Obstacle course race training should be your next team building activity. There. We said it. But why?

• OCR training encourages creativity and teamwork.
• OCR training hones problem solving technique.
• OCR training helps team mates become friends.
• OCR training is a well-rounded workout for the team.
• OCR training opens new opportunities for everyone.

Team building helps improve employee relationships and teamwork in a fun way. The many values and skills that team members develop in team building activities carry over into their jobs. A good number of these can be cultivated in obstacle course racing events.

Newspaper Tower

This quick competition challenges team members to build the tallest tower they possibly can using only newspaper and tape, bringing out the team’s creativity, teamwork, and coordination, while being deceptively simple. There is a lot of unexpected brilliance that can come out of bringing together a group of people and having them make something. These skills can translate well in the workplace, as well as with their teammates, collaborators, and clients.

The Takeaway

Obstacle training also pushes participants to think creatively as you climb, crawl, or jump over obstacles. There is no one right way to overcome these; all it takes is knowing your own capabilities and some quick thinking to conquer the obstacle in front of you.

When it comes to working with a team, you have to think bigger, but the tasks also become easier. Having multiple hands on deck means having more people to help you out in the areas where you struggle. If everyone on the team maintains this positive, helpful attitude, it will make the obstacle course race feel less tiring and more fun.

The Egg Drop Game

The goal of this games to build a contraption that protects an egg which is then dropped from a high [spot/place],: usually a second floor window or veranda. Teams are given a variety of materials and tools to work with, like tissues, paper, cardboard tubes, tape, rubber bands, old boxes, and cotton.

This is a simple yet effective exercise in problem solving. Participants need to consider what elements make the egg crack and what materials they can use to prevent this from happening. They might then need to report to others about how and why their plan is a good one, as they could with issues they encounter in the workplace.

The Takeaway

Obstacle training can also be approached with problem solving techniques. In an obstacle course racing event, each team member must use their body and brain at the same time to run, crawl, climb, lift, and swim their way to the finish line. They think up the most efficient way possible to overcome each obstacle, and help each other out to execute it together.

Photo Scavenger Hunt

A high-tech twist to an old favorite, the photo scavenger hunt is an activity that makes use of digital or polaroid cameras. Employees form teams, look for items on a list, and take pictures of as many of those items as they can. The list can include anything from "a yellow car" to "a group photo with a celebrity or someone famous" to "something that starts with the letter Z."

The photo scavenger hunt is a favorite because it involves exploring the outside world and using what you find to win the game. This also allows for members of a group to get to know each other better and bond over creating and documenting memories.

The Takeaway

Forging new friendships is a huge bonus that OCR enthusiasts get out of joining races. They're a great avenue for meeting new people and getting closer to friends you don't often get to catch up with. Enduring  a tough OCR together will help teammates appreciate each other's friendship more – much more so when they cross the finish line together and celebrate their win.

Swimming

One of the most popular choices for team building is bringing the team to a pool for a day of food, drink, and swimming, sometimes paired with karaoke. It's easy to amp up the enjoyment with games like pool volleyball, pool Frisbee, Marco Polo, relays, or just racing from one end of the pool to the other.

Whether for a corporate getaway or just a break from the scorching heat, people love to go swimming because it's fun and physically engaging. You only need minimal equipment and minimal skills – no fancy gear or Olympic-worthy swimming chops necessary.

The Takeaway

Obstacle training involves all kinds of physical activities, including swimming. Think of OCR as an extended, well-rounded workout, with parts that focus on cardio, strength, endurance, and sheer determination. It's an excellent way to get your team members' hearts racing and put their physical and mental grit to the test. They can participate even if they haven't trained and don't need to bring any kind of special equipment.

Skill Building

Employers may use team building as a channel to offer their team some learning that they wouldn't get in work-related training sessions. In fact, it might be better to get creative and seek out a skill or activity that none of them has ever tried before.

Depending on what's available in your area, this learning could come in the form of a class for cake decorating, ice sculpting, sushi rolling, or bricklaying. It could also be a workshop to improve acting, dance, or even a contact sport like kickboxing.

We often think of employers opening doors for their team in the context of promotions and networking, but these are just two of many (or countless) ways that they can help their people grow professionally and personally. Offering them opportunities to better themselves by adding to their skillset makes them that much more valuable to the company and motivates them to keep going.

The Takeaway

Introducing your team to obstacle training can be beneficial to their physical well-being, especially if it becomes a habit. It can help them maintain good mental health and a firm, never-say-die attitude. Showing concern for these things imparts that you care about them as employees and as people. No perks or incentives can compare to that feeling of security and support, or can motivate them better.

Employers have particular reasons for choosing one type of team building over another. Some might want to prioritize enhancing their team's problem solving skills and creativity. Others just want to give their team a good time, having fun and strengthening bonds. When you opt to register them for an OCR event, (consider removing the following short segment and instead connect to the next sentence)your team members can become better collaborators, sharpen their skills, and enjoy themselves in the span of one race day – and there's a good chance they'll end up wanting to come back for more.