There’s a reason why the saying ” teamwork makes the dream work” is so popular – it’s because it’s true! When team members are able to get along and work together well, it can make a big difference in how successful the team is as a whole.
Working together towards a common goal is always going to be more effective than everyone working independently, and that’s especially true when team members are able to support and encourage each other. When team members are able to rely on each other and trust that everyone is doing their part, it can help the team achieve things that they never would have been able to accomplish on their own.
Simply put, teams that get along tend to work better together. So if you’re looking to improve your team’s performance, fostering a good team dynamic is a great place to start.
7 Team building ideas for your organisation
- Get out into the great outdoors
One great way to encourage team building is to get out into the great outdoors. Spending time in nature has been shown to have a number of benefits for mental and physical health, including reducing stress levels and promoting feelings of well-being. Being in nature can help to foster a sense of connectedness and unity. Working together to overcome challenges, such as hiking up a steep hill or crossing a river, can help team members bond and build trust. By getting out into the great outdoors, businesses and organisations can create an environment that is conducive to team building and collaboration. Some examples could be:
- Going on a walk or hike
- Spending the day at the beach
- Bike riding
- Bird watching
- Having a picnic in the park
- Indoor game day
Sometimes the weather isn’t always our friend. So even if the weather isn’t on your side you can still get closer to your team indoors. Indoor games are great for team building because they require players to work together in order to succeed. Games like charades or Pictionary can help players learn to communicate better with one another, while cooperative games like puzzle solving or board games can encourage players to discuss strategy and work together towards a common goal. Some good games that your team can play are:
- Chess
- Charades
- Board games (Monopoly, Cluedo, Pictionary)
- Card games
- Cooking contest
A cooking contest can be a fun and delicious way to build team spirit and unity within a workplace. By working together to create a dish or menu, employees have the opportunity to bond with one another and learn new skills. You could set up different stations with various ingredients and have teams compete to see who can make the best dish.
The winning team can be given a prize, such as a gift certificate to a local restaurant to keep it on theme! And of course, everyone loves the opportunity to share their culinary creations with their colleagues. So if you’re looking for a fun and engaging team-building activity, consider hosting a cooking contest at your workplace.
- Office Olympics
An office Olympics can help with team bonding in a number of ways. For one, it can help coworkers get to know each other better and build relationships. It can foster a sense of competition and camaraderie among employees. An office Olympics can provide an opportunity for employees to let off some steam and have fun together. You can make the events as wild and as crazy as you want. You can get creative and use all of the everyday objects you use in your office. Some of the events could be:
- Office chair race
- Sharpie archery
- I.D. Badge toss
- Three-legged coffee cup race
- Stapler stacking
- Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way for employees to give back to the community while bonding with each other. And, because businesses are often seen as being more engaged with their communities when they participate in charitable activities, volunteering can also help to improve the company’s reputation. Of course, businesses need to be mindful of the types of charities they choose to support and make sure that their employees are comfortable with the activities they will be asked to do. But, overall, businesses and their employees can benefit in many ways by volunteering their time to help charities. Some ways you can volunteer your time could be:
- Helping make food at a homeless shelter
- Provide your area of expertise to a good cause (this could be accounting, law, file organising, or just about anything!)
- Spend time at a retirement home with those who don’t have anyone to visit them
- Scavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt can be a fun and challenging way to build team spirit and camaraderie. It requires teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, which are all important for a successful team. Plus, it’s just plain fun! Whether you’re looking for an indoor or outdoor activity, there are plenty of ways to customise a scavenger hunt to fit your group. So round up your team and see who can come out on top! Your scavenger could incorporate some ideas like:
- A photo scavenger hunt
- A murder mystery
- A quiz-based scavenger hunt
- You could even make it spooky and Halloween themed!
- Movie night
A movie night is a great option for those fast-paced workplaces that just need to wind down and relax. Set up a projector and screen in the office and have employees bring their favourite snacks and drinks to enjoy during the movie. I’m sure many people would appreciate an afternoon off to relax, watch a movie and catch up with their workmates.
Everyone can make a movie suggestion, and it can be decided by something as easy as a lucky dip, or you can make a whole game out of it and create a round-robin to see which movie comes out on top! Some popular movie choices usually are:
- Titanic
- Finding Nemo
- E.T.
- Jaws
- The Matrix
If you want to learn more about how Whole Brain® Thinking and the HBDI® can help you and your organisation, have a look at how it works here or get in touch and we’ll help you find the right solution.
