Adventure sports are designed to combine fun and team work with sheer adrenalin and courage. When the body releases adrenalin in surges, the endorphins (known as the “happy hormones”) are also increased, leading to a sense of carefree joy. Adrenalin makes us feel strong and confident. Adrenalin is a neurotransmitter, so it increases awareness and makes your responses more rapid. This can be a fantastic feeling and a great way to release stress.
Sharing any scary or exciting experience with a group of people will almost always have a uniting effect. This makes adrenalin-inducing sport a viable option for teambuilding events, which are designed to create cohesive bonds of open communication and trust amongst employees. However, it is important to keep in mind that some sports may not be suitable for all ages, genders and heart conditions. In addition, some may simply not find them do-able, as there may be major phobias involved.
Good ideas for teambuilding adventure sports include:
- White-water rafting – although it involves some hairy moments, white-water rafting is generally fun. It is exhilarating because of its rapid pace, but is generally safe, since there is a guide as well as life vests available at all times. This activity teaches your team to work together despite opposition or hurdles, and there is an enormous sense of accomplishment once complete.
- Treetop canopy tours – this is a little less scary, unless someone is petrified of heights. Team members are able to slide over the forest floor from treetop to treetop, appreciating the diversity and beauty below them. This encourages the participants to “take the plunge” and that an immense amount of value can come from displaying bravery, as they view the world from a different perspective.
- Abseiling – abseiling requires some real guts and a fair share of faith in the strength and support of the safety equipment. It offers stunning views and is a great way to instil a personal sense of confidence, as well as a trust in a stable support team in your colleagues and employees.
- Caving – this activity usually requires a hike to get to the cave, and then the exploration of the crevices, stalactites and stalagmites within. As the wonders and beauty of nature overwhelm those inside, they will grasp the importance of sticking together and appreciating age-old institutions.
- Mountain biking – a great option for most, mountain biking enables your team to participate in a fun, adrenalin-pumping way. Choose a course that presents a few challenges (shallow rivers to cross, rocky outcrops to negotiate, and so on) so that the team needs to strategise, negotiate and implement a way around these obstacles. These lessons will translate well into their work environment.
- Horse riding – feeling the power of the animal while gently guiding its movements and actions is an effective metaphor for management skills within the workplace. Riding a horse can be a real thrill, especially to those who have not done this before. It is also a little less terrifying than some of the more intense adventure sports.
Within the framework of teambuilding, it is imperative that you build a spirit of cooperation and trust. Learning to take risks is an integral part of this lesson, making adventure sports a particularly effective means of teambuilding.
Photo Credit: MM Adventure
