Escape Rooms Provide the Ultimate Team Building Experience

 

When it comes to team building activities, there are many options for a businesses to choose from. No matter which option is chosen though, they all focus on four main areas in an attempt to elevate employees, teams and overall workplace efficiency.

• Team Communication
• Problem Solving/Decision Making
• Adaptability/Task Management
• Group Trust

Many team building options may address two, maybe three, of these areas, but most of the time is spent inefficiently. While learning how to bake a tiered cake as a group or spending the day tackling the river rapids might be an enjoyable experience, it doesn’t necessarily contribute to building a team dynamic.

Why Escape Rooms Then?

Escape rooms provide an exciting group experience with all four team building elements woven throughout, allowing for the best possible takeaways. Many of the other options focus on individual skills, rather than focusing on group cohesion. Escape rooms put the teams in scenarios in which they succeed or fail as a unit, allowing for assessment and improvements to the group as a whole.

Don’t take our word for it though.

The Science:

The scientific benefits of escape rooms as effective team building tools can be seen in studies like this one, from the Harvard Business Review. It shows that team productivity is directly related to the amount of energy and engagement the team has outside of the workplace. So escape from the old office and come experience the energy and engagement that our rooms can provide.

Communication, problem solving, task management and trust in the team, are all things that flow freely once you’re “locked” in a room together.

• These days groups might work solely through email or memos without having any actual conversation. In order to escape the room or solve the mystery, teams will need to talk as well as be able to listen to fellow teammates. One member finding the solution to a puzzle doesn’t help anyone if the group isn’t sharing information and ideas. As the clock ticks down, and the pressure builds, teams will quickly learn that effective communication is vital. Something that is easily mirrored in any workplace.
• By placing teams in unknown scenarios (ranging from Granny’s Kitchen to the Alaskan Frontier), teams are forced to think outside the box and work together to overcome obstacles. Problem solving skills are increased and tested as the timer dwindles and groups are forced to combine ideas and think laterally to come up with solutions. A skill that all too often is underutilized in the work environment.
• Although the “stress” in the rooms are artificial, they provide the opportunity for leaders (who might otherwise remain dormant) to rise up to the occasion and help lead the team as a whole to victory. Sometimes assigning the right task to the right individual makes all the difference when it comes to the success of a team. Having “Aces in their Places” is one way to maximize your efficiency and production as a team.
• Being able to trust the abilities of the people around you is one that can lift the morale of a group tremendously. Having confidence that Nancy will be able to solve a cypher, while Bob figures out this riddle, ensures that while everyone might have separate tasks you all are working towards a common goal. On the flip side of this, knowing your limits and knowing when to ask for help is just as important. This trust will follow the team back to the workplace.

Exciting, fun and yet fully effective, escape rooms are elevating teams to improve workplace efficiency while at the same time being viable and cost effective.

The Bottom Line:

Escape rooms produce an excellent return on investment. Sending groups to overnight, or even weekend, “retreats” can easily cost hundreds of dollars per person– for something that might only provide a short term boost to morale. Our rooms however, are practical and affordable while still fully enhancing specific team mechanics.

We provide the scenario as well as the post-game assessment from certified team trainers as a part of our corporate package. All we need from you is an open minded team and 60 minutes to play.  No need to worry about transportation or expensive overnight stays.  Contact us about our budget-friendly solutions to all your team building needs.