How to Choose the Right Team Building Activity for Your Team
Choosing a team building activity sounds simple enough, until you actually have to organise one.
What will your team enjoy? Do you go indoors or outdoors? Competitive or creative? Something high-energy or something a little more relaxed? And how do you make sure everyone actually gets involved?
At Team Bonding, we have delivered corporate team building events for teams of all shapes and sizes across Australia, and our biggest piece of advice is simple: there is no one-size-fits-all team building activity.
The best activity is one that suits your people, your goals and the type of experience you want to create.
Start with your goal
Before choosing an activity, think about what you want your team to get out of the day.
Are you looking to improve communication? Help a new team connect? Boost morale? Encourage collaboration between departments? Celebrate a milestone? Or do you simply want everyone to have a great day together?
All of these are good reasons for team building, but they might lead you towards very different activities.
An Amazing Race, for example, combines problem-solving, communication and friendly competition. A LEGO team building event encourages creativity and collaboration, while a Game Show is all about fun, energy and plenty of laughs.
The activity might be different, but the goal is the same – getting people talking, working together and creating shared experiences.
Think about your team
Your team is probably made up of very different personalities.
You might have the people who love competition, the ones who are naturally creative, and those who would rather stay well away from anything that involves being put on the spot.
That is why the best team building activities give everyone a way to contribute.
If your team loves competition, an Amazing Race, Mini Olympics or Game Show could be a great fit.
If they prefer creativity and collaboration, something like LEGO Legends, a collaborative art event or a charity team building experience could work better.
And if you have a mixed group, look for an activity that combines different types of challenges.
Consider your group size
The number of people attending will also influence what works best.
An activity that is perfect for 15 people might not work for 150.
For larger corporate events, you need an experience that can be scaled properly, with enough facilitators, equipment and activities to keep everyone involved.
This is one of the things we take care of when planning an event. We can divide larger groups into teams and create multiple challenges or activity stations, so people aren’t standing around waiting for their turn.
Because let’s be honest, there is nothing worse than organising a team building event for 200 people and having half the group watching from the sidelines.
Indoor, outdoor or a bit of both?
Team building doesn’t have to mean running around outside.
Outdoor events are fantastic if you want something energetic and adventurous, while indoor activities can be perfect for conferences, offices, venues or when the weather isn’t on your side.
From Amazing Races and outdoor challenges to Game Shows, LEGO and creative team building, there are plenty of options for both settings.
If you’re planning an outdoor corporate event in Australia, just make sure you have a wet weather plan. We all know how quickly the weather can change!
Think beyond the traditional team building activity
When people hear “team building”, they often picture obstacle courses, relay races or awkward icebreakers.
But team building can be so much more than that.
Some of the most effective activities are based around communication, creativity, strategy and problem-solving rather than physical ability.
This is particularly important when you have a diverse workplace. Not everyone wants to run around a field, and that’s okay.
The goal isn’t to find an activity that everyone would choose themselves. It’s to find an experience where everyone can take part and contribute.
What about your budget?
Budget is always going to be part of the decision, but we recommend looking at the overall value rather than simply choosing the cheapest option.
When comparing team building companies, think about what is included. Who is organising the event? Who supplies the equipment? Who facilitates the activities? How much planning is involved? What happens if something goes wrong?
A DIY event might look cheaper on paper, but it can also leave your HR, events or management team doing all the work.
A professional team building company takes care of the planning and delivery, allowing your team to actually enjoy the event.
We recently looked at this in more detail in our blog, Why Professional Team Building Activities Deliver Better Results Than DIY Events.
So, what's the best team building activity?
There isn’t one answer.
The right team building activity depends on your people, your group size, your goals and your budget.
Want competition? Try an Amazing Race.
Want creativity? Try LEGO Legends.
Want laughs? A Game Show could be the perfect fit.
Want to give something back? A charity team building event could be the way to go.
And if you’re not sure, that’s where we come in.
At Team Bonding, we work with you to understand your team, your event and what you want to achieve, then recommend an experience that is customised to you.
Whether you’re planning team building in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or elsewhere across Australia, we can help create an event that gets people talking, laughing and working together.
Because great team building isn’t about ticking a box.
It’s about creating an experience your team will actually remember.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best team building activity depends on your team, group size and goals. Popular options include Amazing Races, Game Shows, LEGO team building, charity events and creative challenges.
Start with your goal, then consider your team size, personalities, budget and preferred location. Think about whether your team would enjoy competition, creativity, problem-solving or something more relaxed.
Activities such as Amazing Races, Game Shows, Mini Olympics and large-scale collaborative challenges can work particularly well for large corporate groups because they can be divided into smaller teams.
Yes. Team Bonding delivers customised corporate team building events across Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Hobart.