If planning a team event sometimes feels like a cross between high-stakes diplomacy and amateur fortune-telling, you’re not alone. What do people actually want? Is an escape room too claustrophobic? Is karaoke too risky? Will Joe from Accounting refuse to participate again?
We get it, and we’ve seen it all. Here at Watson Adventures, we’ve been helping companies of all sizes—from Fortune 500 behemoths like Google and Amazon to startups and local businesses—plan team building events for more than 25 years. And along the way, we’ve learned a thing or two about what makes team building activities work, and what makes them, well… awkward.
So we got curious: what are you seeing out there? We surveyed dozens of people who do what you do: plan team building events and outings for their organizations. We asked them what they’re aiming to achieve, where they get ideas, what’s worked (and flopped), and what drives their decision-making.
The result? A revealing peek inside the minds of your fellow team building planners.
So whether you’re planning an intimate executive team building event for under 10 or a large group team building activity for 100, we hope the findings below provide a bit of clarity, assurance, and inspiration when planning your next outing. Along the way, we included a bit of our own wisdom acquired over the past 26 years.
Team Building with a Purpose
Before you begin your hunt for the perfect team building activity, it’s helpful to understand your “why.” Is your goal to help a newly merged team bond? Celebrate a big win? Shake off the winter slump? We’ve found that teams who start with clear goals are far more likely to choose an activity that resonates with the occasion.
So what are your fellow event planning aficionados looking for? Nearly three-quarters of respondents said the main goals for their outings and events are building relationships and/or providing their team with a fun outing to let loose and relax.
“We love how in a game environment, you recognize unique skills that your coworkers have,” says Watson Adventures president Julie Jacobs. “It shows them in a different light. And it isn’t always senior management who become the most valuable players.”
Less important? Improving communication. Only 30% of respondents reported this as a primary goal. Of course, that doesn’t mean communication doesn’t happen (and even improve!) during team building events; it just means it’s often a byproduct rather than the headline. The same often goes for collaboration and problem-solving, which tend to emerge naturally in the right setting, especially when you choose competitive or game-based events.
What do you prioritize in a team building activity?
The Hunt for Ideas
When it’s time to plan a team event, where do you turn? Your coworkers? Google? The void?
Turns out, most planners keep it classic: 97% said they use search engines to find team-building ideas. (We see you, late-night “fun corporate events that don’t suck” Googlers.) Not far behind: peer and colleague referrals at 73%, proving once again that nothing beats a trusted “we did this and it actually worked” recommendation.
Where do you get ideas for team building activities and events?
But with so many team building ideas to take in from so many sources, how do you narrow down your options?
Unsurprisingly, logistics are a critical field-narrower.
“The most successful are fun and take us away from the office,” said one respondent.
According to our survey, cost is the #1 consideration, followed closely by location. Ease of planning and uniqueness/novelty of the activity fell somewhere in the middle, while “legitimacy of the event planner” ranked last in the list of priorities.
“One thing we hear again and again from the people contacting us to plan team building events is that they want something fun and unique,” Jacobs says. “Planners are typically looking for activities that encourage their team to make new relationships instead of just gravitating towards the same people they already know.”
Of course, some activities are better suited for brief outings compared to full-day team building events or even company retreats. But when asked how much time their teams typically allocate to an event, nearly everyone agreed: keep it short and sweet.
- 43% opt for a half-day event
- 37% cap it at 2 hours or less
- Only a brave 20% go for a full day or longer
Of course, it depends on your group and the circumstances. But if you’re strapped for time, don’t let that stop you from planning a memorable event that brings your group together, whether you’re able to get away from the office or bring the fun in.
What Works and What Doesn’t
Among those surveyed, two ingredients came up again and again as hallmarks of a great team building event:
- Activities that get participants working toward a common goal
OR - Games that introduce some friendly competition
So it’s no surprise that the two most-often mentioned team building activity types were scavenger hunts and escape rooms, with more than a quarter of all respondents reporting running successful, engaging events around these activities.
“Problem-solving games like scavenger hunts and escape rooms are a hit because everyone brings something different to the table,” Jacobs says. “With scavenger hunts, for example, one person might be good at navigating, another might be good at word play, and someone might be good at setting the pace. Everyone has a chance to shine, and you don’t have to be athletic to do well.”
Psst… Want to put scavenger hunts and escape rooms together for an even more supercharged team building event? Check out Watson Adventures escape room-style scavenger hunts like Escape Grand Central, and Escape the Chicago History Museum.
Other game-based team building activities popular among those surveyed were putt-putt, Top Golf, pickleball, bowling, and other sports-based activities like office olympics or field days.
But this is where knowing your team really matters. For some, competitive games can feel more pressure-filled than fun. If that sounds like your group, choosing a sports-based activity can actually hurt engagement rather than help it.
Respondents who said they steer clear of competitive outings often turn to more laid-back options like cooking classes and picnics to encourage connection without the stress.
When in doubt, offer a little of everything, like this respondent: “Our team has enjoyed many competitive events—scavenger hunts, escape rooms, trivia—in the past. And we have also enjoyed creative events—cooking, terrarium building. I believe the variety of options and flexibility for teams of different sizes and compositions ensures everyone has options they enjoy.”
Check out the top 10 most successful team building activities of survey respondents:
- Scavenger hunts
- Escape room
- Cooking/baking
- Golf activities (putt-putt, Top Golf)
- Axe throwing
- Bowling
- Sports days
- Murder mystery games
- Pickleball
- Picnics
Make Your Next Team Building Activity a Crowd-Pleaser
Watson Adventures has been organizing fun, funny, and challenging games for corporate groups for more than 25 years. From our classic scavenger hunts to murder mystery team building, hosted trivia, and even food tours, there’s something for everyone. Contact us to learn more and start planning your summer team building activities or virtual game today.