Food tours make a great team building activity

When you spend tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars hiring and training employees, it makes sense to do everything you can to keep that team happy, healthy, motivated, and effective as a team. That’s especially true in a busy, hyper-connected world like the one we live in today. Sometimes, it’s important to step away from the screens and conferences calls and get to know each other.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of good team building activities. Done right, team building activities have a number of benefits to your company and your employees.

The number one benefit of team building activities is that it gives employees a chance to get to know each other. Getting out of the office gives people a chance to see a more human side of each other. When you know things about each other like your favorite food, it makes it easier to collaborate, reach out for help, and forgive each other silly mistakes or misunderstandings.

When you’re busy trying to do a good job at work, it can be hard to forge the kind of bonds that lead to a deeper friendship. That’s especially true in competitive environments when people are on guard all the time. By getting out of the office, colleagues can relax a bit and learn to see each other in a more positive light.

Not only is that great for collaboration at work, it can also lead to higher retention. When you like the people you work with, you’re much less likely to leave.

A fun team building activity and a day or afternoon outside the office can be a great motivator for employees. It’s always nice to feel appreciated!

For many employees, company culture is a big deal. A lot of people put a high value on working at a fun, upbeat, modern company, and having regular team building events can greatly contribute to that image.

One of the best ways to get your creative cells firing is to unplug and change your scenery. Given the pace of modern life, many people live on auto-pilot, going from sleep to work to home and then bed. There isn’t a lot of time in between to mix things up and do something out of the ordinary.

Team building flips the script and takes your employees away from the mundane. That little breath of fresh air and new stimulus can be just what’s needed to make a breakthrough at work.

As great as team building activities can be, not every activity is right for every team. Good team building activities tick a number of boxes:

At Local Food Adventures, we’ve conducted private food tours for companies of all sizes, from Google and Facebook to the Contra Costa Country Club Women’s Club and the local chapter of the Red Hat Society. Food tours make great team building activities because everybody eats, they allow just enough time for chatting, and they don’t put anyone on the spot or highlight their inadequacies. It’s about good food, learning a bit about the area, and enjoying each other’s company. Many dietary restrictions can also be accommodated, so it’s a very inclusive activity.

If you’re interested in arranging a private food tour for your team, check out our On-Demand Online Booking Calendar where you can book your tour without the back-and-forth hassle. If your desired date and/or time is not available or you are looking for a custom tour, you can contact us directly at  510-604-6546 or email us at info@localfoodadventures.com  We’re happy to answer any questions you might have about booking a tour or accommodating the needs of your group.

The post The Employee Benefits of Team Building Activities – & Why Food Tours Work So Well appeared first on Local Food Adventures.