Some people love a team building activity, while others would do anything to avoid it. The vision that most people have of a team building day includes things like scavenger hunts, building challenges, or even an escape room.
The idea is to take you out of your usual work environment and allow you to solve low stakes problems together as a team, breaking down the usual barriers and hierarchy, and giving everyone a chance to let loose a little.
While this concept works great for some personality types, it can be counter productive for those who are more introverted, and particularly those who are neurodivergent. Thankfully, these aren’t the only team building activities you can explore.
Training for a long distance bike challenge is a versatile and accessible challenge that can bring teams together like never before. Rather than focus all of your attention on a single day – which most people will just be wishing to be over – you can extend your team building over multiple months. This allows for genuine connection and a far better understanding of the hidden strengths in your team.
Why cycling beats the escape room
As outlined above, activities like an escape room can become quite performative. They are short-lived and often put on a time limit. This doesn’t allow individuals to be their true selves or their best selves. In fact, lots of people walk away from escape rooms worrying that they have embarrassed themselves – either for being “too much”, or for appearing unintelligent.
A team building activity is far more effective when everyone involved is having a good time and feels they are able to show up with their full self. This is why cycling is so effective.
You don’t show up and do it all in one day. It takes time to train, and this training programme can be an excellent way for team members to bond. They’ll learn about one another, discover more about their personal lives, and see who they are outside of work.
Cycling is also challenging but very achievable. The stakes are low because most people will be able to overcome this challenge, provided they put in the work. And those who are very determined will be able to achieve this goal without putting in the work. This means that it’s a challenge that suits all personality types – those that want to prepare, and those that want to employ their grit and determination.
Building friendships for life
Teams often find that they become friends for life, even if they started out as just work colleagues. Cycling together is a fun and engaging challenge, but it’s about finishing the race as a team. Individual performance matters, but the team can only go as fast as their weakest rider. This means they have to work together and focus on the collective goal of crossing the finish line together. This is when employees really learn what it means to operate as a team.
This is far more effective than a single day event where the team building benefits are likely to be short lived. Taking part in short-term challenges like an escape room also doesn’t give everyone space to have the kinds of conversations that allow real friendships to develop.
Added mental health benefits
Cycling is not just great for your physical health but also for your mental health. To prepare for a cycling challenge requires a long-term training plan, which will result in regular exercise. This is one of the best ways to support mental health in the workplace, particularly in the winter months when individuals might be feeling the effects of the shorter days and bad weather.
The mental health benefits experienced during a long distance cycle challenge will be far superior to the short term boost that comes from a challenge like an escape room.
The healthier and inclusive option
A cycle challenge will also be healthier as it doesn’t always go hand in hand with drinking culture. Team building can often descend into a simple night out, which isn’t compatible with everyone’s idea of fun. It can also be alienating for anyone who doesn’t drink or those with childcare responsibilities.
It’s certainly possible to keep everyone happy by agreeing to enjoy a pint once you reach the finish line of the race, or you could include casual get togethers as part of the training, but alcohol doesn’t have to be at the centre.
Final thoughts
If you’re looking for a team building challenge that will bring everyone together in a healthy and inclusive way, consider pitching the idea of a long distance cycle to your team. It’s a great way to forge strong connections, encourage everyone to make healthier choices, and can help to shake up your usual team building activities. Rather than focusing on a single day, you can also make the training a part of the team building for added returns.
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