What Is Team-Building?

‍team-building | noun
The process of encouraging a team to work well together by having them participate in activities and games.

Best team-building activities in North America

Steeped in art and culture and home to numerous natural wonders, the USA and Canada offer boundless opportunities for an incredible team-building event. Each state is a unique experience, from an executive meeting amidst the canyons of Utah to a colourful cocktail workshop in downtown LA. Since 2013, Surf Office has worked diligently to find the most effective team-building activities in North America, click the links below to see our favourites.

Why invest in team building?

FAQ

• What are the best team-building activities?
  The team-building activities you decide to include in your event depend on several factors. What skills do you want to improve? What kind of culture do you want to create? How big is your budget? How many people will attend the event? All these questions need to be answered before you can start selecting the best team-building activities for you.
  ‍
• Are team-building events beneficial?
  Investing in team-building events is known to improve company culture, strengthen communication, boost morale, improve engagement, and much more. Watch how Mattermost identified excellent innovation opportunities at their offsite retreat in Lisbon.
  ‍
• How does team building work?
  Team building isn’t just about playing games and hanging out. There’s always a defined strategy and a clear desired outcome. Team building events are used to your team together, encouraging them to develop actionable skills through the use of games and activities. These events help managers to identify individual strengths within the team that can be put to good use with various tasks. 
  ‍
• Does team building work for remote teams?
  ‍As more and more companies gradually switch to working remotely, team building has become an increasingly hot topic. Developing a strong company culture and facilitating effective communication channels is a challenge for remote companies, but it can be easily solved with a well-planned virtual retreat.
  ‍
• Where should I host my team-building retreat?
  ‍Deciding on the right location to host your company retreat depends on several factors. You’ll want to consider things like your budget, the logistics of travelling with a group, the type of location you require, what sort of activities you want to do, and your current team’s work schedule.
  ‍
• When should I plan my offsite team-building retreat?
  Deciding when to organise your team-building retreat is not easy, but it’s a very important decision. Typically, Spring and Autumn are the most popular times of the year. Winter can also work, as team members are often fresh and relaxed after the Christmas period. Summer is challenging because prices are much higher, and employees might already have holidays booked.