Away day ideas to improve teamwork 

If you’re looking to strengthen relationships within your team, enhance their collaboration, and build their morale, then you need to consider our team away day session ideas. Events like these provide employees with a break from their day-to-day responsibilities, offering a new environment for them to bond, communicate with one another, and work to solve problems.  

While Cumberland Lodge doesn’t actively host away days, we can provide the perfect location for companies to bring their away day ideas for team building to life. Our 17^th-century building sits in the heart of Windsor Great Park, providing an equally remote and accessible location so that even companies based in the city can make the most of nature. In addition to the stunning setting, Cumberland Lodge is a social enterprise, meaning booking one of our spaces for your corporate away day allows you to support our mission. Our primary focus is on education, meaning we use your funding to help shape young people into future ethical leaders.  

The purpose of team away days 

Away days are very much about employees getting the opportunity to relax and have fun, but they have a greater purpose than this. Instead, away days can act as powerful tools in the following ways: 

• Strengthen communication – In the daily rush of work, employees may not have the time or opportunity to communicate openly and effectively. Away days provide a relaxed setting that facilitates communication.  

• Foster trust and collaboration – For a team to run effectively, there needs to be a solid foundation of trust. Away days provide the perfect opportunity to build trust in a casual, non-work-related environment.  

• Boost morale and engagement – To remain productive, employees need regular breaks from routine. That’s where away days come in to provide employees with the opportunity to recharge and refocus.  

Team away day icebreakers 

It’s a good idea to kick off away days with some icebreakers, as these work to make everyone feel a little more comfortable with one another. Some colleagues may not work closely with one another, and icebreakers allow them to get to know each other a little better. Some of the most popular icebreakers include the following: 

• Two truths and a lie – Each employee shares three statements about themselves, two of which are true and one that is false. The rest of the team then guesses which is the lie. This encourages employees to share interesting facts about themselves so everyone can get to know them a little better. 
  
• Human bingo – This requires you to create bingo cards with fun facts like ‘Has travelled to more than three continents’ or ‘Loves spicy food’. The goal is for employees to find colleagues who match each fact and mark off their cards. This works to get everyone talking and finding common interests.
  
• Speed networking – Everyone pairs up and talks for three minutes before rotating partners. This is another way of getting everyone to talk, helping to break down barriers.  

Away day activity ideas 

Once the icebreakers have served their purpose and got everyone feeling a little more comfortable, you can then move on to some activities. It’s important that these activities reflect your objectives and your team’s preferences. Some popular ideas include the following: 

• Outdoor adventures – Cumberland Lodge sits in a stunning natural setting, meaning you might try an activity that has your team exploring the grounds. You could set them challenges like a scavenger hunt, encouraging them to work together towards success. 

• Puzzle-solving challenges – Puzzle-solving will allow you to see how your team works under pressure. When solving puzzles, it’s important that your team cooperates and thinks creatively to achieve the shared goal. 

• Workshops and learning activities – Cumberland Lodge provides spaces where you can host workshops and teach new skills. These skills might include leadership, communication, or conflict resolution. Learning together is a great way to build teamwork and invest in professional development.  

Team away day games 

Games are a fun and informal way to bring out everyone’s competitive spirit while reinforcing teamwork. Some of the most popular team-building games include the following: 

• Blindfolded obstacle course – One team member is blindfolded and must navigate an obstacle course with the help of their teammates’ verbal instructions. This highlights the importance of clear communication and trust. 

• Egg drop challenge – Teams must design a contraption that protects a raw egg from breaking when dropped from a height. This encourages creativity and collaboration. 

• Tug-of-war – Two teams battle against one another in a physical test of cooperation. It may seem simple, but tug-of-war is all about working as a team to achieve victory.