Tackle Team Building With That Yearbook Podcast and our Latest Training Video

As a yearbook adviser, one of your top priorities is building a cohesive, collaborative staff that works well together to create an amazing yearbook. But let’s be honest – getting a diverse group of students, from freshmen to seniors, to bond and function as a team can be challenging.

That’s why That Yearbook Podcast is starting its latest season strong by sharing the best team-building exercises that will energize your yearbook staff and set them up for success all year long. From creative competitions to hands-on challenges, these activities foster communication, problem-solving and camaraderie among your team. Be sure to listen to the latest episode and explore the “why” of team building. Then you’ll be ready to use the training video, “Team Builders for the Yearbook Classroom” to get started with hands-on activities. 

The Value of Team Building 

The key is to focus on team building and establishing a strong foundation of trust, communication and collaboration – before even thinking about layouts, deadlines or other production tasks.

“The instinct a lot of times is, we have to jump in and start creating pages right away. No, you don’t,” said Sabrina. “Take some time to do some team building. “Let the staff get to know you. Let the staff get to know each other.”

The goal of team building is to build trust and open communication within the staff – skills that will be crucial when the stress and deadlines of yearbook production kick in later in the year. As Jim pointed out, “90% of the problems that we had on my staff was because people were afraid to talk to each other.”

Creating a collaborative, communicative team culture from the start can also have a direct impact on the quality of the final yearbook product. 

“When books are having fun, or when staffs are having fun, like you see that in the quality of the book, and when they are angry at each other and fighting and not communicating that comes out in the quality of the book,” said Sabrina.

The Yearbook Olympics

One of the go-to team-building activities recommended by Jim Jordan is the “Yearbook Olympics.” This multi-part competition gets your entire staff involved and invested in working together towards a common goal

The benefits of the Yearbook Olympics are two-fold. First, it immediately gets your staff working together in new ways, breaking down barriers between editors, underclassmen, and everyone. This helps build trust, communication, and a sense of community from the very start. 

Secondly, the competitive element sparks creativity and engagement. Students will be excited to participate in the different challenges, and the points system gives them something to work towards as a team. Even if they don’t win the grand prize, they’ll have fun bonding over the process.

As Jim noted, the Yearbook Olympics also has a way of uncovering hidden talents on your staff. You may be surprised to discover a budding artist or designer you didn’t know about before. These discoveries can be valuable as you assign roles and responsibilities throughout the year.

Minute to Win It Challenges

Another set of team-building activities recommended by the experts is the classic “Minute to Win It” challenges. These quick, silly games get students working together in a fun, low-stakes environment.

Some examples include:

The Oreo Challenge: Have students try to transfer an Oreo cookie from their forehead to their mouth using only the muscles in their face. This always makes for great photos and lots of laughter.

Marshmallow Towers: Provide teams with spaghetti noodles and miniature marshmallows, then challenge them to build the tallest free-standing tower in just one minute. It takes teamwork, creativity and a steady hand!

These types of activities are perfect for the first few days of school when you’re still getting to know your staff. They allow students to bond over shared experiences and learn how to communicate and problem-solve as a team. Plus, the competitive element keeps things exciting and engaging.

As with the Yearbook Olympics, you’ll want to debrief with your staff after these challenges. Discuss what skills they had to use, how they worked together, and what they learned that could apply to their yearbook roles. This helps cement the connection between the fun and the function.

Water Balloon Volleyball

For a team-building activity that’s a bit more involved, Sabrina shares the idea of “water balloon volleyball.” This game not only gets students working together but also incorporates a bit of friendly competition between different sections of the yearbook staff. This encourages problem-solving, communication and teamwork.

The water balloon volleyball game is not only fun but also a great way for students to get to know each other better across sections. And like the other activities, you can debrief afterward to help them see how the skills they used apply to their yearbook roles.

No matter which team-building exercises you choose, the key is to create an environment where your staff can bond, communicate, and have fun together. As the new school year kicks off, yearbook advisers should resist the urge to dive straight into production mode. Instead, take the time to build a yearbook team that will work together seamlessly, communicate effectively and ultimately create a yearbook that the whole school will be proud of. By investing in these activities early on, you’ll set your yearbook team up for success all year long.