Have you noticed that your employees always seem to be waiting for the day to end so they can rush home as soon as they can? If this is so, consider it a clear signal that something is definitely amiss, and you need to revitalise your work environment.
Wait, don’t just give them tickets to Luna Park! There are times your team might need more than just corporate entertainment. Why not organise a team-building activity that can turn around the fortunes of your business in record time— maybe a series of amazing races, workshops, escape room events, or outdoor adventures?
Why You Need to Run Team Building Activities
Team buildings are a great way to build trust, camaraderie, and collaboration. It helps highlight other’s strengths and creates an unforgettable experience that draws colleagues together. While some companies see it as a luxury, these team bonding activities are actually highly beneficial team experiences that make the case that it should be a necessity.
Team development highly depends on corporate events like a team building program to engage staff and motivate them to work together with their colleagues and you towards the company’s goals. With the right activity, you can take your team out of their comfort zones and engage them in a really fantastic way.
If you live or work in Sydney or any other place in Australia for that matter, there are scores of places and programs where you can create successful team building experiences no matter what group size. Turn around the work attitude in your office from glum to motivated by checking out some of these creative ideas.
Looking for team building options around Sydney? You have a wide range of options to choose from. Here are some fun team building activities you can try out with your team in Sydney.
1. Team Days
Team Days is your one-stop-shop for everything team building. This company specialises in the organisation and hosting of team-building events for corporate teams and any other groups. If you ever find yourself lost in what to do to boost your employee’s morale, all you need to do is talk to them. They’ll work through your team’s needs and develop programs to help you get results. Here are they’re top 4 team-building experiences
Amazing Race
Get ready for a crazy team-building activity. Your entertaining actor hosts will explain the game and get the competitive banter going. Embark on an Amazing Race adventure around your city, using your top-notch skills. You’ll face physical and mental challenges like handling snakes, solving puzzles, and riding bikes. End the race at a local watering hole while your scores are tallied.
Game Show
Experience a fun and nostalgic Game Show with your team! Professional actors will be your game show hosts and take you through the most memorable and hilarious challenges from popular TV shows. The focus of this team building exercise is on entertainment as the major prize.
Urban Explorer
Gather your team for an exciting adventure exploring the concrete jungles of your favorite city! Get ready for the Urban Explorer Challenge using your smartphones and our interactive app. You’ll unlock GPS hotspots with problem-solving tasks and general knowledge questions to collect virtual scavenger hunt items and score bonus points. Get creative with photo and video challenges while competing on the live scoreboard and photo wall in our app. Team strategy is key to completing this exciting challenge.
Hipster Homicide
Experience an uber-cool interactive game with your team that’s part murder mystery, part escape room, and part treasure hunt! Our professional actor hosts will meet your group, explain the game, and provide case files with locations of interest such as bars, parks, streets, and alleyways. You’ll need to solve riddles and crack codes at each location to reveal clues that help you eliminate suspects from a list. Don’t worry, there’s no need to take on a character like in a 90’s murder mystery party, we’ll leave that to the local hipsters.
visit their website to view their numerous pre-planned events and other services.
Phone Number: 1800 901 885
Website: teamdays.com.au
2. Build Bridges, Literally.
Before you venture out into the area, try some in-office activities first. Put your workers’ team spirit to the test; encourage them to build bridges, not walls.
- Split your staff up into two teams.
- Instruct each team that they will be building one half of a bridge.
- Each team works on its own but is progressively guided to collaborate with the other team. Use readily available, cheap materials. These could include wooden sticks, rulers, tapes, building blocks, scissors, and cardboard. You may also use wooden or cardboard templates.
- When the game kicks off, make the teams take opposite sides in a room. Ensure there is minimal interaction between the two parties. However, during the design stage, you may allow them to communicate and brainstorm ideas. Keep this stage brief, perhaps just 10 to 15 minutes.
- After designing the initial sketch, the team is now allowed to start assembling the project. They should be work independently. Have them work for 30 minutes. Keep intrateam verbal communication minimal. The peak of the game should happen when the teams finally connect the two separate parts, forming a complete bridge.
- Have your staff openly reflect on the experience.
This game can result in a variety of lessons, including team dynamics, efficiency, creativity, and problem-solving. You could also go to the parks in Sydney CBD if you need extra space i.e hyde park, Sydney Olympic Park or the botanic gardens.
