We know that team building works (when facilitated by qualified professionals). That much is certain. Team building has a “positive moderate effect across all team outcomes,” write researchers Deborah Diazgranados, Cameron Klein, Eduardo Salas, Huy Le, C. Burke, Rebecca Lyons, and Gerald Goodwin. The uncertainty lies in those aspects which cannot be controlled, like the weather. And as much as we love our ropes course, sometimes indoor team building activities are best.
Why You’ll Love Indoor Team Building
Comfort
When it comes to opening up and growing as both an individual and team, comfort can mean everything. Some people are hesitant to let their guard down and open up in a strange setting. Sometimes a familiar location can work wonders, and even enhance a team building program.
The Weather
As we already mentioned, the weather is unpredictable. In fact, the only thing predictable about the weather is just how unpredictable it is. So, as the only saying goes, sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry. This is especially true during traditionally cold or rainy months. The last thing you want is for your well-planned team building event to have to be postponed because of a little rain.
Inclusion
While we always do our best to make sure everyone is included, some members of your group may not be physically able to participate in some of the events on our low ropes course. Our indoor team building programs, meanwhile, are a bit less physically strenuous. This is often a benefit to groups with older members or those with disabilities.
Perfect for Follow-Up Sessions
Indoor team building sessions can be a great way to refresh previous lessons and expand upon what it means to be a “Good Team.” After all, team building is not a one-and-done activity. It takes practice. Researcher R. Wayne Boss writes that “When team building is coupled with follow-up sessions in which team building commitments are reinforced and renewed, the positive effects of the team building are prolonged.” This is why Terrapin Adventures recommends a follow-up session every three to six months.
We Come to You!
“Team building activities should be designed, planned, executed and monitored so as to create synergy, increase skills and knowledge, create organizational flexibility, provide members satisfaction and allow members freedom to participate in decision making and implanting changes,” write researchers Jacqueline M. Omuya, David M. Kungu, Leonard S. Mulongo, and Dedan O. Ong’anya.
In order to be truly effective, team building programs should be designed and facilitated by a qualified professional. This is one of the many reasons people trust Terrapin Adventures. We have a proven track record for excellent team building programs. And, best of all, we will even come to you! As long as you have adequate space – your office, a hotel, a gymnasium, a conference center, etc. – our creative facilitators can bring our portable equipment to you.
Our off-site team building programs typically run between 2-8 hours. Below is a video of an indoor team building program we did for Under Armour.
Plan Your Indoor (or Outdoor) Team Building Program
Conveniently located between Baltimore and Washington DC, Terrapin Adventures is able to create a customized program (onsite or offsite, indoor or outdoor) to help better your business. Ourteam building programs are designed to meet the individual needs of every organization we work with, challenging groups to break down communication barriers and work together to grow as a team.
Schedule Your Custom Team Building Session!
After each exercise, your group will sit down with their facilitator to discuss the lessons behind each activity and how they translate to the business world. This discussion is designed to reinforce these lessons and help ensure that the progress made during your team building outing sticks.
If you have any questions, please call Terrapin Adventure at 301.725.1313, or email us at info@terrapinadventures.com to learn more.
Works Cited
- Klein, C., D. Diazgranados, E. Salas, H. Le, C. S. Burke, R. Lyons, and G. F. Goodwin. “Does Team Building Work?” Small Group Research 40.2 (2009): 181-222. Web.
- Omuya, Jacqueline M., David M. Kungu, Leonard S. Mulongo, and Dedan O. Ong’anya. “Effects of Team Building on the Performance of Employees in Organizations towards the Realization of Millennium Development Goals: A Survey of Selected Banks in Eldoret Town.”International Journal of Current Research. Web.
- Boss, R. W. “Team Building and the Problem of Regression: The Personal Management Interview as an Intervention.” The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 19.1 (1983): 67-83. Web.