identity to the student organization. Volunteer in the leadership roles of that organization while building networks. Suggest team bonding activities that contribute to the collective excellence of the organization.

Feedback is helpful towards identifying areas of improvement. Receiving feedback calls for emotional awareness that doesn't get you negatively triggered when you get criticism. Take note of the feedback as you reflect on it. Practice active listening and don't take criticism personally.

I have been to many institutes talking to students on various aspects. One thing I realised is that their idea about team work is vastly different from what is required at a workplace. Team work, for students, is a prospect for fun. Responsibility and accountability turn into favours and grudges. There is ego and competitiveness within the team. Team building programs for students should be promoted. Students are the future, and proper guidance can provide them the right direction and bent of mind. When I talk to a classroom, ask for groups to be formed for a situational activity, I do not see strategy. There are only the factors of comfort and brotherhood in play. I won't say that it is a wrong method, but it is what it is at school.

My favourite for Management Trainees is Experiential Training, the value of which they derive by ‘doing’ As an OD practitioner or a People Leader you’re better off choosing experiential or nature based retreats for these young minds as the takeaway will be huge and they shall remain grateful and engaged for a long time.