Few people realize that sharing pet peeves is a great way to start building trust within a team. These “peeves” reveal things about ourselves, and sharing them is a step toward understanding each other.

Here are some of the ones that make the top of our list.  Corporate team building events are aimed at helping people work more effectively together, and we all know it’s not always that easy…

Team Building Pet Peeves

1. The person who has to comment on EVERYTHING in your meeting,– not because it is relevant, but because they need to hear themselves talk and show everyone their expertise on every single thing. It just makes them look bad– though they don’t realize it.
2. The person who can only consider their own solution to an issue, and they will fight for it. They cannot seem to listen or grasp anyone else’s suggestions—and do not welcome other ideas. “My way or the highway.”
3. Team meetings that go nowhere and are just a waste of time. People not prepared and just meeting for meeting’s sake.
4. People who roll their eyeballs at ideas, but never have any of their own to offer.

General Business Pet Peeves

1. Tiny print on business cards. You can hardly make out the email address or phone number. I guess they don’t want us to call.
2. People who go to networking events, but don’t seem to want to talk to anyone except their friends.
3. People that ask for proposals and have to have them right away, but then when you follow-up with them, they do not respond–ever.
4. Not doing what you say you will do. Don’t promise to deliver something if you can’t.

Other Pet Peeves

1. People who are walking ahead of you and then stop suddenly to block walkways or aisles.  Hello!
2. The lady ahead of you in the checkout line who appears to have just a few items. But then just as it’s her turn, she is joined by her friend, who has an entire cart full of stuff.
3. Drivers who creep onto the freeway at 25 mph. Or drivers who speed up to pull in front of you, then slow down.

With all of this said, here is an interesting Ice Breaker for a small meeting: Have each person share their pet peeve(s). If you want to focus on the workplace, you can certainly ask for “your biggest pet peeve at work.” It’s very interesting;  you will find out some unique things about each other—and maybe get some good ideas for improving things.