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Team building is a waste of time, say Brits

A new study has found that most British workers believe events such as speed-boating and bungee jumping are the least conducive to team building. In contrast, social events like going out for a drink or meal with colleagues foster better communication.

The study, by Vodafone UK and YouGov, found that more than half of the 1,059 British workers surveyed said they thought doing more company team-building events would not help improve how they work with colleagues. Some employees felt that some organised team-building activities can be a waste of time, and at worst, are “toe-curlingly” awkward.

Instead, British workers would much prefer being able to communicate with each other better at work rather than being forced to build rapport with their coworkers by sharing adrenaline experiences or performing “trust” exercises. Rather than potentially waste money on frivolous team-building exercises, respondents with a negative view of team-building suggested that companies should focus on providing a more supportive atmosphere at work, enabling better team communication and offering tools for flexible working as their top three priorities.