Team building is the number one go-to when it comes to improving work relationships amongst staff and fostering a sense of unity. As you read this blog, you'll find this is for good reason.
You're probably asking yourself, "What goes into planning a team-building day? Do I have the resources? Can I pull it off?"
Sure, you can! And we're here to help! Continue reading to learn more about the purpose of team building, popular activities to choose from, and the perfect schedule that is guaranteed to bring on the fun!
What is team building?
Team building is the process of using various strategies and activities to enhance social relations and define roles within a team and can be instrumented by the management of a company and/or with the help of an HR provider.
During team building, employees:
work together through challenges.
build leadership skills.
learn to communicate effectively.
The purpose of team building
You probably have several reasons in mind as to why you're planning your team-building day, with improved communication amongst staff most likely at the top of the list for hopeful outcomes.
Typically, there is more than one end goal that management wishes to see after an exciting day of team building. These end goals can include:
A sense of trust developed throughout staff: through mental and physical team-building activities/challenges where each teammate must depend on another.
Creation of uplifting company culture: through the encouragement of one another to finish and succeed in each activity.
New creativity and innovation: many team-building activities require teammates to think outside the box to solve a mystery or puzzle.
Increased productivity: teams will learn to function together like a "well-oiled machine" by developing systems to quickly and accurately finish the activity.
Whatever your purpose(s) may be, we encourage you to be mindful when choosing team-building activities as each activity accomplishes different things.
Choose the setting
While brainstorming on where you'd like to host your team-building day, first consider what space you have available in and around the office. Is there a large meeting area with the possibility of open space? Awesome! You can use this space for group activities.
Think of your outside areas as well. Is there an open field on the grounds? Cool! If you're wanting to break free from the desks, yet stay local, this would be the perfect option for a team-building field day!
In case you're in a situation where you don't have space, consider renting an event room nearby or reserve time with sought-after facilities like an escape room or an axe-throwing hall.
Popular team building activities in 2024
Small groups allow for more close-knit bonding. Teams may remain the same throughout the day or you have the option to shuffle teams for even more of a bonding experience.
Small group activities
Human knot (focuses on communication and strategy)- a group of five to 10 teammates form a circle, reach their left hand across the circle, and grab a teammate's hand on the other side. Repeat with each teammate's right hand and then without breaking any connections, try to untangle the "knot" to form a circle.
Scavenger hunt (focuses on collaboration and teamwork)- this one may take some time on your end but the fun you and your employees have will be worth it. Create a list of items for each group to find and try your best to come up with riddles and rhymes that will require each team to think together.
Large group activities tend to require a longer amount of time for any true bonding to take place. For this, we suggest activities on a larger scale.
Large group activities
Murder mystery (focuses on collaboration and communication)- teammates use clues and critical thinking to solve the mystery.
Day retreat (focuses on bringing the entire staff closer together)- opt for a nature retreat just outside of town that offers physical challenges and perhaps some group meditation.
Jeopardy (focuses on teamwork and agreeance)- a classic game that promotes quick thinking and working on the same page.
Ideal schedule
Here we've provided the ideal schedule however feel free to move things around as needed. Just remember to allow plenty of time for breaks in between activities.
8:30 am: Check-in/receive name badges; provide light refreshments.
9:00 am: Management will provide a review of the day ahead and what they hope to achieve through the team-building activities.
9:15 am: Warm up the entire crowd with an opening icebreaker. Perhaps a quick game of "Raise your hand if..." where several questions are asked, for example, "Raise your hand if you like the movie 'The Color Purple.'" If the question applies, a person raises their hand and others can learn something about them.
9:30 am: Small group activity #1 (assign groups of 5-10 people).
11:00 am: Short break.
11:15 am: Keynote speaker. Perhaps invite a local HR provider to present on the benefits of teamwork within the workplace.
Noon: Lunch break. We suggest catering from a well-liked nearby restaurant that provides a few selections to meet everyone's preferences and dietary needs.
1:00 pm: Small group activity #2 (shuffle teammates to form new groups of 5-10 people).
2:30 pm: Short break.
2:45 pm: Large group activity. Be sure to choose an activity that includes all staff members.
4:00 pm: Closing remarks from management on all of the wonderful things witnessed throughout the day. Allow employees to speak freely about their experience. Pass out surveys to collect feedback from staff on how to improve areas for the next team-building day.
4:30 pm: Everyone is free to go! Job well done!
Wrap-up
After everything is said and done, we can certainly agree that planning a team-building day is going to take a lot of time, thought, and dedication on your part, so we encourage you to keep the bigger picture at the forefront of your mind.
Increased productivity, communication, improved work culture, and teamwork are just a few of the things you can look forward to as a reward for all of your hard work!
Give us a call for assistance with planning your team-building day!
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