Can team-building exercises help create a cohesive staff?

Fun, yes?
But not just fun and games...
Team-building exercises help create a cohesive staff

Yearbook can be a stressful, challenging class. Our solution is to create a sense of family right away — so students feel safe and supported when deadline looms and things get tense.

Photos by Vanessa Hernandez and Jacklyn Karasik,
Serpent, Park Vista HS, Lake Worth, FL

One of the best activities that I do to build a sense of family amongst the staff begins in June. When the new students who will be joining the staff in September are selected, and before the seniors on staff are gone, we have a large group event. It is the only time that the “old” staff and the “new” staff meet.

Each graduating senior is asked to find his/her “replacement” and looks for a new staff member whose personality is similar to their own — that way we maintain the diversity of styles that is so important for the production of a yearbook. During sixth period, which is the actual yearbook class period, the new staff inductees are notified that they have been selected for the next years’ staff.

They are also notified that they must complete the scavenger hunt/dare list included. The hunt takes the students around campus to different stations. Each year, the scavenger hunt has a theme. One year it was a circus theme.

This year, it was a medieval theme. At each station the student must perform a task, receive a prize and then move on to the next station. In keeping with the medieval theme this year, one station was Court Jester. The inductee had to tell a joke. Upon successful completion, the inductee was given a tattoo. At the next station, the inductees had to joust with pool noodles while riding a steed (scooter). Upon successful completion, the inductee received a crown. It continues on until the last station which, of course, leads the students to the classroom.

When all the students arrive, we sit in a big circle. We introduce ourselves, and then play an icebreaker game. The “old” staff has a chance to share wisdom with the “new” staff, and the “old” staff has a sense of completion for their involvement in yearbook as they welcome in their replacements. And, of course, the inductees must wear their crowns, tattoos, etc. to school the next day!

This year-end activity is followed up with a one-day Yearbook Camp which happens the week before school starts. It lasts about four hours and takes place in the yearbook room as well. The students arrive and we have a few getting-to-know-you exercises. Then, the new editors share their summer camp experience and reveal the theme for the year. The new staffers have their first chance to brainstorm ideas and learn the “rules” of the family. Then we celebrate with food — since that is a central motivator in the class!

Most importantly, for team building and motivating, is the fact that we always refer to the staff as the NOVA family. Every member of NOVA staff, past and present, tells me that this is the secret to success. We take the time to know each other, treat each other with respect, and then, coach each other. For the first two weeks of class, we have daily activities that are focused on personality sharing, value sharing and developing trust among the staff members.

From this solid ground, we move into creating and taking risks to produce a work of art —together.

Note: It’s not too late! If you’ve started the year without taking the time to turn your diverse group into a unified team, make the effort in the next two weeks. You’ll notice a difference in the atmosphere almost immediately.

Ask two of your most outgoing, energetic staffers to take on the task of finding (there are lots of great books and you’ll find more icebreakers and teambuilders online than you can ever do) between five and 10 activities that teach/reinforce different ideas in under 10 minutes. Model a quick exercise one day, showing them how you can extract the “moral” from the group once the activity is complete and allow them to run the show for the next week or so.

Contributed by Kristen Orlando, Yearbook Adviser
Woodrow Wilson High School , Tacoma, WA
Yearbook Discoveries Volume 15 Issue 1