5 Reasons Why Outdoor Team Building Activities can Impact the Success of Teamwork

Efficient and productive teams have one thing in common. They communicate and interact effectively. The social fabric of a team is detrimental to it’s productivity. When teams are ridden with conflicts, team members lack the motivation to perform better, and employee morale is drastically impacted. Therefore, organizations need to invest in team bonding and building personal relationships among team members. Organizing team-building activities regularly helps in building these relationships. However, when organized indoors these activities are sometimes perceived as an extension of work. Organizing team building activities for adults outdoors is more efficient than organizing them indoors. Outdoor activities are more fun, exciting, and memorable than indoor activities. They also improve the mental health of employees as they provide a relaxing and rejuvenating environment to interact with each other. While there are many other reasons why outdoor team building activities significantly impact team success, here are 5 reasons why they improve the efficiency of teamwork:

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Improves collaboration

Building a collaborative culture is key to improving productivity in teams. Collaboration between team members requires effective communication skills, trust, and empathy. Team building activities can improve these to a great extent and bring together team members. When these activities are organized outdoors it gives more opportunities for employees to interact on a personal level. As outdoor activities are more intense than indoor activities, they demand a greater level of collaboration from team members. Activities like escape rooms, mystery games, treasure hunts are effective for improving team collaboration.

Motivates and inspires employees

When employees are motivated, they work harder to achieve the organization’s vision and are willing to go the extra mile. Motivating employees requires organizations to be proactive in recognizing employees, offering support for personal growth, and be always committed to employee well-being. Organizing outdoor team building activities is one way for organizations to emphasize their commitment to employee well-being and motivate them. Outdoor activities require a lot of resources, planning, and significant involvement from the leadership team to be successful. They bring together team members to work towards a goal/objective collectively. However, activities that are organized with the objective of motivating employees do not always have to be intensive or physical. They can be as simple as an outdoor picnic or lunch party to appreciate team members or celebrate milestones. The impact of non-intensive activities cannot be undermined.

Exciting, fun, and memorable

A team building activity is considered successful when it is exciting, fun, and memorable. When employees build personal relationships and memories, they are more likely to be translated into a professional space and improve team collaboration. Not all effective team building activities must be serious or organized in an office space. Sometimes team building activities are more successful when they emphasize building personal bonds and having fun rather than a serious objective. For example, all your team needs might be an outdoor adventure rather than an outdoor scavenger hunt. When employees are stressed out or experience burnout, they are more likely to be engaged in a fun activity.

Nurtures leadership and decision-making skills

Transformational leaders inspire and motivate employees like no other. Teams that are led by transformational leaders are more engaged, productive, and collaborative. However, transformational leadership is not limited to be being an inherent characteristic. It is nurtured by the organizations and their culture. Team building activities are an important tool in nurturing transformational leaders and improving decision-making skills. These activities improve the interaction between team members and leaders. They help leaders in understanding the strengths, pitfalls, and resources of the team. When organized outdoors these activities are more efficient as the barriers to building personal bonds are reduced. Some examples of outdoor activities that help in improving leadership skills are escape rooms, adventure games, sports days, etc.

Strengthens the organizational culture

Organizational culture is a set of values, ethics, and beliefs shared by the members of the organization. The foundation of a good culture is the management and the members associated with the organization. When the organization is building a positive culture that inspires employees, they are more likely to be associated with the organization in the long run. Team building activities play a pivotal role in building a strong and positive organizational culture. When organized outdoors these activities bring together employees and management to understand each other while building strong interpersonal relationships. Outdoor activities also improve communication among team members. Open and regular communication helps in building a culture that can withstand conflicts and disagreements.

Outdoor team building activities are intensive to both organize and participate. However, when organized regularly they are the most effective way of building personal interactions and improving communication among team members. They break down barriers that are often invisible in a professional environment. Outdoor activities are more efficient when organized with expert facilitators.