Planning a good team building event can be hard. The elements you are looking for are getting people to do something together that causes them to work or do an activity as a team, but where the normal skills and hierarchy they use at the office don’t necessarily matter so that people are on an even footing and can interact with people they may not work closely with day to day.
One activity that is growing in popularity both as a recreational thing to do with friends and family and as a team building experience is escape room games. Here we are going to look at what these are, and why they could be a great choice for your team’s next event.
What Are Escape Games?
Escape games are interactive live action games where the players are locked in a room and have to solve puzzles, find clues, and figure out mysteries, with the ultimate goal being to get out. There may also be other objectives, like rescuing somebody or solving a crime on top of this, and there is a story around the scenario, along with a time limit. This entertainment style originated in Japan, where live versions of Escape the Room video games were created for people to play. Now, escape rooms have been growing in popularity in the US for a few years, and you can find locations where you can try it in most cities, such as this Indianapolis escape room center, which offers multiple rooms and stories to play.
Inclusive and Collaborative
A lot of businesses choose something sports related for team building, such as bowling or paintballing, but this can be something that not everybody enjoys and where skill levels can vary wildly, making some people feel left out or inadequate. Choosing an activity that is fun, and where everyone can have an input and role to play without anyone coming in with experience that makes them shine over others can therefore be a better option. With escape rooms, rather than competing, everyone is working together to solve the room, however everyone is starting out with the same information. This forces people to quickly form new team dynamics and work on something exciting and dramatic together against the clock. The pressure and the adrenaline fostered by the stories tend to make the puzzles fun, but it also helps people to bond throughout the exercise.
What You Need to Know
Most escape rooms are designed for groups of two to about eight players, so it is ideal for small teams, or you can form groups from larger departments and tackle different rooms in the same complex. Most games take about an hour, so you may want to book sessions in multiple rooms if you want to make a day of it.
Escape rooms offer something unique that lends itself very well to professional teams, and because it is also a lot of fun, your staff should be eager to attend this kind of team building session!
