2023.09.21
Team Building in the Workplace Using Cards for Collective Well-being
We are committed to supporting the creation of communities focused on Social Well-being by creating techniques and tools that help people understand each other's values and foster trust. In this article, we will show how workplaces can use our Cards for Collective Well-being in team building exercises.
Cards for Collective Well-being
Our Cards for Collective Well-being were designed based on extensive research, including surveys, workshops we held with companies and schools, and insights from social psychology. Individuals can become more aware about the Well-being of both themselves and those around them though encouraged dialogue with these cards.
1. Fostering Mutual Understanding Between Team Members: What Matters for Each Other's Well-being
First, team members should reflect on what they consider important for their own Well-being and share it with the group. While reading the cards, they should ask themselves questions such as, "When do I feel happy?" and, "What do I cherish in my daily life?" Each member should then choose three cards that resonate with their feelings and consider the reasoning behind why they chose each card.
In small groups, each member should present the three cards they chose to the other members of the group while sharing their reasoning behind why they chose each card. This exercise allows team members to share what they personally consider to be important for their own Well-being, something that is rarely discussed in regular conversations at work. By sharing this with each other, team members will be able to discover how everyone may have different values and unexpected commonalities. In turn, this will foster a deeper mutual understanding amongst team members.
2. Determining What Matters as a Team
Next, team members should collectively consider what is important for their team as a whole. Just as they previously chose what matters for their own individual Well-being, each member should now select three things they consider crucial in the workplace and share them with their group. While taking into account everyone's choices, the team should then discuss and decide on the three fundamental elements that the group considers important for their team as a whole. New cards may also be chosen if new ideas emerge during the discussion. In cases where there are multiple groups, each group should then introduce the three cards they selected to the other groups. By completing this exercise, teams will be able to narrow down what they should focus on going forward while establishing a better foundation for mutual understanding.
3. Brainstorming Ideas that Align with What Matters as a Team
Once the team's priorities have been determined, members should work on translating them into tangible initiatives that can actually take effect in the workplace. While considering the three cards chosen by the entire team, each member should brainstorm ideas about how they could solve problems in and improve the workplace. Each member should write these ideas down on paper. Members should then share their ideas with the team and write down any opinions and feedback they have for other members' ideas on sticky notes so that everyone may exchange comments with each other.
The team should then refine the ideas based on the comments and select three ideas to put into action while considering each team member's Well-being. By sharing ideas and deciding which actions to take as a team, everyone will likely be more motivated to actually implement these solutions compared to when brainstorming alone. Therefore, this collaborative approach not only strengthens bonds within the team but also improves the team's ability to put ideas into action.
