Strong bonds, healthy relationships, and cooperation are the key factors behind a good team. However, team building is impossible without providing opportunities to let your workforce interact, work together, coordinate, and break the ice.
But is it possible to do all this while sitting on the chair the whole day with a head full of a things-to-do list? Hope your answer is no! That’s why “team building activities” is not just a catchphrase given by modern corporate culture; they are important for bringing teammates closer to working as a team.
So, no wonder now companies are seeking new ideas for outdoor team-building activities to bring employees out of their typical environment and let them build strong connections with other team members.
If you feel your team looks low-spirited, is showing poor performance, and losing interest in work, take it as a sign to arrange outdoor team building activities.
Participating in team building activities outdoors not only blows a gist of relief in employees’ busy lives but also teaches them problem solving as a team.
After coming back from team building hustle, you will see a drastic change in the company’s environment, employees’ mood, and performances – everything will be better than before.
Let’s make your team building game strong with these outdoor team building activities that are fun, challenging, engaging, and the best for finding hidden talent of your workforce.
Outdoor Team Building Ideas
You can find many team building activities ideas online, and your management might also suggest a few, but not all activities would be the right option for your team. Select outdoor team-building activities based on these factors:
- All members of the team should be able to participate in them.
- The team-building activity can be performed in the selected venue.
- The team should be able to perform the activity within the allocated time.
- It shouldn’t hurt the safety and wellness of the team.
Now you know all the important factors in selecting outdoor team-building activities. So, without further ado, let’s dive in:
1. Obstacle Course
You might have seen this game on television, and now it is time to see your team performing this activity. Obstacle course activity is fun, furious, engaging, and involves physical activity. So, it can work as the best option for team building and making your employees active.
You can hire professionals to build the obstacle course or let your management team shed some sweat. However, make sure the obstacle course is not too difficult and dangerous because the purpose is not to do commando training but to let them enjoy and interact with their teammates while performing activities.
2. Step Challenge
This step doesn’t require selecting a particular venue or setting up something. You just need to break the team into different groups and give them a task to take as many steps in a day as they can. You can set up a step counting app on their cellphones.
This game is super fun, and team members will get a chance to leave their desks and engage with other employees. They can go for a walk, work, and do other activities together to increase their number of steps to win. Simple!
3. Team Hike
This one is my personal favorite because nothing can beat the fun hidden in hiking. It gives you a chance to get closer to nature, indulge in physical activity, strengthen relationships, and build a sense of togetherness within the team. To make it a bit more competitive and engaging, you can make different teams and reward the group that first reaches the top.
4. Scavenger Hunts
It is a very popular game, and most employees would have played it at some time in life. So, they would already know the catch. Each team is given a list of items that they have to bring within a time limit. These items can include anything, like a vegetable, visiting a place, etc.
Some can be a bit tricky, like bringing the 7th Wonder of the World. Obviously, you can’t do it, so some brain teasing will be required here that is the best way to inculcate problem solving in your team.
5. Sailing
Sailing is a great team-building activity because it requires a lot of team bonding, coordination, and collaboration. From getting the yacht and learning to sail it to racing, in the end, to stand victorious, your employees will have an amazing experience with a rush of adrenaline gush.
6. Sack Race
The sack race is one of the common and popular outdoor team building activities. But as it is meant for team building, instead of racing as a single individual, the whole team participates in the race using one big bag. Every group can stand in a huge builder bag and hop together to reach the finish line before other teams win.
7. Plank Walk Skis
Like sack race, plank walk skis game also requires great teamwork and coordination. Each team gets two planks laid parallel with rope loops attached to the plank to put foot. Team members will stand in line between two planks, put their feet in loops of each plank and try to reach the end point while carrying planks along with their feet.
8. Meetings on Feet
You might have heard about virtual meetings and face-to-face meetings. But what about having a meeting on foot? Yes, you heard it right! Let your team come out of the meeting rooms and email boxes and have their meeting on the go. Discussing ideas in fresh air while walking is also a great way to spark your brain for better ideas.
9. Sports Day
Playing one game is fun, but what if you let your employees enjoy a day playing different games and competing in as many games as possible?
Who doesn’t like the idea of taking so many trophies home (at least one can try!)? That’s why organizing a sports day has become a common norm in the corporate world and one of the MUST outdoor team building activities.
Different companies celebrate sports day yearly and let employees have a day full of different team building activities and other fun events. So, if you haven’t jumped onto this popular ritual, it is time to start thinking about it.
10. Plantation Drive
Team building while building a better future for us and our next generations? Always yes! Holding a plantation drive is an amazing outdoor activity that lets employees get out of their silos and instills a sense of responsible citizenship.
So, you can organize this drive on World Earth Day or International Plantation Day to kill three birds with one stone: team building, getting good stuff for your social media handles, and doing good for the society. All square!
Conclusion
If you don’t have a workforce of robots and have hired real humans, you would always need something in your bucket to keep their spirits high. Giving a car every month is not possible – and thankfully, it is not the only way to keep them happy.
Sometimes fun, outdoor team building activities away from screens can serve the purpose. It also gives an additive perk of finding hidden talent in your team, like some might turn out to have great leadership or critical thinking skills that you didn’t know before.
Just make sure you keep everyone in the loop and arrange an activity that interests everyone.