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Survey Reveals 25 Unusual Team-Building Activities

TORONTO, May 26, 2015 /CNW/ - Why break bread with colleagues when you can break dance? That's what one company did for team building, according to a survey of 400 advertising and marketing executives by The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service for interactive, design and marketing professionals.

Advertising and marketing executives were asked, "What is the wackiest or most unusual team-building activity you've ever participated in or heard of a company participating in?" Here are some of their responses:

• "A dance-off."
• "We had a psychic come and do readings."
• "Getting pedicures."
• "Indoor skydiving and surfing."
• "A one-week retreat in the desert."
• "An improv class."

"Allowing creative teams to step away from their desks and have some fun together can be incredibly valuable for overall productivity and morale," said Deborah Bottineau, senior regional manager of The Creative Group. "Team-building initiatives serve as extended platforms for less formal collaboration that can inspire creative ideas, and support business objectives through improved communication amongst both employees and managers."

Team-building activities don't have to be elaborate to be effective. Often, a simple game or outing can do the trick:

• "Speed meeting -- like speed dating."
• "We had to tell everyone something about ourselves using movements and not speaking."
• "Making up a song about the company."
• "A painting class."

Some teams break the ice by having employees share their answers to the following questions:

• "If you could be any superhero, who would you choose?"
• "If you could be a vegetable, which one would you be?"
• "What animal would you be and why?"
• "If you had to change one thing about the world, what would it be?"

Engaging in a friendly competition, paradoxically, can bring colleagues closer:

• "An office tournament."
• "We held a cubicle decorating contest."
• "Everyone had to hop on one foot and the last person standing was named the winner."

Some companies prefer to physically get outside the box when it comes to team building:

• "River rafting."
• "Climbing a mountain."
• "Participating in a 200-mile relay across the state with 20 people."
• "Going to a Renaissance fair."
• "We went into the wilderness and had to figure out how to get back by relying on each other."

Finally, these teams prove you can build camaraderie, while doing good:

• "We put on costumes and visited patients at a children's hospital."
• "We put together food packages for a nonprofit organization."
• "We hosted an ice cream social for another department."

About The Creative Group

The Creative Group (TCG) specializes in placing a range of highly skilled interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals with a variety of firms on a project and full-time basis. More information, including online job-hunting services, candidate portfolios and TCG's blog, can be found at creativegroup.com. Follow @RobertHalf_CAN on Twitter for additional workplace news and hiring trends.

SOURCE The Creative Group