5 Team Building Activities that Actually Don’t Suck
For the record, tug of war is not on this list
“I never did a day’s work in my life. It was all fun” –Thomas A. Edison
Nice try Edison but the rest of us mortals couldn’t disagree more.
Work is work, regardless of how much you might love what you do. When it comes down to it, work is grueling, physically and mentally demanding, and it demands sacrifice.
Eventually, the stress starts to get to you and you just need a break.
You can tell when it’s time for this break by the atmosphere around the workplace. The spirit is low and morale is a little down. Sometimes, this atmosphere is a result of the company facing a tough month or two, and nerves are on edge.
Even the best teams benefit from team building activities. They help to reduce stress, improve communication, morale, productivity, and also helps workers to know each other better along with individual strengths and weaknesses.Team building activities can increase employee productivity by as much as 43% according to a Hay Group research. Every business manager who knows the game knows that great teamwork is a big deal in a company’s success.
With the right team building activities, you can even expect better teamwork and a reduction in the frequency and intensity of conflicts among team members. After all, it’s easier to work with people you like than fringe enemies.
Find the right activities — the kind that will engage and motivate your team members. Not just the usual company retreat at the end of the year. Otherwise, you risk your people automatically tuning out, which defeats the purpose of the activity itself.
Side note: some people would disagree, but going to the movies is not a team building exercise. Not unless you want to get sent out of the movie hall during the movie for disturbing other innocent moviegoers.
Ideal team building activities would promote maximum interaction between all members of the team. Here are some team building activities to keep your employees motivated, productive and engaged:
1. Team Trivia
Nothing challenges great minds like team trivia. Using each team member’s strength to answer tricky questions can build confidence in your group’s ability to work together. Nostalgia is your friend. Dig deep and far back into the archives to find topics everyone would relate to. Nail this activity and you’ll have everyone looking forward to the next one. It costs practically nothing, except time investment.
2. Team Happy Hour
We know what you’re thinking. A happy hour isn’t a typical team building activity. Well, for communication purposes it is. Getting your team together once in a while to grab drinks and snacks outside of work breaks down the interpersonal barriers that can hinder teamwork in the office. If your employees like each other and are invested in each other personally, they’ll likely work together much better.
3. Volunteering
Volunteering requires a bit more planning than any of the other activities on this list. But it is a surefire way of building camaraderie among your employees. Help your employees gain a sense of achievement as a group by picking a philanthropic project to dedicate time to. Whether it is volunteering at an orphanage, attending a local red cross event, or treating the less privileged to a warm meal and light entertainment, the euphoria of giving back to the community will linger for days, even weeks..
4. Paintball Warfare
Because really, there’s no better way to build a healthy rapport with your manager and colleagues than shooting them in the ass (literally) and getting points for doing so. We kid (not). A quick Google will reveal companies offering company packages and discounts for those brave enough to try something different. Sure to get the adrenaline up.
5. Karaoke
If all else fails, you can’t go wrong with music. Whether it’s getting on stage and wowing your colleagues with your sonorous voice, or laughing at your boss as he tries his best celebrity impression, everyone is sure to have a good time. Switch things up by placing people in teams or having themed karaoke nights like — reggae night, local music night etc.
To keep motivation and morale high, team building activities should be consistent and occur on a regular basis. Trust us, you’ll be reaping the huge rewards from your employees’ refreshed attitude and sense of teamwork.
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