Have you ever heard of team building but wondered what it actually involves?
In this article, what is team building? And what are the tips for successful team building? and more, while introducing specific examples in terms of Japanese culture and team building.
If you are interested in team building with foreigners through training, or if you are looking for a unique Japanese activity, this article is perfect for you. Please read to the end.
What is team building in the first place?
First, let’s understand what team building is.
Team building, as the term implies, is about building a team, where each team member takes the initiative to achieve their goals while utilizing their knowledge and expertise.
Team building also includes challenging members to communicate with each other and challenge each other in activities that transcend hierarchical relationships and backgrounds. Unlike teamwork, where people work together to compensate for what they are not good at, the advantage of teambuilding is that people think about and understand what they can do.
This approach maximizes team performance and improves motivation, and is becoming an indispensable concept for building good teams.
Team building is also explained in the article ” What is Team Building? Traditional Culture and Its Compatibility with Foreigners’ Pleasure Explained ” article also explains in detail.
Key to Successful Team Building
The following are some key points for successful team building. All of these ideas are important, so let’s try to understand them one at a time.
. ignore hierarchical relationships and backgrounds.
Choose an activity that brings you together
Goals should be easy to understand
Ignore hierarchy and background.
If you are going to do team building, it is recommended that you choose something that everyone on the team can work on equally, regardless of hierarchy or background.
Hierarchical relationships are not necessary for team building, because it is only in an equal and fair environment that one’s strengths can be demonstrated.
Specifically, the president and employees talk and walk together, and they create creative works of art with LEGO toys. By conducting these missions in a relaxed and natural atmosphere, without being tied down by rigidities, a person’s true thoughts and abilities are brought out.
By working on the mission in a context that removes the position of the members, you will notice new characteristics and thoughts of the members.
By making new discoveries, such as “I didn’t know you could see it this way,” or “You have an unexpected way of thinking,” you show respect for the other person and increase trust in them.
If you are a supervisor or leader, you can have frank exchanges with members who are lower in rank, giving you the presence of mind to listen to them.
Working without regard to hierarchy or background is one of the keys to successful team building.
Choose an activity that brings you together.
Successful team building requires a choice of activities that can unite the team!
By joining forces with their colleagues to do what they cannot do alone, the distance between members rapidly grows closer. Members communicate with each other and earnestly think about “how to complete the mission,” and in the process, they join forces. The sense of accomplishment that comes from finding a breakthrough through hard work will create a deeper bond between the members.
To begin with, team building is about achieving a goal by leveraging the strengths of each individual. If each member can achieve their goals by working together to make the most of their assigned roles and their own knowledge, then a strong team can be formed.
Goals should be easy to understand.
We recommend that the goals for team building be clear and easy to understand.
Activity games and camps provide a clearer goal to aim for than regular work. By working together in a friendly competition toward the same goal, while working toward the goal, motivation and willingness to work can be improved.
One of the benefits of team building is the sense of unity among members, but a more important benefit is the degree to which individual abilities have influenced the achievement of goals.
The pleasant sensation of knowing that one’s own efforts have contributed to the team’s victory will motivate and lead to better performance among the members of the team. The meaning of teambuilding lies in clearly articulating clear and understandable goals, and then taking the initiative to think and act on what you can do.
Differences between foreign and Japanese employees
Foreigners and Japanese have different values, cultures, and customs, and may experience differences in their business practices.
Here are some of the differences between foreigners and Japanese in terms of their respective communication styles and business perspectives. By understanding these differences and treating each other appropriately, you should be able to build a better team.
Business Perspectives
Communication Style
Differences in values, culture and customs
Business Perspective
Foreigners and Japanese have very different styles of business decision making.
Many non-Japanese employees are individuals with clear-cut decisions. Japanese employees, on the other hand, tend to respect the opinions of the whole and emphasize coordination so as not to disturb harmony. Western individualism and Japanese respect for harmony are reflected here.
In contrast to foreign employees, who are driven by their individual strengths, Japanese place more emphasis on the collective approach, in which the entire team works together in harmony.
Neither is necessarily bad, but it is very important to understand the differences between them.
communication style
One thing that confuses Japanese people when dealing with foreigners is their communication style. While foreign employees express their opinions frankly, Japanese employees tend to prefer indirect expressions in order to be considerate of others.
It is also referred to as high context and low context. High context is more Japanese-oriented and refers to what is called “reading the air.
In a low-context environment, people take the word conveyed as it is and do not care much about the atmosphere or the person’s condition. Conversely, from a foreigner’s point of view, Japan in a high context environment is a harmonious and peaceful state.
Differences in values, culture and customs
There are also significant differences in values, culture, and customs. For example, Japanese people place a high value on punctuality and keeping promises, but in some parts of the world, people are more flexible about this.
In addition, bowing and business manners, which are unique to Japanese culture, are difficult to understand and are said to be incomprehensible to people from other countries.
Without an understanding of these differences in team building, the team will be fragile and easily broken.
For more information on the differences between foreigners, Japanese, and manners, please refer to the article ” Just guessing” is not the answer!
