TABLE OF CONTENTS

What Do We Call a Team-Building Event?

Team-building encompasses activities and strategies aimed at strengthening social connections and fostering collaboration within the team. Selecting activities that highlight individual strengths, promote empathy, and align team goals is essential. These activities range from icebreakers and group games to structured workshops and retreats focused on teamwork and problem-solving. In the next sections, we’ll dive into specific types of team-building events.. 

At Klika Tech, satisfaction surveys and regular internal feedback consistently highlight relationship-building and after-work activities as our strengths. Here’s a look at what we’ve learned!

What are the most important aspects of a team-building activity? 

  • Communication: Effective team-building focuses on improving open and transparent communication among members. These activities teach individuals to express their ideas, listen actively, and provide constructive feedback. This enhances mutual understanding and reduces the likelihood of conflicts.
  • Collaboration: Team-building activities are designed to encourage individuals to work together toward common objectives. Collaboration exercises help team members develop trust, delegate tasks effectively, and recognize the importance of leveraging each other’s strengths.
  • Trust: Trust-building is fundamental to any team, allowing members to feel safe sharing ideas and taking risks. Team-building events that involve vulnerability, empathy, and appreciation of each person’s role foster a supportive environment where trust can thrive.
  • Problem-Solving: Many team-building activities simulate real-life challenges that require collective problem-solving, teaching teams how to brainstorm solutions, assess risks, and make decisions together. This improves the team’s ability to handle work-related challenges and enhances critical thinking.
  • Goal Alignment: Team-building helps ensure that all members are aligned on the team’s purpose and objectives. When team members understand and buy into shared goals, they are more motivated to work together and support each other.

Types of Team Building Activities

We know how impactful team building can be for enhancing cooperation. Here are some proven strategies we use to boost teamwork, foster collaboration, and strengthen team culture:

SPORTS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Sports and outdoor activities are fantastic for team-building because they promote teamwork, physical fitness, and companionship. Activities like hiking, kayaking, or playing sports together offer a change of scenery and encourage team members to bond outside the office.

Curious about examples of these activities? Here’s a look at what we’ve organized for our teams!

  • Karting Races. We chose karting because it’s an exhilarating and unique team-building activity that combines adrenaline-pumping fun with team bonding. It’s ideal for fostering friendly competition, encouraging teamwork, and letting team members connect outside of the traditional work environment. This fun environment allows our team members to connect on a more personal level, blurring formal work titles and helping everyone to bond equally.
  • Outdoor Grill Parties. We incorporate team challenges like beach volleyball, tug-of-war, or frisbee. Outdoor activities are versatile, and the relaxed environment helps team members feel more at ease while bonding and working together. Outdoor activities provide the added benefit of getting team members out of the office, which can be refreshing and allow for natural conversations and connections.
  • Sailing, Kayaking, or Rafting. These are excellent ways to build trust and teamwork, as these activities require coordination, especially in two-person kayaks or canoes. These activities combine physical effort with a peaceful outdoor setting, fostering both relaxation and teamwork. Water sports brought our teams together across locations in Poland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Colombia, pushing them out of their comfort zones and fostering collaboration, trust, and quick thinking.
  • Shooting Range. A shooting range is a unique and adrenaline-filled team-building activity that can be effective for IT teams by promoting focus, discipline, and mutual support in a controlled, safe environment. It may not be a conventional choice, but for tech-savvy professionals who often work on precise tasks, the concentration and skill required in shooting can be a refreshing way to bond and build team skills. Our goal was to create a memorable and impactful team-building experience for the IT team with the shooting range event.
  • Outdoor Trips: Ideal for relaxed bonding, these outings let team members connect while enjoying nature. Our team hiking experiences encourage teamwork, communication, and quick thinking, all while picking up new skills in a fun, engaging setting. Exploring Georgian, Kazakh, and Polish mountain trails is a refreshing break, making it ideal for building relationships and fostering collaboration, allowing colleagues to bond in a relaxed, open environment.
  • Squash Hobby Community. We created Corporate Hobby Communities, which are designed to bring together employees who share common interests – one of them is the Squash Community. We rent courts weekly for our teams to develop their passion for squash together. Classic team sports require communication, strategy, and collaboration – organizing a friendly match or tournament can be fun and competitive, fostering teamwork. Our team can bond over batting, fielding, and friendly competition.

GAMES & HAVING FUN

For a fun twist, it’s good to organize a game session where teams try some interesting activity, and have to follow the rules together. This could involve arcades, logical challenges or exploring technological innovations – it allows team members to collaborate on a creative project and spark innovative ideas. These types of problem-solving activities are great for encouraging teamwork, communication, and quick thinking under pressure.

Let’s explore some examples from our team-building events:

  • VR Games. They are an excellent team-building activity for IT teams like ours, combining immersive experiences with collaborative problem-solving, creativity, and strategic thinking. They are particularly fitting for tech-savvy companies, as they allow participants to engage with cutting-edge technology in a way that’s both entertaining and intellectually stimulating. VR games offered our team an innovative, tech-forward approach to team-building, combining enjoyment with valuable skills.
  • Arcade Rooms. We organized a whole Warsaw office team-building in a modern arcade room, with plenty of activities, choosing minigolf as our main focus during the evening. We had so much fun that we repeated it during a meeting with a smaller team that wanted to visit a similar place again! It was an engaging team-building activity, offering games that foster friendly competition, creativity, and collaboration, at the same time helping employees bond and recharge. 
  • Quizes. During corporate parties or team meetings, we organized plenty of quiz sessions with general knowledge questions, about the company, or other topics. Teams can compete in rounds, with each member contributing their strengths. An activity like this encourages quick thinking and collaboration while adding an element of friendly competition.
  • Bowling & Pool. Both are classic team-building activities that combine social interaction, friendly competition, and a relaxed atmosphere. These games are approachable, easy to play, and offer enough downtime for team members to chat and bond. Bowling and pool create a balance of individual and group focus, allowing teammates to enjoy a fun challenge while connecting in a casual setting.
  • Board Games Community. Remember our Corporate Hobby Communities? Another one we support is a group of board game players. Each week, community members gather in our office after work, and the company adds a special touch to these meetings by providing a delicious dinner to make their time together even more enjoyable. Board games encourage strategy and collaboration, and are great for teams who enjoy activities that require planning and cooperation.

