Usually we spend a third of our life in the office. Of course this place is meant to be nice, comfortable and friendly. How can we help it? And magic word “team-building” appears… 🙂 So what is that and how can it improve our life?
Teambuilding is a philosophical work rearrangement where the individual members of an office are encouraged to work in groups towards a common goal. However, since the normal everyday setting does not bear any results, to foster interdependency and install a spirit of achievement in the employees, the solution often lies in corporate team building activities such as outdoor fun team building activities, ergo, ice breaker activities and problem solving activities which can help in creating trust and friendship.
The perfect solution to daily common problems as well as more complex issues is a fun team building program. Corporate team building activities are crucial to the solution-oriented or the goal-oriented company that is currently facing a number of problems such as lack of involvement, disinterest, degrading quality of service, unresolved issues between co-workers and managers, misunderstood decisions and so on. These problems often arise from poor communication wherein some co-workers could hold a grudge for a long time, or the feeling that their contributions are not appreciated at all. Moreover, when the roles and responsibilities have not been clearly outlined, it often results in the bystander effect (all the workers know there is a solution to be found but they do not offer their help). These are some common problems with a low-performing team which can be solved in a different environment through teambuilding adventures.
The question “why team building activities?” is on many tongues but teambuilding cannot be strengthened from inside a negative-filled, walled environment. Outdoor interactive corporate fun activities unleash the hidden nature of people, in the face of an obstacle, it gives them the courage to lead. Unlike the workplace, they are not confined to their fears or by the corporate’s “rigidity”. The purpose of these activities is to build a stronger team where the members are high-spirited, there is a working dynamic among themselves which will push them to achieve the goal required. Team building activities will lead to:
– An increase in communication effectiveness between team members
– Clearer objectives
– Roles and responsibilities are assigned and understood
– Performance is significantly increased
– Interdependency is developed
There are a lot of different team-building activities offered – quiet cookery master classes, cold but exciting ice carving (so good for Canada, right? 🙂 ), delicious wine master classes and room escape adventures, where you can be eaten by a hungry zombie. You can also swap stress with a “Better than Coffee” break – magnificent yoga ( if you are planning a yoga class for your team – check this article out )!
There are much more extreme corporate events! My friend went for Tough Mudder program and he said that he is a different person now. The activities for corporate events are meant to bring team members together in one of the most challenging teambuilding outdoor activities. The games will require the utmost best from the participants; the 10-12 mile obstacle course will require co-workers to join hands if they want to reach the finish line. But feelings that they have after they are done – indescribable…
The muddy and swampy 10-12 mile course, punctuated with challenges and obstacles, was created by the British Special Forces. The military-style race basically challenges the participants’ physical and mental limits, constantly pushing them to test their boundaries and camaraderie through different group team building activities such as “Cliffhanger”, “Dong Dangler” or “Funky Monkey”. That being said, Tough Mudder offers corporate packages with the purpose of strengthening bonds and relationships in the corporate world hoping to foster positivity and a much more positive and high-performing environment. The ice breaker games will definitely break walls and create bridges.
You do not have to be so extreme. Simple games will work too! Flipchart Easel and pens will be enough for lots of fun and laugh. You can spend 15 min before your meeting to create relaxing friendly atmosphere and it is very useful too. Blind Drawing when one person has to describe what is in the picture, by shapes and indirect descriptions and the other person should draw the picture follow these directions. Or SailBoat exercise when team has to draw a SailBoat, rocks, clouds and couple of islands and start a brainstorming session with the team allowing them to dump their ideas within different areas ( how to reach their goals, what helps and what slows things down)
So whatever you decide to choose – the most important thing is to have fun! You do deserve and have rights for that!
If you had an interesting team-building event that you would like to share – we will be happy to hear about your experience. Shoot us a comment or send us your story.