Team building recommended by Motenas Japan
In team building, I would like to recommend team building using traditional culture to foreigners who come to Japan.
Using traditional culture for team building is highly recommended because it allows foreigners to experience Japanese culture and enhances team unity. Many foreign businessmen and some wealthy people are interested in not only experiencing but also gaining new knowledge through the experience.
Team building with traditional culture is truly a way to gain both experience and knowledge.
Specific examples of team building using traditional culture
Motenas Japan recommends team building using traditional Japanese culture. From here, we will explain specifically what kind of traditional culture is good for team building.
Flower arrangement and tea ceremony
Wadaiko
Sushi Experience
Karate
match that determines if a rikishi will have more wins than losses
Flower arrangement and tea ceremony
When you heard about flower arrangement and tea ceremony, did you feel that they have nothing to do with team building? However, it is now said that flower arrangement and tea ceremony are ideal for team building.
Plants are believed to have a relaxing effect on humans. The flower arrangement and tea ceremony are perfect for maximizing this effect.
Also, although often thought of as something to be enjoyed alone, flower arrangement and tea ceremony are traditional cultures that can be enjoyed by more than one person. Seeing flowers arranged by others on the same team may give you new sensitivities you did not know existed, and in the tea ceremony, you will be able to feel the spirit of hospitality.
The flower arrangement and tea ceremony are traditional Japanese cultures that are suited for team building.
For more information about flower arrangement, click here.
Learn more about the Tea Ceremony
Japanese drum
Japanese drumming is another traditional culture that is suited for team building. As you beat the taiko drum with all your strength to the rhythm, it is a great way to relieve stress and refresh your body and mind.
It can also be done by one person or multiple people, so if the whole team works on it and breathes together perfectly, it will be a memorable experience and will also help to enhance team cohesion.
Furthermore, if you prepare happi coats and hachimakis, which foreigners like to wear, you can enjoy them as if they were cosplayers, creating a memorable experience. Training and team building using taiko is one of the most popular corporate activity programs.
For more information on taiko, please also refer to this page.
Sushi Experience
Many foreigners want to try their hand at making sushi, the soul food of Japan, and it is a popular activity.
One of the attractions of the sushi experience is that you can work in a friendly atmosphere with your teammates, and since the sushi you make is ready to eat, you can also enjoy a meal with your friends. This is an activity that many companies that make plans for the event want to incorporate because it allows them to have lunch and experience the activity at the same time.
Japanese people may have at least tried hand-rolled sushi before, but for foreigners, it is their first time to try it. The sushi making experience will be one of the best memories for the whole team.
If you want to entertain with sushi, please see ” Sushi Experience for Foreigners! Where can I experience sushi and what should I be aware of? for more information.
karate
Team building through sports is significant in that it teaches teamwork structure and spirituality. Karate, a traditional culture, is a particularly popular activity, partly because it teaches a high level of spirituality. Since karate is one of the Olympic sports, it has many foreign fans, and many people want to experience it in Japan, the home of karate.
The first step is to practice carefully repeating and mastering the kata of karate. By incorporating the philosophy and aesthetics contained in karate kata into team building, we learn respect for ourselves and others. Breathing and performing kata together creates a sense of community.
The other is the experience of a match style called Kumite. In karate, there is a spirit of “respecting the opponent and respecting the spirit of rei”. Kumite is a pleasant experience that cannot be experienced only by watching karate.
Karate is a great team-building activity.
For more information about karate, please also refer to this article.
sumo wrestling
Sumo, the Japanese martial art, is the perfect project for companies looking for in-house training and team building. Sumo, the Japanese martial art known to everyone, is popular overseas and is regarded as uniquely Japanese.
You will also deepen your knowledge as you learn about the history of sumo, its teachings, ideas and manners. After accumulating knowledge, students will be introduced to sumo wrestlers and learn about sumo, such as how to step on the yomata and how to perform a bout.
The four-legged dance can be surprisingly difficult and foreigner should be able to enjoy it, as it can be wobbly if the core is not well trained.
Sumo wrestling requires a high level of concentration because victory or defeat is decided instantaneously. This training can be used to further enhance the abilities of each individual. After the training, the time spent with the whole team over chanko-nabe is an enjoyable experience that cannot be replaced by anything else.
Please refer to this article for more information on Sumo and team building.
summary
This article has explained the specifics of team building and the use of traditional culture in team building.
Since they have come all the way to Japan, it would be a waste to have an activity that is just a game. Incorporating team-building activities using traditional culture is highly recommended, as participants can create memories and improve cohesion.
Motenas Japan offers Japanese cultural experiences for team building purposes.
A specialized concierge will listen to the requests of customers and companies, and after a series of detailed discussions leading up to the day of the event, customers will be able to enjoy the event on the day of the event.
We welcome inquiries for team building, training, etc., to create a Japanese atmosphere, so please contact us for more information!
30s male writer. He has worked in a hotel for 16 years and is involved in the travel industry. Through his work at travel agencies and hotels, he developed an interest in travel and often goes on trips. His favorite cities are Sendai and Hakata. He conveys the knowledge he has gained through his travels and the charms of Japan with care.