Having a positive relationship with your employees is important for sustaining a healthy work environment in your company. While work should be the priority, team-building activities allow for bonding opportunities and a chance to recharge. The following are team-building ideas, local to Indy, that you could consider for your next company outing:
Community Volunteering
Donating your time to help others is a great way to give back to your community while also strengthening your team’s relationship. Volunteering opportunities could include a common passion within your team such as environmental clean-up initiatives, animal shelter outreach, or food pantry programs. Volunteering opportunities could also be available within your client’s organizations.
If donating time is not an option for your company, consider donating necessity goods to an organization of your choice. Donations vary from organization to organization but could include food, cleaning supplies, and personal hygiene items such as soap, toothbrushes, and toilet paper.
Last summer, Willow took a trip to four homes occupied by New Hope of Indiana residents. New Hope has supported individuals and their families for over forty-five years. They provide services for individuals with disabilities and advocate for a more inclusive community. Ask your clients if any volunteering opportunities are available within their organizations.
Get Creative!
Let your creativity run wild! Artistic activities such as painting, candle making, and cooking are great opportunities to connect with your team members while also reducing stress and boosting office morale. Having creative projects outside of work can also improve future job performance by sparking new inspiration that follows the team back into the workplace!
Our employees got creative at Kicasso Sneaker Art Bar in Broad Ripple, which hosts private events for teams to paint sneakers together. Shoes and other supplies are provided, just bring your team and artistic flare!
Friendly Competition
Does your company love to compete? Friendly competition activities can improve teamwork skills and provide a fun challenge! Your team can find competitive activities in your community or make your own! Trivia games or sports brackets can be a great way to get your team working together.
At Willow, we love a good challenge! We put our Chopped knowledge to the test at Chef JJ’s in downtown Indianapolis. Chef JJ’s is a unique, guided culinary experience, offering private events that allow your company to compete in a friendly cooking competition. Watch out- the grills are hot and the knives are sharp! And best of all, you get to eat the food your team makes! Find out more about booking your team’s private event here.
Get Moving!
Sometimes sitting at a desk all day combined with general work-related stress can leave you feeling burnt out. To combat this, get moving! Whether it is the Indianapolis AIGA Kickball Tournament or a company step challenge, creating an incentive for physical activity can improve the health and mental well-being of your team, leading to a healthier work environment.
Consider taking your team to Bad Axe Throwing in downtown Indianapolis. Bad Axe offers a guided axe throwing experience where fantastic coaches instruct teams on correct throwing techniques. The event ends with an axe throwing competition, so winners get office bragging rights!
Professional Development Opportunities
Conferences, workshops, and other professional development opportunities are a great way to expose yourself to the best work happening in your industry. In late March, our design team traveled to Columbus, Georgia for Creative South where they had the opportunity to listen to and even meet a diverse group of creatives that sparked lots of inspiration. Providing opportunities to send employees to conferences and other professional development events can help recharge employees and teams and get them fired up for collaboration on upcoming projects!