Not every team needs relay races. Start with something people would enjoy doing together.
People before mechanics
Who is taking part? How well do colleagues know each other? What have they tried, and what do they not want to repeat? These questions help choose a format instead of fitting people into a fixed list of contests.
Different kinds of experience
Make a film, cook a meal, play a game, create something by hand or take a trip. Team building can be creative, culinary, playful or combine several activities.
Different ways to take part
Not everyone is comfortable performing or competing. Discuss the team’s interests and constraints, allow time to settle in and avoid making participation mean a compulsory moment on stage.
One program can bring together a game, a creative workshop, music and a quiet place to talk. Some people will join the game straight away; others may want to look around or catch up with colleagues first. Let participants choose an activity and switch to another during the evening.
Plan the schedule, movement between areas and sound in advance. Music should leave room for conversation, and activities running at the same time should work alongside one another. Shared moments, such as dinner or the end of the evening, can bring the whole team together.
What a program needs
Participant numbers, available time, setting, budget and expectations. Then choose the mechanics, materials, facilitators and conditions. A sample program is a starting point, not a promise of the same result for every team.
