4 Fresh Ideas for Corporate Team Building
If youâre like most of us, terms like âcorporate team builderâ or âice breakerâ will cause you to break out in a cold sweat. Though well-intentioned, most corporate events usually turn into a collage of awkward moments and forced bonding â an introvertâs worst nightmare.
1) Flash Mobbing
By now, youâve probably heard of (or even been subjected to) a flash mob. A flash mob is a large group of people who gather suddenly at a public location and perform a pre-planned action, like a choreographed dance. Known as âflash teamingâ in the corporate world, flash mobbing has become a popular team building phenomenon with several prominent companies, including McDonalds, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Google and others. According to the American team building firm TeamBonding, an employee flash mob will âignite the spark in your team through unparalleled communication, spirited energy and shared experience.â2) Circus Skills Workshop
Tightrope walking, juggling and flying trapeze are just a few of the new skills employees can learn during a team building circus workshop. Circus training team building events have seen a recent surge in popularity, especially in the UK. According to Team Tactics, a UK-based event management company, circus training promotes ânew ways of learning, improved communication abilities, stronger mutual support and respect for each other and improved confidence and self-esteem.â3) Group Cleansing
Trade in one those boring office happy hours for a glass of freshly squeezed carrot juice instead. Group cleanses, which usually consist of a multi-day all-liquid diet, are the latest team building craze. So much so that Oprah Winfreyâs entire production team gave it a go in 2011. Though âcleansingâ is a huge fad right now, and many participants claim increased energy levels, focus and clarity (which will probably come in hand at the office), thereâs no actual scientific evidence to back up these proposed health benefits. Most physicians advise against multi-day cleansing.4) Spy School
Ever dreamt of living the life of a secret agent? Well now you and your employees can make youâre your dreams reality â sort of. Spy school has become a popular corporate team building event because itâs an exercise in creativity and imagination. According to Massachusetts-based Quixote Consulting, spy school is a âwildly exciting step away from the day-to-day routine, and always filled with hilarious surprises.â While following a defined objective, participants will work in teams to crack codes, follow clues and retrieve sensitive information.A Few Tips to Consider When Planning Your Next Corporate Event:
When done right, a corporate team building even can be a valuable, enriching experience for everyone. Just make sure to follow the hard-and fast-rules below before booking your next event:- Avoid any activities that might infringe upon peopleâs privacy, personal space or dignity.
- Remember that certain activities (like sports and public speaking) might be fun for some employees, and absolutely miserable for others.
- If youâre staging a team building exercise to fix a communication or morale problem, youâre probably barking up the wrong tree. These sorts of issues are better handled by actions performed within the management team.
- The event should have common goals for all employees, pushing people to cooperate, rather than compete.