BUILDING THE SMALL TEAM ATMOSPHERE
Leadership and Administrative Skills
Brooklyne Wassel
County Extension Agent
University of Georgia
Meansville
Abstract
Team building is an essential part of an efficient and pleasant work atmosphere in Extension, but team building exercises are often created for medium or large groups. Small office teams, such as teams of three, often cannot follow many exercises recommended for team development due to the lack of personnel. However, small teams should not be deprived of unity and meaningful experiences simply due to their size. With new office space and two of three professionals new to Extension, team building was paramount for Pike County Extension to have a cohesive office. The County Extension Coordinator implemented activities to fit small team needs and set out to increase office cohesion. Utilizing board games, Lego builds, unsolved cases, bomb defusal and more the county Extension office is thriving by fostering an environment of teamwork. These team building exercises, scheduled monthly during office meetings, are now a highlight of staff meetings and have been adopted by other county offices with their small teams. This highlights not only the success in the Pike County office but also the need for more small team development opportunities throughout Extension.
Authors: Brooklyne Wassel
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Brooklyne Wassel County Extension Coordinator, University of Georgia, Georgia, 30256