Autumn marks the start of festive corporate event season – that time of year when work calendars often up with the usual ‘team building’ rituals: pub lunches, karaoke nights and overly facilitated icebreakers.
These may tick the social box but do they foster genuine connections between colleagues?
For many, they feel more like obligations rather than opportunities to build real connections with colleagues.
The limits of traditional team-building
It’s a familiar challenge for organisers: how can teams build meaningful relationships without falling back on tired traditions? Often conventional team socials miss the mark:
- A recent Financial Times survey found fewer than 25% of UK workers actually want alcohol at work-social events.
- Timing, travel and family commitments often prevent employees from participating.
- Forced fun doesn’t build real relationships and can leave colleagues feeling excluded or disengaged.
These limitations have prompted organisations to look for alternative approaches that genuinely engage everyone, rather than ticking a box on the calendar.
The rise of shared adventures
Game-based, adventure-style activities are increasingly popular because they remove the forced ice-breakers and instead encourage natural engagement. Examples include scavenger hunts, problem-solving challenges and city-wide adventure games.
For the Celebrity Traitors fans out there, a recent example of teamwork and discovering your team mates’ hidden strengths was Nick Mohammed’s performance in the ‘Trojan Horse’ challenge. How quick was his puzzle solving?!
These adventure experiences:
- Encourage collaboration and communication
- Spark creativity and out-of-the-box thinking
- Are inclusive and accessible to all team members
- Let colleagues work together toward a shared goal
From my experience hosting StreetHunt Games events, I’ve seen colleagues who start out barely knowing each other (or having never met in person) form strong connections after 90-120 minutes of puzzle-solving and collaboration – helped along by a bit of friendly rivalry when pitted against other colleague teams. They quickly learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses, which can translate directly into better teamwork back in the office.
The most common feedback from organisers is that these types of games appeal across ages and job roles and achieve a level of engagement that traditional team socials often don’t.
‘We had a FANTASTIC time for our team event. The team has different age ranges and interests but everyone loved it. Great to bring the team together and we’re still talking about it a week later.’
The benefits of team building
Well-structured team-building activities offer a wide range of benefits, supported by research:
- Improved communication: 63% of leaders reported enhanced team communication after participating in team-building activities (BambooHR).
- Higher morale: 61% of leaders saw improvements in team morale (BambooHR).
- Increased motivation: Studies suggest up to 80% of employees feel more motivated when sharing a common mission with colleagues (DPG).
- Stronger social bonds: Gallup found that employees with a best friend at work are 50% more satisfied and seven times more likely to be engaged in their roles.
- Skill development: Problem-solving, creativity and leadership qualities are strengthened.
- Greater productivity: According to research from the University of Warwick, happiness makes people about 12% more productive.
Why adventure-based activities work
These activities combine novelty, exploration and challenge. They get teams out of the office and into environments that stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving. Unlike pub nights or karaoke, adventure-based activities:
- Don’t rely on alcohol or late-night participation
- Can be scaled for teams of any size
- Encourage natural leadership and peer-to-peer collaboration
- Create memorable experiences that foster real connections
- Leverages natural curiosity and competitive instincts, similar to popular TV challenge formats
- Encourages trust, collaboration and strategy in a safe, playful environment
Before you book your next social
Before planning your next corporate social, try to move away from the typical beer-‘o’clock events that can put some team members off. Instead, consider an activity that encourages exploration, collaboration and fun:
- Shared adventure games create stories and memories that last
- Teams naturally connect while problem-solving together
- Participation is inclusive, boosting engagement and satisfaction
Investing in these activities doesn’t just tick the box for having a team social. It builds a deeper connection within teams – turning colleagues into collaborators and friends.
