Top Fun Team Bonding Activities for Corporate Groups
Do the team members of your Draper or Lindon, Utah organization seem disinterested in work, always appear distracted, and provide little output? If so, they're not the only ones; actively disengaged workers comprised 16% of the American workforce in 2023, according to Gallup. Unfortunately, they cause an estimated $1.9 trillion in lost productivity.
The good news is that there are several ways to motivate disengaged workers, including inviting them to join fun team bonding activities. The primary goal of these events is to help employees connect with and trust each other, inspiring them to work harmoniously.
So, without further ado, here are the top corporate team activities to help unite your team and encourage every member to be happier and more active at work.
Food-Themed Contests
As National Geographic puts it, "To break bread together captures the power of a meal to forge relationships and provoke laughter."
So, why not use food as a theme for your future team-building exercises? While you'll design them to be friendly, healthy competitions, every member can still benefit since they'll get free food after (yay!). Such activities also encourage employees to bond and communicate better with each other.
For example, you can plan a monthly or twice-monthly contest where team members bring their best recipes. From the best chocolate chip cookies to focaccia and dips like spinach and cream cheese or guacamole, there are so many recipes that you surely won't run out of ideas.
You can even use the planning process as a form of team-building activity. For instance, you can run a poll to get ideas for the next contest and then have everyone vote. Alternatively, if you have a small team, you can designate one member to decide on the recipe.
Scavenger Hunts
A U.S. News and World Report article revealed why employees become disengaged. One is the lack of connection between them and their co-workers, bosses, or the organization they work for.
Sometimes, feelings of disconnection may result from ineffective communication or a lack of it. Another possible cause is thinking nothing else besides work ties team members together.
Scavenger hunts can be an effective way to start chipping away at that wall. After all, they're fun, exciting, and interactive group sessions that require participants to:
- Communicate effectively and collaborate to find clues
- Share information and insights to solve the puzzles
- Coordinate with each other by delegating tasks
- Work together to achieve a common goal
Since scavenger hunts require a lot of talking to each other, they're an excellent way to break communication barriers. As communication-intensive activities, they can help improve employees' abilities to listen actively and express ideas.
You can also set up scavenger hunts as a fun and exciting way to help new hires navigate the workplace and learn where is where. They're also an excellent way for new hires to get to know their longer-tenured, more experienced co-workers. On the other hand, existing employees may feel more appreciated because someone looks up to them for help and guidance.
Escape Rooms
If you're looking for teamwork enhancement games even more thrilling than scavenger hunts, look no further than escape rooms. Like scavenger hunts, they can also help improve:
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Problem-solving skills
However, escape rooms are more immersive because they add theatrics to gameplay, critical thinking, and physical adventure. Thus, they can help participants have more memorable experiences with their co-workers. The positive experiences these team-bonding events bring can then kickstart better teamwork.
At Alcatraz Escape Games, your team can choose from various escape room themes, such as:
- A ghost-themed adventure at the Chloe room
- Treasure hunting adventure at the Raider's Revenge room
- Apocalypse adventure at the Zombie Panic/Fallout room
- Magic-themed adventure at the Wizard Hysteria/Enchanter's Curse room
If you and your team members are up for high-tech gaming, we've also got you covered. Whether you're into haunted houses, dragons, pirates, or ninjas, you'll find our VR escape rooms up to your standards.
Team Picnics and Games
Draper and Lindon, UT, are home to beautiful parks with designated areas for picnics and activities. In Draper, there's Draper City Park and Hidden Valley Park, while in Lindon, there's Lindon City Park and Fryer Park, to name a few.
Consider planning a picnic in any of these parks because it allows you and your team to be in nature. According to the American Heart Association, spending time in nature can bring the following health benefits:
- Ease stress and anxiety
- Improve mood
- Enhance feelings of happiness and well-being
- Improve problem-solving skills
- Feel a sense of belonging
Everyone can enjoy those benefits while also participating in fun team bonding activities. For example, you can have each member bring their best recipe to share for the potluck. After the meal, you can then hold contests like:
- Board games
- Trivia
- Scavenger hunt
- Tug-of-war
Since a team picnic is an activity-filled day, you'd have to schedule it when everyone is off, such as on a weekday. However, considering all its benefits, it can be a fun and tummy-filling way to spend a day off.
Do Something Charitable
Last but not least, consider setting up a charitable event with the entire team. For example, you can volunteer at a soup kitchen, a clean-up, or a tree-planting event at a local park.
Participating together in something that benefits others brings a different kind of happiness and satisfaction. You and your team members can bond over these positive emotions and acts, strengthening your relationship and communication.
Try These Fun Team Bonding Activities
From holding food-themed contests to planning team picnics and having a blast in escape rooms, these are just some ideas for fun team bonding activities everyone will likely enjoy. So, start drafting your plan and scheduling these events as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the sooner you can help your team members feel more engaged and productive.
If you're ready to schedule your escape room experience, our expert team at Alcatraz Escape Games will gladly help you plan it. We're the best choice for your adventure, with over a hundred 5-star Trip Advisor reviews and 1,000+ 4- and 5-star Google reviews.
Connect with us today to book your experience or ask about our escape rooms!