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Did you know teams with connected workers experience a 20% to 25% productivity increase?
So, whether the team is part of an IT, programming, or some other department, you can bring people closer together, ramp up efficiency, and increase productivity. All you need are some team-building activities that help team members start to think and act like a cohesive unit.
But what types of activities can bring workers of different temperaments, backgrounds, and interests together so they function like a well-oiled machine?
Keep reading to see five team-building activities to help your department come together.
- Hiking
According to one source, only 25% of U.S. adults meet physical activity benchmarks for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. Finding an outdoor undertaking that prioritizes spending time outdoors is a win-win since staff will interact while getting some needed physical exercise.
If you live near a park or some other area with hiking options, great. Otherwise, you can carpool to an area offering a good selection of hiking trails. Gather the team and head out for a few hours of exploration, discussion, and relationship-building.
One thing to keep in mind is accessibility. Ensure that people with mobility issues can participate. Team-building activities should include everyone on the team.
- Paintball
Another activity that can get your team members working together is a round or two of paintball. It’s a fun game where participants engage in military combat simulations. They use air guns that discharge paint-filled capsules. Pit the IT department against the sales and marketing department in an epic paintball battle where teamwork, communication, and good decision-making are vital.
Having two teams facing off against one another is one way to bring the members of those teams closer to one another in the spirit of competition and good sportsmanship.
- Gaga Ball
Another option for some outdoor team-building fun is a Gaga Ball Pit. What’s that, you ask? A Gaga Ball Pit helps promote active play and social interaction — just what you need when focused on team-building. If you’ve played dodgeball, you’ll get the hang of it quickly.
Gaga ball is the evolution of dodgeball. While throwing the ball at any part of the opponent’s body is fair game in dodgeball, that’s not the case with Gaga ball. Participants throw the ball specifically at one another’s legs within the parameters of the octagonal-shaped Gaga Ball Pit. The goal is to have one person standing after a spirited competition.
“Gaga ball isn’t just for kids,” says Matt Allison of Actively Play, which sells commercial playground equipment across the U.S. “It can be great for adults as well — especially for a team-building exercise because it’s a lighthearted game that does very well with a wide range of abilities. It moves fast, so you’re not out for long. It’s also easy to adjust to work well for your team. You can introduce time limits, teams, and other variations to keep it engaging.”
- Camping
Nothing says team-building like a camping trip in a rural area. You can take the team to a national park or elsewhere. Ensure there’s enough space and facilities for a good time.
Participants can help set up the tents, cook the food, play fun games, enjoy different activities, and learn more about one another outside the workplace.
- Cleanup Challenge
Yet another team-building activity for your workers is a cleanup challenge. The team members can pair up and work towards cleaning up and beautifying the company grounds or a nearby neighborhood or park. Clearing up garbage, picking up bottles, or shoveling snow from homes in the community can help foster a sense of teamwork and community responsibility.
One way to increase worker satisfaction is to ensure they feel appreciated and are part of a team. Team-building activities, whether the ones above or others, can help you achieve this objective and create a workplace where people work together to achieve your company’s goals.
