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Tech Team Traditions?

Posted by Cliff on from the team-bonding-activities dept.

Antigua Nice asks: "I have recently been promoted to manager of a young IT department and would like to introduce a tradition and/or mascot for the upcoming season. Although we are busy 24/7/365 we are especially busy during the NFL season since we are a sports related company. The goal of this is to add some excitement to the new team, unite the members and keep department moral high. It might also be worth mentioning that I have recently added two more administrators to the team. If you currently have any department traditions or know of any, could you please take a moment to share them with me. They could be anything from going out for beer and wings after the first game to each member bleaching their hair. Any and all input is welcome."

3 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Hot CheerLeaders by BladeMelbourne · · Score: 5, Funny

    Have hot cheerleader mascots. Keep them under your desk (pref @ groin level). Naturally, cheer leaders must try out... and you are the manager.

    This will not only raise moral but raise nerdy appendages.

    You may have to resort to the blow up kind if your department is ultra-nerdy ;-)

  2. Perpetual hazing by MarkusQ · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...I have recently added two more administrators...
    One perinial favorite is "perpetual hazing" of administrators (or sales droids, if your team is fortunate enough to have access to some). Nothing brings a team together like having a common interest in tormenting someone who isn't part of the team.

    Be careful when setting bounds though. For example, back in the late 70's (before I knew better) one of my rules was

    No live poultry
    which seemed clear, simple, and to the point--until you realize that you're dealing with bright, highly competative people who deal with complext rule systems all day, and are trained to look for security holes. The revised version,
    No live or recently live poultry
    worked a little bit better, but (perhaps because they'd seen me flinch), the team realized that hazing your manager is even more fun than hazing sales droids. It took almost a month to get their focus back on the sales department where it belonged.

    -- MarkusQ

    P.S. Important note: never haze anyone who makes your travel arrangements.

  3. Re:Hawaiian Shirt day by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 5, Funny

    Try "no outsourcing Friday", employees love shit like that.