CHAPTER 9
Closers—Ending a Team-Building Event
I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.
—Mia Hamm, Gold Medal Soccer Champion
Closers are important in team-building events because they cite the conclusion of the official time during which teams hone their skills. Hopefully, they also highlight the importance of ending on a positive note and provide valuable takeaways for each team member.
It’s important that closers be inclusive (giving every person the opportunity to contribute) and make it clear that the group process is coming to an end so that people can leave afterward. It’s also essential that this part of the process make the team feel as though the experience was positive, was an effective use of their time, and gave them the chance to develop skills that would help them improve at work.
Technology allows increasingly larger-sized audiences to be included in team-building events these days, especially in an appropriate or shorter amount of time. Be sure to end with one of these closers and be one of the 20 percent who actually follow up after a team-building event to maximize the investment you’ve made.
Shout-Outs—Acknowledging Teammates
Time: 10–20 minutes
Participants: 2–1,000
Technology: Twitter, text, chat, teleconference (optional)
Category: Closers
Goals
Create team bonding and event closure by having one teammate acknowledge another teammate for his or her ...