DINING OUT

A team-building dinner at a restaurant is a fantastic way to foster communication, strengthen bonds, and create a relaxed environment where colleagues can connect beyond their work roles. Unlike traditional team-building activities, a dinner provides a casual setting where team members can unwind, share stories, and enjoy good food together, leading to meaningful interactions and stronger relationships. That’s why, in addition to meeting for numerous activities, we often decide to have a simple dinner together so that we can focus entirely on getting to know each other better and sharing things about ourselves.

ONLINE TEAM BUILDING

Klika Tech teams are international and work together remotely, so we don’t often have the opportunity to meet all together. We’re committed to building bonds in teams that are separated by thousands of kilometers – that’s why we’ve introduced an online gaming platform offering dozens of activities that do not require an in-person meeting. 

What types of games worked for our team?

  • Icebreakers. We want our team members to get to know each other better, and sharing personal stories, experiences and ways of thinking is a great opportunity to discover other facets of their colleagues that are not visible when working together.
  • Social Games. These games require communication, which allows people to get closer together, promoting active listening and idea-sharing skills. 
  • Arcades. We choose multiplayer modes, encouraging teammates to work together to reach high scores or compete against each other in a fun, friendly setting. This dynamic promotes teamwork while adding excitement.
  • Quizzes. We sometimes have strengths and knowledge that our colleagues may not know about – we can surprise them with our interest in cinema or science, which allows us to get to know each other better and strengthen bonds within the team.

CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS

Skill-building sessions focusing on areas like communication, feedback, or decision-making are an awesome way to not only learn new skills and enhance creativity but also to get to know your teammates better.

  • Painting with Wine. We’ve organized this unique, creative team-building activity that combines art and relaxation. It offers a social setting where team members can unwind, express themselves, and connect through a shared experience. This event usually takes place at a designated event space and involves a professional artist guiding the group as they paint, sip wine, and enjoy each other’s company. This creative mix of art and socializing helps to spark creativity and build stronger interpersonal connections within the team.
  • Cooking Masterclasses. An engaging and hands-on team-building activity, perfect for our project team which spends most of their time behind screens. It combines culinary learning with teamwork, communication, and creativity. Cooking together in a masterclass environment gives team members a chance to collaborate in a completely different context, encouraging them to problem-solve, interact, and create something delicious as a team.

VOLUNTEER AS A TEAM

It is an excellent idea to find a local charity or volunteer opportunity, such as social welfare places or shelters for homeless animals. Volunteering not only strengthens team bonds but also provides a sense of purpose and community. This way we can do something good together and get closer at the same time!

KIDS PARTIES

Family values hold a special place in our hearts, and we cherish the opportunity to share quality time with our loved ones and each other. Organizing kids’ parties at work serves as a delightful means of fostering closer relationships among employees while welcoming their families into the workplace. We host enchanting kids’ parties both in our office, inviting talented animators to lead engaging activities for the little ones, and at vibrant venues like museums, playrooms, and workshop spaces. This unique approach not only deepens the bonds between colleagues but also cultivates a joyful and inclusive atmosphere, ensuring that everyone feels connected and valued.

ACTIVITIES IN THE OFFICE

And finally, one of our favorite ways to connect is right here in the office! Klika Tech makes the most of every opportunity to treat our team to delicious lunches, bringing everyone together to share great food and even better company in our kitchen. It is a simple yet effective team-building activity that fosters connection, relaxation, and companionship within the workplace. By creating a regular space for team members to gather, enjoy food, and engage in casual conversation, these lunchtime gatherings promote a sense of unity and belonging that strengthens the team on a personal level.

Benefits of Team Building Events 

Would you agree that every team performs better when its members know each other personally? It helps improve collaboration, communication, and trust among team members, ultimately leading to better performance and a stronger, more cohesive work environment.

Are you still wondering whether to organize a team-building event with your team? Here are the top 3 benefits that should convince you!

  1. Enhanced Communication and Collaboration. Team-building activities foster open communication among team members, helping to break down barriers and encourage collaboration. As individuals work together to solve problems or complete tasks, they develop trust and improve their ability to communicate effectively, which translates to better teamwork in the workplace.
  2. Stronger Relationships and Team Cohesion. Participating in team-building activities helps strengthen interpersonal relationships among team members. Engaging in fun and interactive experiences creates shared memories and fosters a sense of belonging, leading to a more cohesive team that feels connected and committed to each other.
  3. Increased Morale and Job Satisfaction. Team-building activities can boost overall morale and job satisfaction by providing employees with a break from their routine work. When team members enjoy positive experiences together, they feel valued and appreciated, which can lead to increased motivation, productivity, and a more positive work environment.

By investing in team-building, we can create a more cohesive team with higher morale, increased motivation, and improved productivity. Teams with strong bonds are more resilient, adaptable, and aligned in their work, which ultimately benefits both individual members and the organization as a whole.

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By: Ola Leszczyńska, Employer Branding Specialist