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Quick Team-Building Activities for Busy Managers: 50 Exercises That Get Results in Just 15 Minutesx$9.30
  (28 reviews)
Best Price: $9.30
Offers managers simple exercises for team building that don't require special facilities, big expense, or previous training experience.
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Customer Reviews
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Great Reference for Today's Managers
By A3PV1XZLT8GO82 on 2003-11-27
This book brings together several mutually-supportive elements: managers with heavy, fast-moving schedules; team members who want to feel a greater sense of belonging; and an era that demands higher levels of collaboration....teamwork. The book is organized into two parts. The first section is instructional; the second section consists of bullet-pointed presentations of fifty short easy-to-run exercises. The opening section has two chapters that are worth the price of the book all by themselves: How to Run a Successful Team-Building Activity and What Could Go Wrong with a Team-Building Activity. What a sense of security this section gives managers: these activities are simple to use...and your experience is practically fail-safe. Each of the activities is presented using the same format. The bullet-point sections are This is, The Purpose is, Use This When, Materials You'll Need, Here's How, For Example, Ask these Questions, Tips for Success, and Try these Variations. It doesn't get much more comfortable than this! Understanding today's work environment, Miller promises no role-lays, demonstrations, outdoor activities, handouts, or touchy-feely stuff. The activities are organized by areas of need: Communication, Connecting, Cooperation, Coping, Creativity, and Teamwork. A strong index complements the well-organized table of contents, making the volume highly user-friendly. Recommended for managers and supervisors, as well as training and development professionals. Consultants will also find this tool to be useful as they work to bring people together to achieve results. Everything is explained so that the exercises can be led by laymen or by professionals. A wide variety of tools is offered, enabling the reader/user to choose the experience that will be best for the participants and the circumstances.
Affordable book, easy to do activities
By AC9OFAVB14363 on 2004-07-02
For the money, this is one of the best activity books you will find. All of the activities are easy to set up and easy to complete -- but they do all serve a purpose. When the author says that these are 15 minute activities, he means it. I am an independent leadership consultant and I have started using this book over and over again when I present workshops. You'll love it!
Great resource
By A20BIIF1CHSKGP on 2004-10-13
Having a Master's Degree in Training and Development, I have read several books on this topic. This book was fun and informative as well as an enjoyable read. I've used several of the excecises and each have proven to be effective. The format is both easy to follow and well presented. It left no questioned unanswered.
Clear and concise with good ideas
By on 2004-05-24
Great resource...from the intro chapters that explain clearly and concisely how to run an activity as well as what could go wrong and how to avoid it (or deal with it), to the the 50 activities themselves. Everything is so clear and concise...the whole book is written in bullets. And none of the activities are so out there that you'd be afraid to try them. I've used several with my staff and we've all (even me!) had a great time and grown stronger together.
Makes it so easy
By AKOCHD3BJ9PLJ on 2003-11-27
This book is terrific and so, so easy to use! How many times are you asked to add some sort of quick teambuiling exercise to a meeting and you have to scour your brain to come up with new ones that won't get groans from the team? This is the perfect solution for on-the-spot energy boosting activities. The author really understands "busy managers!"
- This is just what I've been looking for!!!
By on 2003-10-25
In today's world of do more in less time it's important to find suggestions that are both helpful and insightful. Brian Miller has nailed it! I am committed to providing my associates with a monthly teambuilding session but have often come up short because I am unable to find interesting, relevent and, dare I say, FUN, exercises. This book will make quite a difference in my upcoming meetings. I highly recommend it for all levels of associates. Thanks, Mr. Miller!
- A bit trite
By A2SXO8M1GREYYA on 2006-04-02
I found most of the exercises trite and would be embarassed to use them in front of a group. A couple were useful, though.
- Unbelievable
By A27US3XRFK4SW5 on 2006-07-25
Unbelievable!! This book is exactly what I have been looking for! I have done successful team building activities in the past, but not to the extent, and with the outcomes I am achieving by using this book. Mr. Miller not only gives you a lot of activity ideas, which most books do, he also gives you easy, quick instructions on how to get the most out of each activity. He makes you visualize the activity taking place and what possible obstacles you might face in doing an activity. Everyone wants to tell you WHAT team building activity to do, but no one tells you HOW to do it. This is what this book provides! Mr. Miller has taught me how to prepare for, conduct, and debrief a very successful activity each time, every time. My employees love it and I love it! Thank you Mr. Miller!!!
Adam Cope
- Transforming
By AFOD1N2XYU8IU on 2006-07-31
I bought this book to help me change the dynamic of weekly staff meetings from complaint sessions into something constructive. My staff was resistant at first, but now they look forward to the exercises.
I find the exercises relevant, memorable for the team and flexible.
This book is great if you have a team that needs work. I would imagine, however, that some of these exercises might be eye-rolling to someone who has basic skills down cold.
- Ideas are good, but Not a raving fan
By AGAQ1BRHC63Y on 2006-01-10
It gives you great ideas for ice breakers, however most of the time I find myself tweaking the exercises as I find some of them lacking in creativity and excitement.
Over all this book is a good last minute reference should you find yourself in a bind for ideas.
- It's A Great Help for Office Meetings!
