| On corporate away days where the emphasis is | | | | used. These are usually mental activities, though |
| on team building it is essential that the right | | | | there is likely to be some physical skills needed as |
| activities are chosen from the outset. A great | | | | well. |
| way to start is to evaluate and assess each | | | | Outdoor activities are usually mostly physical in |
| company team beforehand to discover which | | | | nature. They usually do require some mental skill |
| type of activities are best suited to them. | | | | required to work out what has to be done, but |
| All too often the suitability of the activities chosen | | | | after that it can be an almost purely physical |
| on away days is ignored. Team activities are | | | | exercise. The problems they need to solve, |
| assumed to be any kind of highly competitive | | | | whether they are mental or physical, are designed |
| game that gets the adrenalin flowing without | | | | to make the team work closer together. They |
| much thought to the outcome. Even worse, the | | | | should also show the members where their |
| need for a competitive edge is sometimes | | | | strengths and weaknesses lie in order to allow |
| confused with a need for aggression. At that | | | | them to build up the weak parts and maximise |
| point the activities become confusing and even | | | | the value of the strong ones. |
| divisive, which is the exact opposite of what they | | | | Corporate away days and team activities can |
| are supposed to achieve. | | | | take place at a specialist centre where they are |
| When a team activity is chosen carefully by | | | | fully geared up for the event. It can also be |
| someone who understands the dynamics of the | | | | portable and come to the company. This |
| team concerned, then it can have excellent lasting | | | | approach is less flexible in terms of providing the |
| results. Good team building can increase a | | | | activities, but it does mean that there is less |
| company's profits through providing better focus. | | | | disruption for employees. |
| It can help to engage employees more and it can | | | | Away days for team building are generally viewed |
| help to create a greater feeling of belonging and a | | | | by employees as a fun day out. They also |
| stronger feeling of team worth. | | | | generally appreciate that there is the desired |
| Team activities come in two basic flavours: indoor | | | | outcome of binding the team closer together to |
| activities and outdoor activities, and in the UK it is | | | | produce one that is more efficient and therefore |
| often the weather that determines which is used. | | | | more productive, which in turn means greater |
| Indoor team activities are more often the | | | | profits for the company. When activities are |
| intellectual puzzle solving type. Sometimes a | | | | chosen carefully and thoughtfully, that is exactly |
| computer running a particular game programme is | | | | what usually happens. |