Both styles can create a memorable day out for everyone involved, whilst also helping employees grow and develop, but the key question we are often asked is which style best suits my team building objectives?
To help you make an informed decision, we’ve put together a handy overview of competitive vs. collaborative team building.
Competitive team building
People are naturally competitive. From a young age, we have a natural desire to succeed. Competitive team building activities build on this by providing an activity that requires individuals or small teams to complete a task or solve a problem faster and more effectively than their opponents.
What are the benefits of competitive team building?
Competitive activities can be extremely fun and are ideal for teams that work in a competitive environment on a daily basis.
In addition to getting the fighting spirit flowing, competitive activity also brings the following long-term benefits:
Competitive activities can quickly reveal the communication styles of those around you – and thus areas for improvement!
The satisfaction of winning as a result of working together towards a common goal can greatly boost morale, not only on the day itself, but also in the workplace.
Your team members may react differently to pressure. Some are natural leaders, while others listen for advice and instructions. Recognizing these differences in a fun environment can lead to better understanding of each other and better communication.
Collaborative team building
Unlike competitive team building, collaborative experiences involve an activity or event that requires those involved to work together toward a common goal. There is no competition between each other, you have to work as one collective to succeed.
Success in these activities depends heavily on effective communication and… mutual willingness to cooperate . Unlike competitive activities, there are no winners or losers here. If the group succeeds, everyone is a winner!
What are the benefits of collaborative team building?
Effective collaboration between team members can play a vital role in the success of any business. When a team is working toward a common end goal, the ability to collaborate, cooperate, and communicate effectively is crucial. Collaborative team building helps employees to literally put this into practice.
Below are some of the key benefits of participating in a collaborative team building exercise:
Employees are given the opportunity to demonstrate and utilize a range of hard and soft skills – skills that may be underutilized in the workplace.
The activity can give employees the opportunity to appreciate the skills of other team members.
Employees can also explore and delegate new roles.
A new trust and patience can develop.
Communication can be improved by each member actively listening to the ideas and concerns of others.
Competitive vs Collaborative: What to Choose?
If you are looking for some light-hearted fun or entertainment (Just for Fun), any type of event is ideal (see also: The three levels of team building ).
However, if you want to boost your team’s productivity and creativity or promote collaboration and innovation, collaborative team building activities are designed to help teams develop essential skills and build stronger relationships.