7 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE PART IN YOUR COMPANY'S TEAM BUILDING EVENTS

Don’t feel like attending the coming team building event? Allow us to convince you otherwise!

Does this sound like what comes to mind when a team building activity is announced?

Great, another “team building exercise”. 

Another round of motivational speeches that are a magic bullet to help you nod off, trust falls I really don’t fancy doing, and “ice breakers” during which I get to learn things about the others that I either couldn’t care less about, or wish I never found out.

Should I really attend this?

• Why should I do team building activities?

• Is it really necessary to take part in them when I could take that day off and have a much better time with cold beer, hot chili and Netflix’s finest?

• Is taking part in team building activities really worth it?

We know.

As a group events company that’s been around for a while...

And having hosted team building for some of Chicago’s top organizations,

We've been told by many a group leader, HR person and business owner that some of their folks are just not that sold on team building activities. 

They ask to opt out, and if attendance is required, they don’t take part wholeheartedly.

Here’s the thing: there are tons of benefits you can get from actively participating in a team building and bonding activity, from getting to know your colleagues better, to feeling more valued by the others. We understand the significance of team-building exercises for small businesses...

Why you should actively participate in team building and bonding activities

You can expect tangible benefits by taking part. Image by Hillyne Jonkerman from Pixabay.

With things becoming more chaotic by the way, deadlines turning tighter and pressure to perform going higher and higher, engagement between team members is taking a hit.

The fact that jobs and positions are becoming contract and gig based and work is becoming remote is also reducing the space and incentives for team members to get to know each other. This underscores the significance of team building for businesses.

While you may not feel this directly, it will have an impact on your output.

Good team building and bonding activities give teams a chance to engage with, empathize with and ultimately work with one another better…making it easier for you to both be more productive and less stressed.

Let’s take a look at 7 specific benefits you can expect by taking part in team building activities, including activities tailored for the holiday season.

It helps you know your colleagues better

Colleagues need to have a relationship, even if it's not as best mates. Image by Antenna on Unsplash.

I'm sure you'll agree that while colleagues may or may not be best mates with one another, they still need a human connection to be able to work together.

Sure, you spend a lot of time with your colleagues every day, but that's in the work setting. Plus, some folks may not have to turn up regularly which means you end up becoming even less familiar with them.

A team building activity where everyone takes part is a golden opportunity to get to know your colleagues better, whether it's from discovering shared interests or just from small talk. And that can make a big difference in the work environment.

An escape room team event is a great opportunity for a SWOT analysis of team dynamics apart from helping coworkers get acquainted better.

It elevates the team to something higher than a series of projects

I’m stating the obvious here, but the workplace is all about work, isn’t it?

One task, then another one and then a new one.

Sure there may be the occasional break in-between but a series of projects is essentially what any workplace is.

Lurching from one project to another doesn’t allow a group much space to grow into a closely knit team.

A team building event that’s meaningful, and in which everyone can participate gives a workplace group the opportunity to be part of something bigger and grow into a well-functioning unit.

Ever played escape rooms? They make for great team building activities. Here are some facts about escape room team building. 

It can make you feel more valued

Ever feel like nothing you do is good enough, that your efforts - however earnest and intense - aren’t appreciated?

Here’s the thing - most of the time, this is down to a lack of communication rather than a deliberate act. 

Now consider this: when you see yourself mentioned on the company's social media accounts, how does it make you feel?

It makes you feel good, right?

Or, to be more specific, it makes you feel valued, like your efforts meant something to your colleagues and others.

Now this is not something that's gonna happen every day. And it may make others envy you, or feel that their efforts went unnoticed.

A well-designed team building event, on the other hand, will give everyone an opportunity to be innovative, share ideas and be appreciated by the others for their efforts.

And being valued thus is a powerful motivator for team members to take on new challenges. And a great thing is that even first-timers can actively take part, provided they know the basics of escape games.

It can improve your relationships with the others

Teams won't function well and productivity will suffer if people don't get along with each other.

This not getting along with each other can be due to many different reasons - a disconnect between people, lack of communication, disagreements over ideas turning into a falling-out and so on.

A team building event that is organized properly will get everyone collaborating on a common goal, in a fun and exciting setting. 

This helps team members connect with one another, rebuilds lines of communication and helps people build bridges. You will feel better about working with your colleagues, and overall morale will improve.

It can bring out your killer instinct

via GIPHY

A team outing, especially something challenging like an escape room, can also remind you of certain strategies. For instance, there are interesting parallels between Gibbs' rules from NCIS and strategies employed by escape room enthusiasts.

If it involves an activity like an escape room (real-world adventures that make you feel like you’re in a movie), it can bring out your killer instinct.

From heightened situational awareness to spotting opportunities and threats and trying to devise out-of-the-box solutions, team building events will help you ramp up your killer instinct and bring in better results for your team.

This is in fact a top reason why your company wants to hold team building events.

It can build a better working environment company culture

Even if you can't define in a sentence what "company culture" specifically refers to, you've probably felt its effects during your working hours.

And know full well how crucial an aspect it is in motivating workers.

Multiple surveys reveal that job seekers and employees put a premium on company culture. It's also important to note the importance of managers and supervisors participating in team-building activities, which can enhance communication and morale.

Periodic team bonding events can provide a space for various people to empathize with and respect one another, improving group dynamics and company culture.

It can boost engagement and morale

There's always a time when you feel like you'd rather not clock in, or prefer spacing out rather than engaging with whatever's going on,...and not all that eager about approaching others with your ideas or your problems.

This is simply a lack of morale and energy. You've been swamped with so much you've burned out.

The occasional meeting up with teammates in a friendly setting, especially away from the workplace, is a powerful stimulant that'll boost morale. There are significant advantages of conducting team building events away from the workplace.

Some features of a good team building event

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

Truth be told, not all team outings are effective at team building. There are several team building myths that need to be debunked. They may be fun and enjoyable but not effective at building team spirit, boosting morale and so on (all the benefits we just talked about).

A good team building activity should be:

• Meaningful and offer a sense of accomplishment to participants, and also boost productivity.

• Low-barrier as in have few limits (little physical exertion, no age barrier) to participation.

• Participative as in everyone should have a role to play. That’s critical to making every single person feel valued.

You can find out more features of a good team building event from our blog post on why escape rooms are good for team building.

Team building at Fox in a Box Escape Room

Having worked in Silicon Valley myself, I know the importance of good teamwork in producing results for your group and your organization.

Which is why when I designed our team building activity, I worked to be able to offer a team building experience in Chicago that would not only charm everyone that takes part, but also deliver meaningful results.

We have 4 highly immersive and exciting escape rooms where you can take part in real-world adventures with your team. If you're looking for more options, here are 11 team-building activities in Chicago to explore.

We also have a larger popup escape room called The Final Exam which can accommodate up to 35 players.

Someone from your office can observe your team in action and offer constructive feedback.

For businesses looking for an in depth and partial day retreat for their teams, we work with an organizational psychologist to make it happen.

Please refer to our team building page for more information.

Featured image by Tumisu from Pixabay.