Why team building does not work in a recession : Engaging staff in practical projects delivers business results

Purpose – Reviews the snags of typical teambuilding sessions and advocates an approach to engaging staff in practical projects that will build teamwork and deliver business results. Design/methodology/approach – Describes the typical problems that organizations may be facing in tough economic times and the kind of actions that management might take to deal with these, and their associated impacts. Offers an alternative approach, with examples from the author's experiences both in manufacturing industry and as a management consultant working with a wide variety of clients. Findings – Outlines and illustrates seven practical steps to get results: acknowledge the situation; do an initial diagnostic; create a powerful vision; set a clear timescale; organize focused sessions; ensure clear actions come out; review how it is going and adjust. Practical implications – Provides plenty to interest HR directors and line managers with small budgets who are seeking ideas on how to improve teamwork. Originality/value – Describes how a simple seven‐step process can be used to generate improved business results and improve teamwork in parallel.