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team building

TEEM BIL-ding /ˈtiːm ˌbɪldɪŋ/

nounB2

neutral

The action or process of causing a group of people to work together effectively as a team, especially by means of activities and events designed to increase motivation and promote cooperation.

Refers to intentional efforts and activities designed to improve group cohesion, communication, and performance, often through structured exercises.

The story behind the word. The term 'team building' is a straightforward compound of 'team' (from Old English 'team,' meaning 'a group of draught animals,' later 'a group working together') and 'building' (from Old English 'byldan,' meaning 'to construct'). It emerged in the mid-20th century, particularly in organizational psychology and management, to describe structured interventions aimed at improving the effectiveness and cohesion of work groups.

Word relationships

group cohesion: The degree to which members of a group are attracted to each other and are motivated to stay in the group; an outcome of team building.
team development: A broader term encompassing all aspects of improving a team's effectiveness, including but not limited to specific team-building activities.

team disintegration: The breakdown or separation of a team.

Collocations

effective team building
team building activities
team building exercises
corporate team building

Example sentences

"The annual company retreat included several team building exercises aimed at improving communication and trust among departments." Planning a corporate retreat.
"Effective team building is crucial for fostering a positive work environment and achieving collective goals." Discussing management strategies.

Memory hook

TEAM BUILDING is about 'BUILDING' a stronger 'TEAM' through shared experiences. Build the team

When not to use

Don't use 'team building' for regular work activities that happen to involve a team. It specifically implies activities designed to improve team dynamics.

Fun facts

Early team-building activities often involved outdoor adventure courses, drawing on military training techniques to foster leadership and cooperation.
The effectiveness of team-building activities is a subject of ongoing debate and research in organizational psychology, with some studies showing significant benefits and others questioning their long-term impact.

Related words

collaboration, synergy

Explore more words

cohesion, coordination, liaison, coordinate, integrate, cooperative