So let's get this straight: A group of people working together in a company as part of one department or division doesn't necessarily make a team. They're simply, well, a group of people working together. Being a team implies something more solid, dedicated, and united. If you run a company or you are the head of a department, you will want everyone in the group working together harmoniously, with a clear idea where their hard work will take them, and giving their best efforts for the good of the project. In short, you will want them to become a real team.

It's not the easiest thing to gather a number of people together and make them work well. For one thing, every individual has a different temperament, different working style, and different ideas how things should be done. This can lead to discord within a group, and eventually cause operations to grind to a halt and prevent you from ever accomplishing anything.

In such cases, team building workshops are definitely a must. You have to explore every possible avenue there is to make sure that your team is working properly and peacefully.

There are those who say that team building is simply a matter of getting people to like each other and get along well. To accomplish this, some simple activities can be done. It could be something as normal and everyday like having lunch together, or going out for a drink or a snack at the end of the workday. Ideally, this lets the members of a team get to know each other and relate to one another outside the office setting, and that it would improve how they communicate and work together. Sometimes, even weekend cookouts and activities are done so everyone will be more familiar with each other.

These are definitely good and simple methods for departments without any major rifts among its employees. But those with bigger problems to handle may require deft methods and assistance from professionals.

Many companies opt to hold team building workshops for their employees. These are usually done in cooperation with professional executive and career consultants who develop a training program suited to the needs and the culture of the company. The activities in these workshops generally include developing communication skills, conflict resolution, and they also clarify exactly what being a team means.