The Way To Team Building Success Is Through The Stomach
There has been a steady increase over the last couple of decades in the number of companies paying more attention to their staff needs and how well their teams work together. It is becoming increasingly accepted by many business leaders that it is teams that work together who triumph over individually skilled staff working alone.
The number of companies choosing to use team building days has risen by 23% in the last 5 years, and the range of activities open to businesses has more than doubled. You can now partake in virtual reality team building computer games, or help run a farm for a day. One type of team building day that has proved very popular is corporate cookery days. The format of these days usually includes a competitive element between a number of teams who are required to put together a first course, second course and sweet, which is then later judged by a panel of ‘experts’.
The cooking days have been helped along by the increasing profile of Chef Gordon Ramsey and his straight talking management style. Indeed, the cookery days often adopt a Gordon Ramsey style approach, with a demonic chef and lots of verbal ‘discussions’ going on. Some might consider this a little intimidating, although it really is just a bit of fun and nothing gets taken too seriously when someone gets told off for burning the omelette for example
These fun, tongue in cheek style team building days are even starting to replace corporate hospitality events.For years companies arranged boring corporate dinners and spectator sports events, where clients and management could mingle.Nobody wants to be sitting around idle, having to produce forced smiles every five minutes, they want to be getting involved with the entertainment. And who can blame them, starting a food fight at someone elses expensive has to be the best way to have fun doesnt it?
