There will always be a lot of variation in preferred approaches to team building. Some prefer loud, outrageous tasks full of colour, brightness and noise, and others will choose a sit down, problem solving, more intimate style of event. There is no right or wrong way to promote team connectedness, but there are some consistent themes to consider no matter the style of event, or regular activity you’re planning.
Speaking to five individuals from a wide range of different industries, we wanted to get a broad understanding of what kind of team building activities really stood out to them and why. We asked them three simple questions about their personal experiences with team building and here are the results.
First response: Online Tutor/ Teacher – Education
What was the most memorable team building event you’ve attended/organised? The most memorable team building event in my 28 years of teaching was actually when we had to evacuate our normal offices and relocate to another building. Instead of each person being in their own space we were confined to a small room together. It almost immediately created a space for collaboration, we felt more involved with each other’s work and as a result, we became close friends and remained so after the event. Perhaps if it was for a prolonged period it may have created frustration, however for a short stint it really helped foster empathy among the team.
Why was this the most memorable for you? I made life-long friends.
What was the key takeout from the event? Sharing your challenges with your colleagues and helping them overcome theirs creates a strong bond.
Second response: PT/Director/Business Owner – Fitness Industry
What was the most memorable team building event you’ve attended/organized?
Our Friday team training session that we do together as a team. We pick a sport / training style outside of our regular training styles eg Crossfit, Boxing etc and do this in 4 week blocks.
Why was this the most memorable for you?
As a team we push ourselves and one another, just as we do our clients to help them achieve their fitness and lifestyle goals.
What was the key takeout from the event?
By collectively stepping out of our comfort zones, we learn together and that creates a sense of camaraderie which you don’t necessarily get doing our regular client routines.
Third Response: Marketing Coordinator – Financial Services
What was the most memorable team building event you’ve attended/organized? Throughout the pandemic I organised and hosted multiple trivia sessions for different teams in my company. The largest being a companywide digital trivia which was a lot of fun and brought over 150 people together for the first time, virtually.
Why was this the most memorable for you? It was a great way to see everyone interact, especially teams who are usually separate from each other. It was great when everyone had a bit of banter about who knew what.
What was the key takeout from the event? We could still all be brought together and enjoy an activity as a large group when being together wasn’t an option. Throughout the year, the social trivia in teams made us all feel connected, and it was a way to learn more about each other’s interests that I don’t think would have happened if we had all worked in a big office building and never had to resort to virtual activities.
Fourth Response: Project Manager – Landscape Civil Construction
What was the most memorable team building event you’ve attended/organized? When our team recently got together to visit one of our completed projects, just prior to its public opening. We did a tour, led by our project manager, followed by a dinner with the team.
Why was this the most memorable for you? It gave the project manager the chance to show off the amazing feats of the project and that sense of pride really inspired the team. Following this with a nice dinner was a way to acknowledge and celebrate the success, which created a sense of accomplishment for everyone, not just the project leader.
What was the key takeout from the event? To appreciate and celebrate hard work and share it with the broader team.
Fifth Response: Senior Designer – Food and Beverage (Wine, Coffee)
What was the most memorable team building event you’ve attended/organized? Boat Party in Sydney Harbour as an End of Year/Summer Celebration
Why was this the most memorable for you? The event allowed all the staff across several different parts of the business to connect and socialise together outside of our general day-to-day environment. We enjoyed drinks, food, incredible views/locations and swimming, it was an excellent celebration.
What was the key takeout from the event? By changing the environment we connected with each other in a far more personal way.
Despite the diverse array of responses, there were some key similarities and take outs.
The most common theme was having the opportunity to get to know their team members on a more personal level, with four out of the five responses highlighting this. By challenging each other to do something new, together, people often connect on a deeper level, creating more lasting bonds.
The second was a focus on how valuable is can be stepping away from work pressures and into a more relaxed setting. Whether an end of year celebration or a coffee break, a change of context can help us connect by removing visible pressures.
Last was the importance of celebrating achievement. Whether a project completion or annual milestone, acknowledging and celebrating successes creates a sense of accomplishment for everyone
These three themes closely align with what we are all about at Be Challenged – breaking down barriers, creating environments and programs for people to engage in different ways and ultimately uniting teams through collective success.
Thanks for reading.
Oliver Sheer
Managing Director, Be Challenged