Corporate Scavenger Hunts That Actually Build Your Team (Not Just Kill Time)

Every team has lone wolves. People who do solid individual work but avoid collaboration, skip the hallway conversations, and treat group projects like an inconvenience. That pattern costs you — in duplicated effort, missed handoffs, and decisions that stall because nobody trusts the person across the table. A corporate scavenger hunt breaks that pattern. Not because it is fun (though it is), but because it forces people who normally avoid each other to solve problems together under time pressure. The lone wolves have to communicate. The coasters have to contribute. And the team gets to see what happens when everyone actually works toward the same objective. Here is how to run a corporate team building treasure hunt that changes behavior back at the office — not just kills an afternoon.

HOW DOES A TEAM BUILDING TREASURE HUNT WORK?

If the last time you have been on a treasure hunt was at a birthday party when you were only a kid, you should know that the activity for adults is both similar and different.  It takes place on a much larger scale, sometimes at the office (or an office exterior) but often at a neutral and positive location such as a park.  The goal is to find items that are either rare or hidden from view, such as an old rusty license plate or a four-leaf clover.  The fastest team to gain the item or items will be rewarded in some sense, sometimes with a cash prize and sometimes with a participation prize like a cake or t-shirts.  This can be done on any day of the week, before or after work, or on a weekend when everyone can clear their schedule.

WORK AS A TEAM TO FIND THE TREASURE

In the corporate world, no business survives unless each employee will work together in order to achieve a common goal.  Unfortunately, offices are no different than any other social activity and there are bound to be barriers to performance, such as groups and outcasts and pecking orders.  A team-building treasure hunt helps to break through these development and communication barriers by putting employees on teams with unlikely allies (rather than teams selected by employees, allowing them to only choose who they would want).  These allies have to work together on tasks that can be complex and demanding, just like their work in the office.

MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES THROUGH TEAM BUILDING

The bigger picture in mind is always higher motivation and output of work.  A team building treasure hunt achieves this by keeping moods and attitudes high.  The teams working for the goal come together and learn about each other, and how to work with each other.  The end result is an office that is cheerful and eager to help on each project.

EXPLORE TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES

At Learn2, we work with your team to help facilitate training programs that are proven to both engage and strengthen your team. Learn more about our team building programs to help improve communication, productivity, and boost engagement in your workplace.