According to the Queens University of Charlotte, about 75% of employers consider collaboration and teamwork to be very important. Creating a culture of teamwork is one of the most important ways of getting a business to thrive, as it encourages the employees to work in sync. The question is, what are the best activities you should consider to strengthen your team? Which specific activities have been proven to work and keep teams moving in the right direction? If you’re asking yourself such questions, then keep reading to discover the best outdoor team activities to consider for your startup business.
Play the Minefield game
Minefield is a game that teams participate in to strengthen collaboration and trust among team members. The game is meant to develop active listening and other communication skills among employees. To play this game, you need 10 to 14 participants, and many soft objects or “mines”, such as soft toys and balloons, and blindfolds.
To play, look for an open space and place the “mines” across the ground. Divide the participants into groups of two, and have one of them wear the blindfold. The job of the other person should be to help their partner move from one side of the space to the other without stepping on the objects. The “guide” is the only one who should be allowed to speak; their blindfolded partner should remain quiet throughout the game. Basically, the team that reaches the finish line first without stepping on the objects wins the competition.
Play scavenger hunt at the park
Scavenger hunt is a classic game that is known to build collaboration, communication skills, and boost employee engagement. For this game, you’ll require a pen and a piece of paper, and two or more groups. Break the group into small groups comprising two or more people. Create a list of funny and goofy tasks for every team to perform as a group. The tasks can be something like taking a picture of an animal or a building, or even taking a selfie with an older stranger. Give the list to each team together with a fixed deadline by which all the tasks should be completed. The team that completes the highest number of tasks the fastest wins.
Hiking and camping
Camping is one of the best ways to help your team unwind while enjoying the outdoor scenes away from the busy city. Even if you don’t want to travel a long distance to camp, you’ll always find an amazing camping location near you regardless of where your business is located. For instance, a simple google search with the terms “best camping in Tennessee” or your particular locale will lead you to a list of amazing camping sites in your area.
Besides watching the stars and listening to nature’s amazing sounds, you can take advantage of your time outside the city by taking a hike as a team around your camping area. Carry ropes to conquer any steep mountains in the area or provide some motivation to get over a huge boulder in the trail. Encourage yourselves to take on longer trails and share snacks and water when it gets hot.
Hiking and camping creates a deep sense of community, which is critical for business success. You need everyone to show that they can support and encourage each other to accomplish a common goal. The sense of belonging and satisfaction this activity creates is enough to take your business to the next level.
Play the perfect square
This game is very effective at building strong leadership and communication skills, and it supports a wide range of participants; that is, between five and 20 people. To get started, put a blindfold on everyone and have them stand in a circle. Get a long piece of rope and get them to hold a piece of it. Ask them to set the rope on the ground and walk a few steps away from the circle. Next, ask them to return and try to form a square with the rope while staying within a certain set time limit.
Conclusion
As you can see, outdoor activities are great to improve some of the most positive and critical team qualities, such as communication, leadership, collaboration and problem solving skills. Try them today to improve your team and business!
