Sometimes work can feel like a grind. However, one way to enhance the workplace experience and foster meaningful connections is to participate in team building activities.
UC Davis Health community members recall their favorite team building activities
Last month, the Internal Communications team posted a “call out” to share your favorite previous team building activities. The results are fantastic! In case you need ideas for future events, here’s what previous departments have done in the past:
IT Implementations team members pose for a group photo with their trophies
Bowling
Members from the IT Implementations department participated in a friendly bowling competition after they had completed a couple of large projects.
This classic game, bowling, provides a fun break while also fostering camaraderie.
Lori Steuben, IT Implementations manager, said, “I wanted to host an activity for the entire team that would allow us to be together, celebrate their accomplishments, and provide an opportunity to ‘perform’ as individuals. Bowling seemed like a great way to achieve these goals.”
To keep things interesting, Steuben presented different trophies based on people’s bowling scores. “The most creative award was a banana trophy, which meant ‘great effort’ for the lowest score,” Steuben said.
Mimi’Z Petting Zoo
To celebrate her retirement, Megan Lunsford holds one of the fuzzy rescue animals at MimiZ Petting Zoo
Yes, you read that correctly – a petting zoo! Tanya Johnson, nurse manager for Orthopedics, runs a petting zoo in Woodland that is open to the public on Saturdays.
Though seemingly unusual, animal farms and petting zoos offer a unique way to build teamwork – such as promoting patience and empathy. The natural setting also provides a refreshing change of pace, helping employees de-stress and bond with one another.
“Last year, clinic staff brought their children and grandchildren to the petting zoo to connect and relax. Despite being so long ago,” said Johnson, “staff still talk about how great the event was. I love bringing people together and everyone enjoys being around the rescue animals.”
Internal Communications team posing for a group photo after solving the mystery at the Escape Room in Sacramento
Many teams, including Internal Communications and Pharmacy, have participated in escape rooms as part of their team building activities.
In an escape room, employees must collaborate and communicate effectively to solve puzzles and escape multiple rooms within a set time. Escape rooms are another popular choice for team building, offering an exciting and challenging way to enhance problem-solving skills and teamwork.
Department Olympics
When IT gets excited about an event or activity, they go “all in.”
Last summer, IT put together a department-wide Olympics event. IT’s employee engagement team put together a series of office friendly events and competitions for both onsite and remote staff. Activities included cornhole, online Jeopardy, triathlon and more.
Organizing department Olympics can be an exhilarating way to build team spirit, as well as provide an opportunity for employees to showcase their strengths outside their usual job roles.
Daniel Marenco, IT manager for IT Client Services and Platforms, was thrilled at how many people participated.
IT Olympics group photo
Marenco said, “It was a successful event, supported by IT leadership, who also participated. We had approximately 90 participants, 13 events, and handed out 42 medals. IT still talks about our Olympic event to this day, which is a good indication of its success.”
Summary
By investing in these activities, organizations not only enhance their overall productivity, but also ensure a happier and more cohesive work environment. The activity doesn’t have to be as extravagant as some of the ones mentioned above. It can be as simple as incorporating a team building activity within an already existing team meeting, retreat or workshop.
