Mention “team building” and one involuntarily conjures up images of uncomfortable sharing sessions and awkward trust falls. Thankfully, corporate team building events have evolved quite a bit since then. Traditional activities like trust falls or rope courses are still around, but many organizations now opt for more tailored experiences that focus on fostering genuine connections and trust among team members. So, if the morale of your team needs a boost, here is how you can plan a team building event that works.
Why is Team Building Important?
No man is an island. While every employee has an important role to play, the success of an organization relies on the collective effort and synergy of its team members. Team building works to improve this. Team building activities can break down formal workplace barriers and help colleagues learn more about each other, fostering a sense of empathy and trust. These activities also help to encourage creative thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration among team members. As a result, your employees will be more engaged and enjoy higher morale, job satisfaction, and productivity.
Choosing the Right Activities
Selecting the right activities is vital for a successful team building event. You should ensure that activities are appealing to modern employees as well as inclusive and accessible to everyone. Here are some suggestions:
Escape Rooms: Escape rooms are tons of fun! In an escape room event, team members are trapped in a themed room and must find clues, solve puzzles, and decipher codes to find their way out within a set time limit. Such rooms are an increasingly popular choice for team building because they require participants to work together under pressure and foster critical skills such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. You can easily transport your teams with a charter coach bus to an escape room facility or even set up a mobile escape room on-site in your office.
Outdoor Adventures: For teams that spend a lot of time in the office, getting out into nature can be a welcome change of scenery. Activities like hiking or an eco-friendly scavenger hunt can promote physical health and team cooperation. Additionally, these adventures can provide opportunities for team members to rely on each other while overcoming challenges. An immersive outdoor activity does not have to be intense or involve overnight camping. It can be as simple as organizing a picnic in a nearby park or arranging a day of kayaking or paddleboarding at a local lake.
Skill-Based Workshops: Some teams prefer to be indoors. They might enjoy skill-based workshops, where they can learn something new and apply it to their work. These activities provide opportunities for team members to bond, learn from each other, and collaborate in a non-work setting. Cooking classes are a great option because participants can share a fun and interactive experience and enjoy the fruits of their labor as part of the event. Tech-based workshops such as 3D printing or coding can also be engaging for teams looking to enhance their technical know-how.
Social Impact Projects: If you want to do a little CSR, why not consider incorporating social impact projects into your team building activities? Nothing cements team bonding like working together to make a positive difference in the community. There are numerous ways to get your teams involved in social impact projects. For instance, they can volunteer at a local soup kitchen, join a beach cleanup, or organize a charity fundraising event. A great way to get your team members even more involved is to allow them to nominate a cause that they are passionate about.
Accommodating a Hybrid Workforce
The prevalence of hybrid work models can make team building a little more tricky than before. However, it is still possible to set up an activity that accommodates everyone with proper planning. One hybrid team building idea is synchronized cooking classes, where remote participants receive ingredient kits at home while on-site team members cook in the office kitchen. Another example could be a virtual reality (VR) paintball session that allows team members to group up and compete in a digital space regardless of their physical location. Be creative!
Be Conscious of Team Dynamics
Understanding team dynamics prior to arranging a team building event will help you to ensure a positive experience rather than exacerbating existing issues. Team members should be able to express themselves without fear of judgment. For instance, if a team struggles with hierarchy issues, activities that emphasize equal participation and leadership from every member can help flatten barriers. Additionally, if there is tension between certain team members, it may be helpful to design activities that encourage open communication and conflict resolution.
Team Building Should be Continuous
Team building should not be a token one-off event. It is essential to measure the effectiveness of your events and continuously evaluate the team’s dynamics and areas for improvement. This can be done through feedback sessions, surveys, and ongoing communication check-ins. In addition, continuous team building can be integrated into regular work routines through casual but meaningful activities such as coffee sessions and team lunches. By investing in the cohesion and contentment of your team—as individuals and as a whole—you can build a positive and productive workplace that contributes to the success of your business.