Exciting Team-building Activities for the Workplace

Employee might find it exciting to head outside and learn a new sport.

Employers want to build strong team networks within the workplace, fostering cooperation, a sense of community and effective bonds between co-workers. Team-building activities can contribute toward that goal by providing unusual experiences and challenges for employees that encourage new ways of engaging. Simple team-building activities might include a company volleyball game, chili cook-off or professional development lectures. If you're looking for something more exciting, outside vendors are frequently willing to organize more sophisticated activities.

Treasure Hunt

Treasure hunts can be exciting because there's the element of the unknown, and teams of co-workers are frequently competing against one another. This also contributes to team building because individual members combine skills to solve clues. You can organize your own treasure hunt with clues, map and prize in your own office building or nearby park. Otherwise, more complex treasure hunts offered by vendors might include high-tech gadgets like GPS tracking or exotic treasure hunt locations, such as a zoo.

Crime Solving

Another exciting team-building activity, crime solving, that can contribute to workplace teamwork. Create your own crime scene scenario at the office with clues, including selected employees who might assume the role of "detective" or "police officer" to provide additional information. Teams work together to solve clues, but compete to arrive at the correct conclusion. More sophisticated crime solving activities might include the use of fingerprint and blood test kits.

Outdoor

If your business involves long periods of indoor activity, employees might welcome the opportunity to get outside. Sailboat races, surfing lessons, nature hikes or late-night stargazing during meteor showers can help people improve physical fitness and enjoy the exhilaration of the outdoors. Some employees may be experienced nature lovers and have knowledge they can share with the staff. Light competition keeps activities exciting; otherwise, employees will enjoy getting to know one another in an nontraditional outdoor setting.

Philanthropy

Some employees might find the idea of positively contributing to society through workplace team-building activities to be rewarding. Exciting philanthropy-related activities include making pinatas to donating to local hospitals or stuffing backpacks with first-aid goods to be sent to military personnel. To increase buy in, ask employees if there are particular causes or needy groups which they'd like to contribute as part of team-building activities.

Considerations

Keep your employees' viewpoints in mind when planning team-building activities. Some people may revel in high-level competition; others may find overt competition with co-workers to be disconcerting or unprofessional. Be sensitive; if someone has recently experienced violent crime in their family, then a gruesome crime-solving activity is inappropriate. Before contracting with outside vendors, for example, a surf lesson company, ask if they can accommodate employees with physical disabilities. Steer clear of team-building activities that involve humiliation, even if appears playful or well intentioned. These might seem funny or exciting on the surface, but they could lead to hurt feelings or lawsuits.

References

• TeamBuildingInc.com: Home
• Philly Hops: Philanthropic Team Building
• Positive Sharing; The Top Five Reasons why Team Building Events are a Waste of Time; October 2007