From mountains to boardrooms ... how corporate team building has evolved with the times writes Rachel Hill, Operations Manager at Bear Grylls Survival Academy

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For decades, corporate adventure and outdoor events have provided a unique blend of team building and adrenaline pumping challenges, with the aim of personal and employee growth.

From crewing yachts to surviving in the wilderness, these experiences have captivated workforces seeking a more thrilling experience, breaking employees free from the confines of day-to-day office life and into the great outdoors.

Over time, outdoor adventure and team building has transformed exponentially. No longer limited to a simple tug of war or orienteering, these activities now address the mental skill gaps that exist within the modern corporate world, offering a more holistic and engaging approach to skill development. 

But how has the sector changed, and what is the expected return on investment for businesses?

A shifting landscape
In years gone by, corporate outdoor team building events were often centred around physical challenges like sailing, inflatable obstacle courses and classic team building games, reminiscent of school sports days. 

However, the landscape has transformed significantly in recent years. Today, there is a much more mental and people centred approach that combines physical feats with psychological resilience and determination. 

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, traditional work environments ceased to exist in a large proportion of the corporate world with the introduction of remote and hybrid working schedules.

This, in turn, made it more difficult for teams to be together and in each other’s company day-to-day, leading to a more segregated workforce that didn’t have the opportunity to connect with each other on a personal basis. 

The pandemic underscored the importance of team cohesion and mental resilience, with remote work becoming the ‘new norm’. Team building activity providers found themselves needing to adapt to the needs and requirements of the work from home world.

There was a huge surge in demand for more innovative team building activities that could be conducted over Zoom or Teams, trying to keep employees engaged and connected with one another. 

Coming out of the pandemic, and with people returning to work, this provided the perfect opportunity to take teams back outside and away from their desks. And with more recognition of the importance of employee wellbeing, outdoor team building activities helped to provide a refreshing break from routine work whilst also helping to reduce stress and boost internal morale. 

The return on investment
Outdoor team building and adventure activities offer tangible benefits for businesses. One example is that they break down hierarchical barriers, allowing employees at all levels to collaborate more effectively in the workplace. 

Another area where it can produce a huge upside in skill development is in problem-solving abilities.

They encourage participants to think more creatively when trying to solve challenges in the wild, which is a very transferable skill.

Employers also witness significant improvements in decision making abilities as employees are encouraged to conduct risk management and think in high pressure situations, improving their overall leadership qualities.

But the longer-term impact of taking part extends beyond the adventure itself, with employees building personal relationships and connections with one another, positively influencing teamwork and productivity throughout the whole group.

A more inclusive experience
As some teams grow larger, sometimes comprising of 100-plus participants, a key concern for businesses is ensuring inclusivity for these events. Inclusivity should always be a guiding principle and ensuring that everyone feels valued within the experience 
is vital. 

At the Bear Grylls Survival Academy, our instructors proactively design activities that accommodate diverse physical abilities. Whether someone is highly capable or less able, there should always be a role for everyone.

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It can sometimes be as simple as giving someone who may be less physically able, a more vocal and leading role, allowing them to feel important and valued when it comes to the task at hand. 

An interesting thing to note, is that during outdoor team building activities, the normal working roles of each person do not apply to the tasks. For example, you could have the most junior member of the team barking orders at the managing director, potentially sparking confidence inside the junior which they may not have previously had when back in the office.

It is important that the instructors of today don’t merely run the session, but cultivate a culture where respect, empathy and diversity thrive. They emphasise the importance of inclusivity, both during the adventure, and afterwards in the workplace, resulting in an environment where participants feel comfortable stepping outside of their comfort zones. 

A personalised approach is key. It is the role of the instructor to react proactively, and tailor activities to individual needs. Whether it’s adjusting the level of a challenge or providing additional physical support, this enables everybody to be fully engaged with the activity. 

Their main goal is to boost the participants confidence and promote effective communication and understand, key skills that can be transferred back into the workplace. 

Rachel Hill is Operations Manager at Bear Grylls Survival Academy. For further info visit www.beargryllssurvivalacademy.com