By A192PW0J4V336W on 2006-02-24
I am an Office Manager for a large busy Real Estate Office of 100 Agents and they are all independant Contractors basically and must rely primarily on self motivating activities to assure a sucessful business however it is my job to assist them in every way possible. Our Office meetings are extrememly important in that aspect, I have to try and top myself each week with some NEW Fresh motivational activities which I find in that little book!! It makes my life so much easier and the Agents Love the short but EFECTIVE activities. It's worth whatever I spent for it.
- xx
By A2PXLOPH2SCT8B on 2007-01-15
This was geared more toward larger offices where new staff are freqrently assimilated int the group. I have a staff of just three and we know each other very well. It did have some good ideas in it, though.
- MetLife's Review of Quick Teambuilding Activities for Busy Managers
By ARS36XCGPHF9Q on 2005-08-12
Used the Similarities and Differences exercise and A Day In The Life....exercise with good results. Also used the book as reference for ideas and build our own team building exercise that related to a business topic.
- Great Examples
By A3BVRN39RMQWDG on 2006-03-21
This book suggests that it contains several teambuilding exercises that can be used with very little preparation to get pointed results. I agree! It does. Additionally, when I shared the book with the Human Resources/ Organizational Development Manager, he borrowed my copy!!! He was impressed.
- Very useful book
By ACYEF1L1QIHE4 on 2006-11-10
Sometimes when people from the Caribbean buy books written by North American or UK authors, much of the content is not applicable. However I have found many of the exercises in the book to be extremely useful. Am currently running some management training here in the Caribbean where I'm from, and have used a number of the exercises.
They are simple, easy to follow and the great thing is that the author gives you variations you can try, depending on the group you have.
My book will have "dog ears" very soon from frequent use!
- Great for ice breakers and quick teambuilding
By A1K7I5UXGKLSI1 on 2007-05-14
We found it easy to make these exercises fit into our industry, fairly well. We were looking for quick ways to get people to work together, from different departments and to respect the value in each other as well as understanding the big picture. Working individually can't happen in some of the exercises. Great job! Thanks for this book.
- Inspiration and Magic
By A1VZ5GAQS4MEXA on 2008-06-14
a) This book delivers what it advertises: Quick team building activities. There's a surprising amount of variety and thought behind the book. It's organized and clear. The goals and methods are obvious.
b) As with everything in life, the success of the activities depends on you. And some luck. And you're going to have to take some chances.
c) The book is arranged by Need (ingenious, really). Say that your team is a bickering crew of backstabbing narcissists that fail to realize the inherent talents of their teammates. Flip to Chapter X and you'll have an activity that helps them understand the value of others. It's like a Jedi mind trick.
d) Stylistically, I can use about 1/3 of the activities in the book today. As teams and groups change, the other 2/3 of the book provides buffer. A few of the activities will never match my style - or yours - but that's Ok; that's the way things work. We don't all like Merlot.
e) Overall, (5) stars for delivering what the title promises (do what you say...), and an equal (5) stars for simple, valuable activities.
f) ps - One that I didn't see in the book is the Truths and a Lie game (maybe because it's everywhere on the net). Here it is: Give everyone (3) index cards. Have them write (2) True Statements and (1) False statement about themselves on the cards. Merge and Shuffle, Read each out loud and try to figure out who said what. It's a fun get-to-know-ya to kick off a project. Most of us don't really know our coworkers, so it works in all situations.
- Quick Teambuilding Activities for Busy Managers
By A2EQB7NVR0Z5FI on 2007-03-08
I enjoyed that each activity showed when to use the exercise depending on the situation of the organization as well as questions to ask if the activity is not flowing in order to get people engaged. Its not just for managers, it can be used for admin groups too. I was happy with it and would recommend it to others.
- Quick Teambuilding Activities
By AH8A2AN3284HC on 2007-03-11
Lots of quick, easy to adapt, team building activities to use at your next meeting. I have already used several with minor adaptations and much success! Gets the team energized and ready to move!
- Superb resource book
By A3PNLVU1ZX1XJG on 2007-05-02
I had this series of books before - loaned them out at work and never got them back (go figure!). Happy to have found them again here.
- Impressive
By A2GE6VBQB0YWFI on 2007-09-16
This book really gives good ideas for team building exercises. Not only does it gives you ideas, but also advises on how to manage the activity with an end in mind to get the most out the the exercise.
- No props necessary
By A2NML53YCHS80S on 2008-04-24
The best part about this book is that the author stays true to his word and presents ideas that require either no props or a handful of items you're guaranteed to have on hand - like paper, pens and paperclips. Although the ideas in this book aren't going to chance your life, they're genuinely designed to make your life as a manager easier and give you some good ideas. I liked it a lot better than many similar books I've read!
- Excellent career resource
By AP3BEZS3434C1 on 2007-05-07
We use this in my college library. The teachers and students love it.
- It was ok
By AVKYZDWNZ5TSG on 2007-12-24
The book wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but it did provide a number of ideas for some quick teambuilding activities. After reading them all, I fund a small handful that I might use in the future. If those work out well, maybe I will try a few more. There was nothing groundbreaking in the book - more than anything else, it got my creative juices flowing & inspired me to think up ideas of my own.
- Quick Team Building Activities
By AHHQF0NJM7TEP on 2008-04-07
Wonderful book. A lot of clever ideas. This book saves me in a pinch when I have time left over after my office meetings. I can just pull out the book and play a moral game with the staff. The book is an easy read and organized well with ideas.
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