{"id":23291,"date":"2026-10-13T15:45:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T12:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.orreke.ee\/blogi\/how-to-choose-a-team-building-activity\/"},"modified":"2026-10-13T16:12:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T13:12:33","slug":"how-to-choose-a-team-building-activity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orreke.ee\/en\/blogi\/how-to-choose-a-team-building-activity\/","title":{"rendered":"How to choose a team event activity that suits people with different interests?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One colleague expects an active task from a team event, another wants a quiet conversation, and a third seeks a new experience. If you simply ask “what should we do?”, you might get more answers than participants. How do you choose between them?<\/p>\n\n

Start with the goal of the event, ask for the team’s preferences, and compare the organization of the activities.<\/strong> A suitable choice gives people the opportunity to participate in a way that is manageable for them and fits within your time, location, and budget constraints. This also makes it easier to decide whether a creative workshop, a joint cooking session, or a more active pursuit would suit your team. <\/p>\n\n

What do you want to achieve with the team event?<\/h2>\n\n

Before compiling a list of activities, complete the sentence: “With this event, we want to…”.<\/p>\n\n

Do you want to help new colleagues get to know each other, celebrate the end of a project, or offer a change of pace from the workday? Each goal guides the choice in a slightly different direction. <\/p>\n\n

If new people have joined the team, it is worth looking for an activity that leaves time for talking. A complex task that requires full attention might not be the best for this. If the team wants to learn something new together, a guided activity could be the centerpiece of the event. <\/p>\n\n

Choose one primary goal. This will help you decide later which ideas to explore further and which to set aside for the next event. <\/p>\n\n

Ask the team three things before choosing an activity<\/h2>\n\n

The organizer’s own favorite activity is a good starting point, but it is worth asking separately about others’ preferences. A short questionnaire helps make a choice better than a general discussion where the most vocal people set the direction. <\/p>\n\n

For example, ask:<\/p>\n\n

    \n
  1. What pace do you prefer?<\/strong> Calm, active, or a combination of both?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. What would you like to try together?<\/strong> A hands-on activity, a joint task, movement, or time left for conversation?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. What should we take into account so that you can participate comfortably?<\/strong> For example, mobility options, the language of instruction, or the suitability of materials and food.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Offer the opportunity to answer the third question privately to the organizer. Not everyone wants to explain their needs in front of colleagues. <\/p>\n\n

    Do not try to find one activity from the answers that everyone without exception will like. Look for common threads: do they want more time for socializing, do they avoid competition, or are they ready to learn something new together? These observations help narrow down the choice. <\/p>\n\n

    Compare activities according to five practical criteria<\/h2>\n\n

    Once a few ideas have been shortlisted, look into their actual structure. “Workshop”, “hike”, or “cooking” can mean quite different experiences with different service providers. <\/p>\n\n

    Criterion<\/th>What to ask before booking?<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Prior skills<\/td>Can a beginner participate with the help of guidance? Which stages of the work might be more difficult? <\/td><\/tr>
    Pace<\/td>Does everyone have to move at the same pace or can some stages be done more calmly?<\/td><\/tr>
    Socializing opportunity<\/td>When can you talk to each other and when do you need to focus on the instructor?<\/td><\/tr>
    Flexibility of participation<\/td>Can the task or the way of participating be adapted if necessary?<\/td><\/tr>
    Time and space<\/td>How much time does the entire activity need, including preparation and wrap-up? What kind of location is suitable? <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

    For example, in the case of a guided creative task, inquire about the use of tools and the availability of help. For a physical activity, clarify the intensity, route, and weather dependence. For joint cooking, ask about the division of labor and consideration for dietary needs. <\/p>\n\n

    Comparison helps to see which specific solution meets your team’s expectations.<\/p>\n\n

    When is it worth considering a creative workshop?<\/h2>\n\n

    A creative workshop is one option if you want to do something with your hands together and have a finished item by the end of the activity. For a team with different interests, the choice can be simplified if the item made has a use or meaning for the participant. <\/p>\n\n

    In \u00d6rreke’s leatherwork workshop<\/a>, leftover materials from a leather workshop are used to make smaller accessories, such as keychains and bookmarks. This gives the organizer a concrete starting point: could making a practical item appeal to your team? <\/p>\n\n

    \"Participants
    The leatherwork workshop provides an opportunity to make a practical item with your own hands.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

    Another example is “Shards bring luck!”, where jewelry or keychains are made from old porcelain. You can read about this and other options in \u00d6rreke’s summer day ideas post<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

    If someone says “I’m not good at crafts”, ask the provider what skills the chosen workshop requires and how the instructor helps the participant. A clear idea of the work stages can reduce hesitation. The name of the workshop alone does not provide this information. <\/p>\n\n

    If the team is primarily looking for a sporting challenge or competition, look at activities that correspond to that. The choice should be based on your team’s goal. <\/p>\n\n

    How to give participants room for choice?<\/h2>\n\n

    A joint activity does not have to mean that everyone makes exactly the same item. Ask the service provider if the design, colors, or certain work stages can be chosen in the selected workshop. This way, you can find out before booking how many personal choices the activity allows. <\/p>\n\n

    Also think about how people start. A workshop with a joint start helps to give instructions to the whole group at once. For a longer event, you could consider an activity area that people join at different times. The suitability and organization of such a format must be discussed separately with the provider. <\/p>\n\n

    A colleague who focuses calmly on their work can enjoy the activity just as much as a person who joins in the conversation at the whole table. Presenting and comparing the crafts could be an agreed-upon part of the program, not an unexpected obligation. <\/p>\n\n

    Before making a final choice, also check the access to the room and whether the instructor can be seen and heard well. The W3C event organizing guide<\/a> recommends asking about participants’ needs in advance\u2014this way, the organization can be adapted accordingly.<\/p>\n\n

    What to write down before asking for a quote?<\/h2>\n\n

    A good inquiry helps the service provider recommend a suitable activity. You don’t need to know all the details yet, but write down: <\/p>\n\n