3. Take the Team Scavenger Hunting
Does your office need a break? Take a day to build morale and healthy team relationships by organising scavenger hunt. This team-building program is ideal since it can be played outdoors or indoors. Furthermore, it benefits and lends itself to collaboration, creativity, problem-solving skills, competition, personality, and surprise.
If you want to organise your own hunt, first, set the ground rules. Then, set a hunting theme and goal. Include a variety of locations and activities to suit the mix of personalities and intelligence in the team. Brief each side for 20 to 30 minutes on the journey structure. Then, let them set off. You may rank the teams basing on accumulated points and progressive milestones.
If you don’t want to organise one yourself, you can also use Let’s Roam’s scavenger hunt application for Sydney. This 2-hour tour will take your team from landmark to landmark, starting at the Opera House. Make it a competition! At the end up the hunt, tally up each team’s points to see who found the most landmarks and hidden gems of Sydney.
Though you may think it’s for tourists, never forget that even in New York City, USA, there are a lot of New Yorkers who haven’t even been to the Statue of Liberty! In other words, there’s always something to see and learn about a place, even if you were born and raised there.
Phone Number: (02)8417 1042
Website: letsroam.com
4. Campfire for a Bonding Session
The campfire tactic has been fittingly described as one of the best tireless and timeless outdoor team building activities that work wonders. This can be your answer to breaking down the proverbial ice and bringing your staff closer together.
Check out The Outdoor Adventure Company for a full day of camping-style team-building adventure! You can choose a half or full-day session — or even an overnight that includes a real campfire.
The full-day includes a 3-hour morning activity, gourmet BBQ lunch, and a 3-hour afternoon activity. There’s even a pool and spa on the premises should your team want to cool down at the end of the day. In terms of activities, you can choose anything from canoeing to team raft races, to low ropes and traditional icebreaking activities.
Address: 256 Webbs Creek Road, Wisemans Ferry NSW 2775
Phone Number: (02) 4566 4366
Website: outdooradventurecamps.com.au
4. Escape Hunt Sydney
Games are an easy way to foster team-building in and outside the office. They can be as simple or large-scale as you want to make them. A quick one is the “truth and lies game.” Generally, the approach works well because it helps to iron out the differences between team members and cultivate a sense of intimacy.
Gather team members together and have them write down three truths about themselves and a lie. Each member will go around revealing their list, but will not tell the group which statements are true and which ones are lies. Then, the room will take a guess as to which one is the lie.
Although COVID-19 may not make an ideal environment for this game, it is still a team-building exercise to keep in your back pocket for when people are ready to congregate physically. Booking an escape room at Escape Hunt Sydney is a fun way to foster team-work and problem-solving. Because only five people max can be in one room at a time, it also helps develop fair delegation skills and stronger bonds between coworkers. Make it a competition; see which team can solve the clues and escape the room the fastest!
Address: 4/393 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Phone Number: (02) 9299 3929
Website: escapehunt.com/au
5. Beyond the Boardroom
We get it, you’re a busy boss and don’t have time to really set up and book games or lead team-building exercises. Still, you know how important it is to have one, and your office really does need it. Bring in a company that specialises in organising team activities for corporate groups to curate group activities for you.
Beyond the Boardroom specializes in team-building exercises for companies small and large. From cooking classes to corporate massages to murder mysteries, they are equipped to lead fruitful icebreakers and exercises that will have your staff asking when you’re going to organize another event. Well-known businesses like Saab, KFC, and Adelaide Casino use them, so why shouldn’t you?
Phone Number: 1300 998 782
Website: beyondtheboardroom.com.au
How About A Quick Getaway?
Sometimes, your team doesn’t need a day packed with games, activities, and learning experiences. In some cases, they just need a day out. So consider going out with your team to a place offsite and unwind together. Here are some places you can visit.
- Try a Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
- Visit Manly Beach
- Head out to Southern Highlands
- Go to the Taronga Zoo
- Climb the Blue Mountains
- Go wine tasting out at Hunter Valley
Conclusion
By taking advantage of a few creative ideas, you can turn a sad office into a glad office. Not only can these activities help break the ice and build bridges in the workspace, but they can also boost brand identification, company culture, and bonding. Help make the corporate world in Sydney a happier one and throw yourself a team-building day.