Offsite Team Building: The Benefits
Danni Rush is the COO for Virgin Incentives and Virgin Experience Days.
Some businesses consider team-building days a must-have, especially when their workplaces or teams are located in remote areas. Employees can connect through team building activities that are not part of their daily work. They can also form strong relationships with each other and improve the morale and dynamic of the entire team.
It is usually a team-building activity, but it can be in many different forms. These include problem solving, group discussions, planning days, and social activities that allow employees to spend time together outside of work.
The activities can be done in the office or offsite. Days spent away from work provide a new environment and routine that encourages creativity and team bonding.
It can improve employee relations and allow them to better understand how their co-workers work and communicate outside of work – something that is often reflected in the workplace. Employers can allocate budgets for offsite activities that promote bonding, such as days out and team building experiences. How can offsite team-building days have a positive, long-term impact on 2025?
Enhancing communication and collaboration
Offsite settings are often less formal, which can help team members feel more confident. They will also be more honest about their feelings. It can also increase transparency and communication in the team. Each employee will be able to understand how they should communicate with their co-workers, and learn about the personality types of each other.
In order to solve problems, some team-building activities require that you listen actively and communicate clearly. This helps promote open collaboration. Working towards a shared goal allows colleagues to learn how to collaborate more effectively. This collaboration can also allow team members to meet or interact with each other, even if they are from different departments. This helps to break down silos between departments and improves cross-departmental working relationships.
Improved morale
Never underestimate the importance of morale. Employee happiness has a direct impact on the office culture and productivity. We know that work can be stressful at times, which is why a break away from routine is so important.
Those who work alone a lot may find that being part of a team is just what they are looking for. 73% of employees engaged in collaborative work report improved performance. Team building helps employees to better understand the strengths of their colleagues and how they can leverage them for the benefit of the company. It also boosts endorphins! Working alone can be lonely. A reminder of the importance of employees in a larger structure can increase engagement. Gallup says that higher levels of employee engagement can have a positive impact on business results, including 18% more productivity and 78% less absenteeism.
Employers should know how to make the most of an opportunity to brighten someone’s day. Offering choice is one way to do this. The ability for employees to choose an experience outside of the office that is not related to their daily work demonstrates trust and commitment to them on a personal level.
We recently celebrated our new partnership with Merlin Entertainments by taking our Virgin Incentives Team and our clients to Legoland. This brought together several departments that had played a key role in the success of the launch. We were able to give our employees a better understanding of what our customers can expect when they purchase our Merlin Gift Card. They also had a great time with their colleagues.
The impact of the long-term on the company
The retention rate for 36% of companies that organise regular team-building activities is 36% higher. Group activities can also improve workplace performance by up to 14%. It is clear that team-building can have a direct impact on business operations as well as employee morale and wellbeing. 90% of employees say they believe fostering a community at work will help them succeed.
Off-site teambuilding can be an enjoyable way to combine work and socialising, while reinvigorating employee passion for their job. While many industries struggle with low morale and employee retention, it’s a great time to implement team-building initiatives.
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