Business Word

Calling All Thrill Seekers

by Peter Zvalo

Life isn’t only about work, yet according to Health Canada, one in four Canadian workers spends 50 or more hours a week on the job. Some companies recognize that an employee with a well-balanced lifestyle is, more often than not, a happy person. And that happy people make for better, more productive employees, which ultimately helps the bottom line. In this light, the popularity of various company-sponsored adventure activities that seemingly have little or nothing to do with work should not be surprising.

With the popularity of reality-based television shows like Survivor (a.k.a., summer camp for adults), it’s easy to see why the market for adventure-oriented teambuilding activities continues to grow. For writers and others who spend much of their working lives in cubicles and windowless offices, the prospect of getting out and living something exciting is attractive. Many professionals feel that travel and merchandise are more memorable than cash rewards, and many believe that cash bonuses are something owed to them and not a reward for exceptional performance. For employers looking for ways to improve morale, to reward staff, and perhaps even to uncover who has the necessary leadership skills to take on bigger challenges in the future, splurging on the occasional teambuilding adventure can be money well spent.

Depending on the size of your organization and the budget with which you have to work, you can do nearly any outrageous activity. A popular teambuilding exercise these days is the simulated kidnapping, in which, for example, participants are tasked with coordinating the rescue of their CEO who was “kidnapped” by a competitor. To be successful, participants must use the same skills they would use in business — strategic thinking, team building, assignment delegation, and research and planning. In this scenario, participants receive pieces of intelligence about the kidnappers, which may sometimes be vague and contradictory, but that give clues about where the CEO is being held captive. Participants use reasoning skills to evaluate the intelligence and plan their mission, including electing someone to negotiate with the kidnappers, while the rest of the team receives paint ball weapons and prepares for an assault. Any mistakes in planning are designed to result in the “deaths” of the hostage and team members.

For a less elaborate outing, you can consider activities like laser tag, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting. Whether your adventure activities lean towards Fear Factor or The Apprentice, you should always set clear goals for what you expect it to achieve. Is the activity aimed at rewarding employees for past achievements, finding out how motivations differ among individuals, or breaking down barriers and enabling employees to get to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses outside the work environment?

Many teambuilding companies provide more than an adrenaline-inducing activity for the thrill seekers in your group. A good outfitter will work with you from the planning stages of your outing through to an evaluation of the experience. For example, they will assess your group’s corporate culture to ensure that the activity meets your objectives and the needs of the participants. Then, they will customize the activity to suit your particular situation. Finally, they will conduct a follow-up session with participants to provide an opportunity to share experiences and learn from each other.

The cost of having a professional outfitter organize your teambuilding adventure can range from as little as $500.00 to more than $20,000.00, depending on the size of the group, location, and nature of the activity. An Internet search for “teambuilding” yields numerous companies eager to organize a memorable journey for your group. If you prefer to stay closer to home, the names of local outfitters may be listed in the “adventure games and activities” section of the phone book.

While the cost may seem high in that you not only have to pay for the activity, but for your employees’ salaries while out on their adventure, an adventure activity may be a much-needed shot in the arm for your organization. And it’s tax deductible.

Peter Zvalo is a contributing editor of Writer’s Block.