Booking a day away from the office for some team building can be a fantastic way of boosting morale, as well as helping colleagues communicate and bond.
External team building exercises give people the chance to escape the confines of the office for a more sociable day out and some team bonding. Away days give people an opportunity to get to know one another better and hit the refresh button. While some managers see them as a waste of time and money, the best leaders know that a day away from the desk improves productivity and strengthens cohesion.
External team building exercises need to be both fun and reliant on collaboration and communication. One of the most popular away days is the infamous escape room. These have really taken off in recent years, they involve people working together to figure out the clues which will allow them to escape a locked room. Because there's a countdown, people are forced to work under pressure, communicate with each other and listen.
You could also think about treasure hunts, indoor and outdoor. This might involve pairing people up or sorting them into small groups, meaning they have to talk things through and problem solve together in order to solve the riddles and find the prize. Treasure hunts also add a healthy dose of competition to the mix.
For more laid back away days, you could consider wine tasting or cocktail mixing sessions (as long as tongues don't become too loose!) These give people a rare chance to just relax with their colleagues and chat informally. That chilled out atmosphere means people are more likely to get to know one another, so while they may not be building their soft skills, they are growing closer as a unit.
Away days improve productivity and teamwork
Exercises should involve fun, collaboration and communication
Escape rooms mean people work together
Treasure hunts force people to problem solve
More laid-back socials are just as valuable
