A football team practices set plays over and over again in preparation for the upcoming game. An army works out like crazy in preparation for the battle. Avon Breast Cancer Walk volunteers prep months ahead of time in preparation for their once-a-year walk.
Whether a game, a battle, or a walk, they each provide the same level of motivation and focus for a team by having a tangible team rally point. A rally point is a singular event in which the entire team comes together for a set period of time and produces some outcome.
Some student groups already have a defined rally point, such as THON. But many others I’ve encountered over the years don’t, and it shows in the team morale. Without a tangible rally point, it’s hard for the leaders to express to the rest of the team ‘why’ what they are doing matters. Creating an emotional bond within the team is a lot harder in words than it is through a physical event in which all hands are on deck.
Follow these three rules and set up a rally point for your team:
- Repeating event (monthly, quarterly, yearly)
- Defined start and stop times to the event
- Involves as many team members as possible
