Team retreats described in the responses we received ranged from glorified off-site work sessions to team learning workshops to ropes courses. One reader and her team had to construct a sea-worthy boat for two using only duct tape, a knife, plastic sheeting and cardboard — and then had to row it across a lake. Apparently, several teams got in a bit of swimming practice along the way.

Go, Team, Go!
Overall, your comments were positive, like this from Pat. J.:

We did the “catch me I’m falling” activity as well as many others that allowed us to be supportive and work as a team. I was very relieved that not only did they catch and support me but they helped me get back on my feet. During that couple of days we learned our strengths and weaknesses not only as individuals but as a team. We learned we are coaches for each other. We worked together to develop our department’s mission statement based on the knowledge we gained at the retreat.

Another fan of team retreats was Shenali D.:

Our department attended a team-building event two years in a row, which was a resounding success. I think it brought our team closer together and helped us appreciate each other’s unique values. Each person is a valuable member of the team, and this outing drove the point home and beyond!

Extreme (Team) Makeover
But whew-doggie, the handful of negative responses we got were real doozies. Browse through them and you’ll understand why we’re not printing any last names! This team retreat story from Lynelle S. had some of us on the CareerThink staff laughing until we got the hiccups…

You are to climb a 50-foot ladder (why do these insidious exercises always include heights?) where at the top is a 19-year-old bored college student standing on a little platform. This student is going to “carefully” secure you into a holster. (This holster, by the way, cuts into some rather embarrassing body parts ... parts you would rather the folks you work with on a daily basis not have to focus on). Once securely bound, you will jump from the aforementioned platform. Alas, you will feel no fear as your body propels through the air with the greatest of ease. You are fearless — because you have passed out from sheer terror the second you took the plunge.

After a day of jumping, plunging, hollering and generally looking utterly moronic, we were then treated to a buffet-style meal, fit for a king. Oh, did I mention the free booze? Man, were we glad to see that!

P.S. It was mandatory that the entire company attend. At a price tag of $2,000 a head and approximately 1,500 employees, well, do the math. I’m sure it was money well-spent (cough cough!)

Have an Ambulance on Standby
Theresa S. also graphically described the potential downside of retreats that get physical:

I understand the so-called purpose behind (strenuous team-building events), but quite frankly, they scare me to death and can be very embarrassing and humiliating. About 4 years ago I was at one, and unfortunately, quite overweight at the time. My team members were supposed to pick you up and try to guide you through a bunch of ropes, all the while being sure your body didn’t touch any of the ropes. I stood in the very back and fortunately, time ran out before they got to me.

Another event the team had was to go across these balance beams ... well, one of the members fell and fractured her ankle horribly and was in physical therapy for the next year and a half.

I really think there are other ways of team building where everyone can participate without doing these incredibly stupid feats of “extreme” acrobatics. More thought needs to be put into how uncomfortable people are, their health, etc. I’m surprised in today’s age why these crazy team-building antics are allowed with the liability involved.

(Read more responses by clicking here or scrolling below ...)

Making Team Activities a Success
Our experts in team training offer this advice for making team-building activities successful:

• Determine your goals before you select the type of activity
  Think about your purpose for holding the event. Is it to get people better acquainted? Make existing teams gel or grow stronger? Solve specific problems? Have a fun day of camaraderie together away from the office? Learn new team-building skills? When you recognize what you want to get out of the event, you can better choose an activity that will meet your expectations.
• Choose a team-building activity that’s appropriate for your entire group
  Exercises that require strength, stamina and athletic abilities often appeal to those who’re physical fit and highly competitive. For everyone else, they can be a nightmare. Always take into consideration the fitness level and the personalities the team members involved. An event that embarrasses or makes some team members uncomfortable will not be a positive team-building experience.
• Gain team buy-in prior to the event
  This is absolutely crucial. Discuss the purpose of the event and examine why it is important to your team and your organization. Stress individual responsibility: what team members get out of the activity depends entirely on what they’re willing to put into it.
• Always have a follow-up.
  Whether it’s a debriefing directly after the event or a team meeting the next day, it’s important to discuss what people gained from the activity. In addition, the feedback you get will help in choosing future team-building retreats or events.

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... More responses

Catch me if you can
Despite the danger of injuries, some readers truly enjoyed the more physical brand of team activity, such as Sandra C. …

I have participated in a team retreat before and thoroughly enjoy it. We, too, had to catch an over 6-foot, more than 200 pound man and we caught him. The priority in our heads for catching him was we didn't want him to get hurt. There were about 15 of us. We walked on a tight rope together, we rowed in boats together, we made masks of our faces together. It was a calming environment out of the city, like a mini-vacation.

No managers allowed?
Kim T. and several others were of the opinion that including managers in small groups with their employees can bring candid discussion of work issues to a screeching halt.

... A senior manager attended both retreats, which inhibited people from discussing actual issues. Also, this person tried to take over the discussions on several occasions. If problem solving will be done in the retreat, it might be a good idea for managers to either be out of the picture or at least kept from dominating discussions.

It’s up to Y-O-U
Deborah B. summed up a crucial point about team-building events: They’re only as good as the attitudes of the participants involved.

I have participated in several team retreats or workshops over the past 15 years, and there have been some exceptional ones that contributed to the person (and therefore an employee) I am today. There were also a few that I felt were a complete waste of time. Either way, I feel it is the employee who determines whether they learn anything (positive or not) and apply new skills.

Dolly G. was on the same wave-length:

I think you have to keep an open mind when attending a team-building retreat, with a willingness to learn something from the experience.

And Debbie C. was downright blunt about it:

Bottom line: team-building retreats are a great idea and beneficial only if the team really wants to try and work as a team. I found that the effects of the retreats on those who don’t lasted until we left the parking lot.