Here's a picture of someone who was just told they've got to participate in a teambuilding event.  Does he look like someone you know?

If people are burned out on teambuilding events its usually the result of:

1. Previous training events that were poorly designed and delivered (and people are tired of it).

2. Training event follow through / follow-up that was poorly designed and delivered.  People tire of the lip service given to teamwork.  They begin to see the time spent on teambuilding as a waste because there is no follow through. Nothing changes.

3. Wrong people on the bus - - i.e. the wrong people were hired and aren't naturally inclined to commit themselves to high performance (individually or as a team).  This concept is shared in Jim Collins book "Good To Great"

4. Wrong company culture  -- i.e. the organizational structure does not fully support a culture of teamwork.  It doesn't matter how good the teambuilding program is, the company culture is such that nothing can be done to create a high performing team, short of a complete overhaul.

How do you get beyond burnout"?

The simple answer is to reestablish trust. 

Listen to this interview with Stephen M.R. Covey about trust.

Before you plan a teambuilding event, make sure ALL systems within the organization support the team focus.  Make sure you are going to follow through.  Do a valid assessment of the team to make sure the training meets the needs of the group.

And a word about assessments...

When my six year old son started his swim lessons this winter the instructor first assessed his swimming skills.  She does an assessment because without one she will have to guess as to his ability.  If she starts teaching him as if he's never been in the water before he will get bored and he won't want to go back (he loves the water and loves to swim). 

When you start working with a fitness trainer the first thing she will do is assess your current level of fitness and then work with you to build your fitness plan to meet your personal health goals.  Imagine the trainer giving every person who walks through the door the same fitness schedule.  It wouldn't work!  And it doesn't work with teams either.

One of the team assessments I like to use was developed by Cynder Niemela who authored an outstanding book entitled "Leading High Impact Teams" (out of print).  The assessment identifies the top 10 practices of high performing teams.  This assessment helps me pin-point the issues I need to focus on with the team during the training and it also shows me where to provide follow up support.

Download the_top_10_practices_.pdf   This is not the assessment itself. The assessment is based on these 10 practices and it helps you determine where the team is strong and where the team is weak.