Ok, take a look at this picture. Some of you LOVE this!
"Oh my gosh! Out in the woods, being active, doing trust falls, I LOVE trust falls! I hope there is a low ropes course involved and maybe some more "get to know you" activities."
Shall I continue? Ok, that same co-worker has likely said: "I loved last year. The new hire in IT actually cried talking about her past dead-end jobs, it was so awesome. Plus, they catered in Subway and that was the BOMB. I still use the branded water bottle we got last week!"
And then OTHERS of you see this picture and have three words in response:
"Oh HELL naw." Or three more words: "Oh no ma'am."
"We are doing an overnight retreat? Oh wait, it's a three day retreat? What about my kids? My husband? Who is driving? I am sharing a room with someone else? I am sharing a BED with someone else? I'm 35 years old are you serious?"
Shall I continue? Ok, that same co-worker has likely said: "Fine, I'll go but I need to leave early and drive myself and meet you all there. I don't do well with bugs. I need a gluten-free option. Is this mandatory?"
Team building has become a bummer. And it's become divisive! Listen, I am not fully against team building, but I have led hundreds of these things large and small, enough to tell you: there is no one size fits all model. Nor should there be!
Bottom line? KNOW YOUR TEAM. Play to your audience. And please don't project onto others what you would love to do and they clearly hate to do.
Before you plan your next activity, will you please email me? Let me save Maggie in HR and Clint in IT from hating everything you are planning. I'll make you a hero. TRUST ME. (Just don't trust fall ON me.)
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