Which Team Building Activities Actually Work?

Which Team Building Activities Actually Work?

Team-building activities can be a great way to establish a bond between your employees. Lessons learned during these events are intended to be transported back to the office, helping people do their jobs even better.

However, all team-building activities are not created equally. Some prove to be nothing but a waste of time and money, which could’ve been better spent keeping your employees at their desks.

When deciding which activities will be most effective for your team, it’s important to keep your company culture in mind, choosing an endeavor that is directly applicable to the way your organization functions. Every company is different, so what works for your competitors may not be the best solution for your team. Take the time to carefully choose an activity and you’ll be pleased with the outcome.

3 Types of Team Building Activities That Work

Tired of wasting time and money on team-builders that have little-to-no impact? Julie Rains from American Express OPEN Forum interviewed company leaders to find out which of these activities they found to be a success. Three that made a lasting impression include:

1. Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone 

M5 Networks was able to realize gains in customer satisfaction and an increase in sales by holding a battle-of-the-bands event. Not only did employees have fun, they were pushed out of their comfort zone and forced to adapt to a new and quickly changing environment.

2. Learning to Work Together in Stressful Situations 

Employees at SuperMoney learned to create new strategic relationships and effectively grow their customer base by playing games all night. After spending a full workday at the office, they were bused to an offsite location, played games all night, rested for a few hours, then went back to work around 10 am. This helped them deepen their connections and learn to work together in a stressful environment.

Learn More: 5 Tips to Improve Employee Retention Rates

3. Establishing Trust with Direct Reports

Employees at Phone Interview Pro are encouraged to share their ideas, promoting new product innovation, during regular face-to-face meetings with their manager. This helps people relax and feel comfortable sharing their ideas, opening the lines of communication.

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Written by Sparks Group Team

Sparks Group Team

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