Team Building for Remote Teams: How Waterval’s Outdoor Adventures Bridge the Distance – Plus Practical Tips You Can Use in the Workplace

Author: Waterval Country Lodge

Remote work has transformed the way teams operate, offering flexibility and the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. While the benefits of remote work are clear, it can also present challenges, particularly around maintaining team cohesion and collaboration. That’s where team-building activities, like those we offer at Waterval Country Lodge, come in.

Our outdoor adventures have been specially designed to help teams, especially remote ones, forge stronger connections. Here's how you can bridge the distance between your team members and practical tips you can use back at work.

Why Remote Teams Need In-Person Team Building

When team members work remotely, they miss out on the day-to-day interactions that help build trust and rapport. In-person team building provides a chance to bridge that gap, offering meaningful face-to-face engagement. Here’s why in-person activities are crucial:

• Improved Communication: Remote teams often rely heavily on digital communication, which can lead to misunderstandings. By participating in activities like our high-energy outdoor obstacle courses, your team will learn how to communicate effectively under pressure.

• Building Trust: Trust is built faster when people work together in person. At Waterval, activities such as group challenges and problem-solving tasks are designed to foster trust, which can be taken back to the virtual world.

• Strengthening Relationships: Casual conversations and shared experiences outside of work allow team members to bond in ways they can’t over a video call. A shared meal around a campfire or participating in our escape room challenge can bring people closer.

Teamwork in action: A team member gets a helping hand from her colleagues during an outdoor team-building activity at Waterval Country Lodge.

Practical Advice: How to Apply These Lessons in the Workplace

Team building doesn’t end at the retreat. You can incorporate what you’ve learned into your remote work environment to maintain productivity and strengthen your team’s connections.

Here’s how you can apply these principles back at work:

• Encourage Open Communication Channels: Just as in team-building activities where clear communication is key, set up regular video calls or chat check-ins where team members feel comfortable sharing thoughts and ideas.

• Pair Employees for Weekly Check-ins: After participating in bonding exercises, like a treasure hunt or obstacle course at Waterval, maintain those connections by pairing employees up for one-on-one virtual check-ins to keep relationships strong.

• Foster a Culture of Trust: At Waterval, we emphasize trust in our activities. Back at work, trust can be fostered by giving employees the autonomy to complete tasks their way and rewarding teamwork in virtual settings.

• Implement Virtual Team-Building Activities: You can keep the momentum going by scheduling short, fun virtual team-building activities, like online quizzes or virtual escape rooms, to keep team members engaged and bonded.

Creativity and collaboration come together as the team works on a group painting during a team-building session at Waterval Country Lodge.

Ready to Bridge the Distance? Let Waterval Help!

While these strategies will help your remote team, nothing beats the power of coming together in person. Waterval Country Lodge offers a variety of team-building activities, from glamping in luxury tents to outdoor adventures that will bring your remote team closer than ever.

If you want to bring your team together and create lasting bonds, contact us today to start planning your next team-building retreat. Our facilitators will craft a personalised experience to meet your team’s unique needs.