The best feeling is when your team mates also become some of your best friends. It can be difficult to maintain harmony and good vibes when stress, deadlines and external pressure hit the team. But a team that works well together and cares about each other is happier, more effective and can achieve great things.

Here are some tips that have worked for us in strengthening our teams and resolving conflicts:

• Do not underestimate teambuilding. Organise a board weekend at the beginning of the term where you bond and set goals and grand plans for the year, to keep you all inspired. Make sure to keep doing teambuilding activities regularly and spend some time together without talking about your project.
• Communicate openly. It might be good to introduce a "feedback round" at the end of your regular meetings, in which everyone can honestly voice their opinions and criticism, without hard feelings. But of course, when being critical of others, focus on being constructive, on the best solutions and ways forward.
• Do not dwell on the past, focus on the future. Maybe you organised an event that was a complete fail. That's fine! Try to identify what you can learn from it to improve, do not try to hide from the world in shame. The world goes on.
• Not all ideas have to be implemented, but everybody's voice should be heard and ideas discussed. Be considerate of your teammates and give them space to express their thoughts and ideas.
• If two people are in conflict, they best approach each other as soon as possible and try to resolve it between each other. If it cannot be resolved, they could pick another member to serve as an independent mediator. Try to reach a conclusion that everybody can identify with.

UM Career Services teambuilding workshop

If you are interested in teambuilding, you can request a workshop for your board at UM Career Services at the beginning of the academic year. During this 3-hour workshop, you are guided by one of their staff members in the teambuilding process. On this page, you can read more about the workshop. The deadline to sign up is the 10th of September.

Looking for different trainings? Check out the website of Fijbes, who offer trainings for student organisations!