OUTDOOR TEAM BUILDING
The first step in achieving high performance teamwork is to build strong interpersonal relationships and alignment to team goals. A "shared experience" that involves working together on tasks which are unfamiliar and which require a high degree of interdependence quickly builds trust and rapport across the group. To rely on others in ways which are not customary for individuals in a normal working environment generates mutual respect and support often far beyond anything previously experienced by colleagues in the workplace. The shared experience will serve to bond the team for many years to come.
Key Outcomes
- "Buy-in" to the teamwork concept
- Sense of common purpose and team identity.
- Trust in others
- Commitment and motivation to achieve team goals.
There are many different activities that can provide a memorable "shared experience" for your team. Following discussion with your team, we will design a teambuilding experience to suit your situation and achieve your specific outcomes.
Design Options
- Icebreaker/Energiser Activities
- Teamwork Challenges
- Integration Activities - cross team development
- Adventure Activities
- Program Formats & Duration
Icebreaker/Energiser Activities
A series of short, high fun warm-up activities that get people feeling comfortable in mixing with others and contributing their ideas. Some examples include:
- Mission Ball
- Name Toss
- Have You Ever
- Warp Speed
Teamwork Challenges
These activities typically run over 1 to 3 hours and involve the team in solving a problem together. The activities have a scripted scenario to make it relevant to your team and learning more transferable to the workplace.
Some examples include:
- Optimisation
- Beamwalk
- Maze
- Keypunch
- Pyramid
- Raft Builder
- Toxic Retrieval
Integration Activities
Teams may become too inwardly focussed and tend to operate as separate entities within an organisation. Building strong communication links with other teams not only improves operational efficiency but also ensures continuous improvement through knowledge transfer. The activities below remind teams of the importance of not losing sight of these links and the value to be gained from working in a "Team of Teams" culture!
- Connections
- Sahara Water Company
- Win Win
- Coopetition
- Chair Litter Exercise
- Multi-group Speed Ball
Adventure Challenges
These are more physically demanding, however we ensure the activity is pitched
at a suitable level for your team.
- High Ropes Course - wide range of heights/difficulty
- Orienteering - scripted workplace scenarios
- Whitewater Rafting - Grade 2 water, self guided rafts - you are in control!
- Rock Climbing/Abseiling - wide range of heights/difficulty
- Mountain Biking - terrain matched to the group.
- Sailing - team crews the boat, three days.
- Journey Programs - Bush based programs, camping out in tents
- The Amazing Race - based on the TV show
Duration/Format
Teambuilding programs can range from 2hrs to 3 days. Shorter sessions of up to half a day are often incorporated into conferences or conducted at the workplace. One day programs are usually offsite and can be run from a conference centre or nearby parkland. Programs which include Adventure Challenges are by nature site specific - we can advise the most convenient venue for your location.
Two and three day programs are usually residential and can be run from a wide variety of conference centres or entirely as a "Journey" in carefully selected bushland areas. Experienced facilitators accompany teams throughout the activities managing the learning experiences and ensuring a commitment to safety at all times.
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