The Art of Being Unmessablewith: Creating Team With Your Family

Today we'll talk about CREATING TEAM WITH YOUR FAMILY (same technique can be used with any group of people).

We all know the experience of the home-team scatter, where each member of the family goes in separate directions, passing each other on the way to something else. Yet, we long for a sense of teamwork and unity.

​How can you create teamwork when it looks like a game of solitaire is in play? If everyone is out to fulfill on their own agendas, it’s unlikely that you can build a coalition in your family. So, how do you do it?
CREATE A NEW GAME! In order to create teamwork, you have to get in the same game.

Here are two, three-step teamwork plans, that you can put into action immediately. The first three-step plan:

1. Have a family meeting (yes, I know it sounds horrible, but lure them with ice cream, if need be).
2. Ask each member of the family to create ONE thing (quality) that they want to have in the house – things like open communication, freedom, play, fun, etc.
3. Have each day be about one of those things and everyone agrees to play that game on that day.

For example, if Tuesdays are fun day, have fun activities available that day at every turn. Play crazy music while cooking dinner, do make-your-own-sundae night (yes, we like ice cream in our family), play charades after dinner with prizes for the winning team (the dollar store has silly prizes that won’t break the bank).

And here’s the second three-step plan:

1. Ask your family members what they think would make them feel the family/group is more of a team. Let each person talk and write down everyone’s suggestions.
2. Next, come up with a family poster that includes everyone’s suggestions. Let each person add artwork to the poster.
3. Whenever chaos starts to ensue, direct your teammates to that poster and ask them to employ suggestion immediately. For example, it might say, “Speak nicely to your family” or “Take turns with the computer” or “Say thank you.” Whatever the items, make sure they’re specific and easily employable at a moment’s notice.

​Ultimately, your kids do want to play with you and if you can create your household as a game worth playing, you will be able to create teamwork at the least likely moments!

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