Why Your Team Building Activities Might Be Failing

Image credit

If you want to build efficiency in the workplace, then it makes a lot of sense to look into team building, right? After all, team building has all the potential to be great. If done right, it brings people closer, strengthens relationships, and builds trust. But when businesses get it wrong? Well, it’s a cringe-worthy mess no one wants to relive. Seriously, just go ahead and picture yourself awkwardly locking arms with your coworker during a forced trust fall or trying to feign enthusiasm for a “fun” scavenger hunt.

The truth is, no one bonds over something they’re forced into doing. Actually, you get too people in a bad mood. Who wants that? Well, if you want team building to work, it has to be thoughtful, enjoyable, and free of these major mistakes.

Forcing Fun (and Making Everyone Miserable)

If “mandatory fun” sounds like a recipe for disaster, that’s because it is. No, really, nobody in their right mind enjoys any of this. There’s nothing worse than being strong-armed into team-building activities like trust falls or “get-to-know-you” games where everyone shares an embarrassing fact.

You really have to keep in mind that real bonding doesn’t happen when people feel awkward or obligated. It happens naturally, in settings where they can relax and connect. Actually, even the right venue helps, for example, a venue like Evins Mill makes all the difference because it’s built on a calming atmosphere. This alone helps with setting the stage for people to let their guard down. So, there are no cheesy games, and no forced participation, instead, just an environment that encourages genuine connection.

A lot of those team-building venues seem to intentionally be annoying, like a meeting room where the walls are a whiteboard, or ridiculous “games” that will lead to arguments like rope climbing obstacle courses. No one wants that!

Forgetting That People are Different

Not everyone wants to zip-line through the woods or perform a karaoke duet. So, why force it? While sure, extroverts might thrive in those situations, but introverts? Not so much. The problem with cookie-cutter team building is that it doesn’t consider the different personalities on a team. So, the best team-building activities are flexible and inclusive.

Making It All About the Activity

Some businesses think the activity itself is the point of team building, like the more elaborate the plan, the better the outcome. But it’s not. Just think about it; a jam-packed day of escape rooms, relay races, and competitive games might sound fun in theory, but it doesn’t guarantee employees will walk away feeling closer.

So, the real magic of team building lies in the conversations and connections that happen in between. The activity is just a backdrop. It’s about creating space for people to interact in ways that feel natural, not orchestrated. Sometimes, a simple shared meal or a walk through a scenic spot can accomplish more than an entire day of tightly scheduled events.

Trying Too Hard

Overcomplicated team building is the stuff of employee nightmares. Really, it actually is! Just think about it; long itineraries, detailed instructions, and activities that feel more like work than fun are guaranteed to backfire. If the plan is so complex it takes 15 minutes to explain, it’s already lost the crowd.

Forgetting to Follow Up

The biggest mistake of all? Treating team building as a one-time thing. Oh yeah, that’s actually a big one! So, businesses often expect a single day of activities to magically fix every workplace issue, but that’s not how it works. Actually, without follow-up, even the best team-building event becomes just a distant memory.