Brought to you by Destination Gold Coast Business Events

As with all MICE programs, good planning starts and ends with choosing the right destination. There’s the all-important practical considerations, including accessibility, facilities, time of year and weather. You should also consider if a location offers a wide breadth of exciting experiences, whether the individuals in your team are adventure seekers, foodies or culture enthusiasts.

If your goal is to foster team building, the real key is to integrate activities that create a sense of shared purpose and camaraderie.

Here are 6 team building strategies and itinerary ideas from Destination Gold Coast’s business event experts.

1. Improve team communication
Look to include a group activity where effective communication leads to increased overall performance, such as a sailing lesson or a sea tour with double kayaks. Besides being a lot of fun, these activities will naturally improve communication skills among team members as they interact with each other in new and different ways.

2. Build trust
Incentive trips are a great way to build trust among team members as they rely on each other to navigate new environments and experiences – especially the more daring ones! During a Gold Coast incentive trip, we encourage teams to conquer the SkyPoint Climb; an awe-inspiring, open-air climb atop one of Queensland’s most iconic landmarks. Despite the full-body harness and safety rail, at 270 metres above sea level the climb can feel quite daunting for some. Tackling the activity as a team fosters a more supportive and trusting team culture, which can lead to better collaboration back home in the office.

3. Inspire creativity
Exposing team members to new cultures and ideas can help break down barriers and promote innovative thinking, which in turn leads to new ideas and approaches to work problems. You can do this through a group cooking class or pottery workshop, or by learning about a local Indigenous culture. A guided beachside rainforest walk along the magical Jellurgal mountain, led by a local Indigenous elder, allows for team members to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultures. It’s amazing how many lessons from traditional practices and the connection to land embraced by this Aboriginal tribe for thousands of years can actually inspire modern ideas and innovation.

4. Enhance problem-solving skills
By working together to overcome challenges and obstacles, you’re helping your team to be more agile and adaptable to changing circumstances. Choose activities like our TreeTop Challenge, which includes adventurous activities such as ziplines, suspended bridges and flying foxes. It’s such a fun, thrilling way to get your team to support one another.

5. Encourage understanding and appreciation of others
The beauty of teamwork is that every individual brings their own unique set of skills, traits and talents. Incorporating a wide range of activities into your itinerary allows different people to shine at different times. Consider a group surfing lesson, trapping crabs on the mighty Tweed river or seeing a performance at HOTA, Home of the Arts. Having such a diverse range of activities in your itinerary helps your team learn about each other’s preferences and personalities and promotes understanding.

6. Strengthen team bonds
The ideal incentive trip should quite literally be the trip of a lifetime. This means including unforgettable experiences such as cuddling a koala, seeing whales, hot air ballooning at sunrise or having cocktails amongst the dolphins at sunset. Having such incredible shared moments builds a sense of camaraderie among your team, strengthening working relationships back home.

When there’s so many great activities on offer, it’s easy to forget that it’s important to schedule in some downtime too. Remember to let your team enjoy some salty, sandy goodness at the beach, a spa treatment or perhaps a mindful yoga class. With the right planning and execution, you can build a program that helps employees to relax, feel appreciated and valued, while at the same time creating a much stronger team and work culture back home.

We can help you deliver a Gold Coast incentive trip guaranteed to shine as bright as your high achievers. Book a free consultation with one of our experienced Business Events team to create a unique itinerary of your own.