Team Bonding Activities in Nigeria

Several activities can be practiced during team bonding hours.  These activities are broadly categorized into indoor and outdoor activities. A blend of both categories is perfect but some workplaces can only feature one depending on their formation. Remote work teams are not left out as there are virtual activities that are equally interesting.

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Here is a list of team bonding activities in Nigeria  

1. Games:  a popular benefit of gaming is that it reduces stress and improves mood whilst also building social skills. With the number and variety of games that exist, the world will never run out of games.  Whilst some games can only be done outdoors, there are a lot that are not space specific and there are virtual games. Games have various categories such as physical games, mental games, and video games.  

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A large number of virtual gaming activities can also be considered.  Interesting virtual games include scavenger hunts, international food tours, virtual racing, virtual cook along, and loads of others that can be found on teambonding.com/virtual-and-remote-team-building    

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2. Meditation sessions: As a team bonding activity, this is a process of Yoga, breathing, and thinking sessions. Experts can be brought in to coordinate the team on a good meditation session. Asides from this being beneficial to the mental health individually, practicing in group breeds an atmosphere for relation and bonding.

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3. Adventuring: Exploring new places and activities is one great way to make epic memories and the experience is even better when done in a group. Here are many adventures that can be used for team bonding in Nigeria.

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• Tourism: There are many tourist and resort places in Nigeria. The Ikogosi warm spring in Ekiti, Erin Ijesa waterfall in Osun, the ancient city of Ibadan, Gurara waterfall in Niger state, and Obudu mountain resort in Calabar, amongst many others are places worth exploring as a team. These environments offer a good experience at an affordable amount. They are perfect for team bonding staycations. When deciding on what location to explore, be sure to check reviews on the internet and also consider engaging tourism companies to make the planning easier.

• Hiking: Adventuring can also be as simple as organizing a morning mountain hike. This is very popular at locations with different hills and mountains. There are also expert groups who can be employed to lead the team on the trails. The scenic view from the top is divine, and it’s usually a party climbing and ascending the hills with the help of music speakers (fun games are also a great idea at the top of the hill!)

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• Kayaking is another fun adventure that can be used for team bonding. The water body is usually low depth and the kayaks are relatively safe. Mastering the process only takes an explanation by the official and voila, team members become fishermen paddling on the waters for some 30 minutes to one hour while laughing at each other's paddling skills. Seeing team members express fear, excitement, and joy on the water is a memorable experience. Games like kayak racing can also be enjoyed.

Other interesting adventurous activities to explore are wine tasting, paint-balling, bush riding, cycling in a park, scooter riding, horse riding at the beach, and quad bike riding at resort centers. Adventuring is mainly an outdoor activity and can be done with team members together in a physical space.

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1. Fitness and exercise session: imagine seeing your colleagues in gym suits, sweating together while you exercise. Exercising in a group is fun when you engage in light routines and dance activities. Interesting conversations are also sparked during workouts and team members are generally relaxed to have better communication. This can be done indoors at a gym or outdoor like the HIIT sessions.

2. Fun Challenges: Participating in online challenges has become the latest fun activity since the COVID-19 lockdown. Fun challenges like viral dance challenges on TikTok and Instagram, lip-syncing to viral audios, dress up and transition challenges can be used as a team bonding activity. Popular tech companies do this a lot and also generate content in the process. All it requires is a recording device and team members getting creative. Some challenges are not only fun but beneficial. Challenges like a weeklong water drinking challenge or a creative dress-up challenge where members are told to come to work in cultural attires.  

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3. Hangout/picnic: Hanging out as a team bonding activity is always a win. This could be a weekend or after-work activity where team members gather to have a great time. A hangout can be a cinema group date, a visit to the beach, a picnic at a park, a karaoke session, or exploring the food menu at a fine restaurant. Team members typically let their guard down during these activities and it gives a peek into their non-work personality.

4. Group Vacation: Vacationing as a team bonding activity is probably the most const intensive activity on the list. It is equally a very rewarding one when considered. It involves living with team members in a different environment for some days solely for relaxation and retreat. This experience builds great relationships as you experience a new culture, new people, new food, and treasures in a new place. Games and other fun activities can be scheduled into the get-away period. There are a couple of beautiful vacation destinations in Nigeria and this can be planned with the help of tourism companies.  

5. Gift exchange/Secret Santa: The simple act of coordinated exchange of gifts amongst team members is a potent bonding exercise. Members of the team research their gift partners thereby learning more about them to curate the best gift item for them. Secret Santa is the same as gift exchange except that the one who gives must not reveal herself/himself until a planned gift-reveal day where everyone showcases their gifts and knows their secret Santa.

Steps for choosing team bonding activities  

To explore team bonding activities in an organization, the manager should follow these steps:

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1. Understand the purpose of this concept: A plan or activity without a purpose can derail very quickly and by itself start to produce different elements. What exactly is the goal for this? How can team bonding benefit the company culture? What particular activities will fit our social culture? It is the responsibility of the HR team to carve out goals for team bonding before proceeding with it.  The human resource manager must analyze a team and determine which activity is necessary and best for a team. A team that finds it hard to communicate should engage in an activity that involves free communication and vulnerability.  A team that is getting too comfortable with each other should engage in an activity that promotes interaction while respecting each other’s boundary or activities that teaches boundaries and personal space in a workplace. A remote company should consider virtual activities that are equally interesting.  

2. Making a decision: selecting from a pool of team bonding activities is made easier simply by knowing its purpose. With the help of a list of goals, one can select the ones that fit and represent the company culture and values as well as are capable of delivering on set goals. If the purpose is to create more accessibility amongst team members,  selecting a vacation/staycation or hangout is closest to home. Video games will allow for more vulnerability and authenticity if that is the goal.  

3. Schedule: Team bonding activities should not be an afterthought and should be planned beforehand either at the start of the quarter or the year. One way to do this is by using a goal/ objectives tracking platform such as Beam to make sure you don’t miss any of your team bonding milestones over time. if a plan and purpose have been set,  the next step is to choose a period that best fits.  Schedule a weekly hour if it is a period that will be included in the social culture of the organization or set apart an appropriate period if it is a one-off monthly or annual event.

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