Nature-Inspired Team Building: Hiking as a Catalyst for Internal Connections

Successful managers agree that the quality of the team’s work depends not only on the professionalism of the members. Team spirit is equally important when all members of the group work as a single mechanism. That is why companies pay special attention to corporate culture, and various types of team building are gaining popularity. 

Look for an effective way to get to know each employee better and replace banal gatherings in a cafe? No doubt you will appreciate hiking tours! This option is much better than virtual team-building activities.

Hiking – awesome team-building option

Hiking, with its combination of physical activity and natural beauty, provides an ideal setting for team building. As teams navigate trails together, they encounter challenges that require cooperation and problem-solving. Whether it’s navigating a tricky terrain or supporting one another on a steep ascent, hiking encourages teamwork and mutual reliance.

You can go for a hike in Morocco, Patagonia, Nepal, Norway, Iceland, the Carpathians, the Caucasus, Corsica, Madeira, and many other destinations. There are dozens of destinations to strengthen your team`s spirit.

People often ask themselves, “Isn’t it too complicated? After all, not every office employee has experience in mountaineering”. Do not worry; the variety of routes will allow you to choose the best option that will be feasible for your team.

What hiking destination to choose?

If you have any doubts that this type of team building is affordable and profitable, let’s take a closer look:

• There are many budget-friendly and interesting ideas for corporate hiking in the Carpathians, Turkey, and Georgia.
• You can choose a long one—or two-week vacation hike or a very short weekend hike (e.g., Adlerweg).
• Choosing a corporate hike is very easy, so everyone in your team can overcome the route. It all depends on your needs – the hiking tour company will provide the rest. After the corporate hike, unwind and bond over the excitement of an escape room adventure.
• Doubting the endurance of your colleagues? Don’t worry! Hiking is not only about grueling ascents and descents. There are very different tracks – in terms of difficulty, length, and weight of backpacks. Not everyone can conquer Mount Everest, but everyone dreams of eating oranges and blueberries right on the trail or climbing ancient ruins. Universal and budget options are mountains + sea in Turkey-Cappadocia or the Lycian Way, beautiful light trekking in Cyprus, and, of course, many routes in the Carpathians.
• If the group’s budget and interests allow, you can choose very cool options that will definitely impress everyone. These are Kilimanjaro and African safari, High Atlas with an overnight stay under the Sahara stars, Lake Titicaca & Uyuni salt flats, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, climbing Kazbek or Mont Blanc, trekking to Everest or Annapurna in Nepal, the sacred Kailash in Tibet, and more.

As you can see, you can choose from myriad hiking tour options.

Why do you need to try hiking as a team-building tool?

This is a new experience that will give employees the opportunity to get to know each other better. In the bosom of nature, under the open, clear sky, in conditions other than their comfort zone, people open up and show their best qualities. And sometimes not the best ones, but you need to know about that too, right?

This is where the trusting relationships that distinguish a successful team from an unsuccessful one can emerge. After all, what can bring people together better than an outstretched helping hand on a mountain climb?

Give your colleagues the opportunity to have conversations that go beyond numbers and reports. Such conversations reveal common interests, hobbies, and outlook on life. Many of them will return home as friends, even though they knew each other only by name at work. We are sure that organizing a corporate hiking trip will be one of your best ideas as a manager and leader.

Employees will have common memories that will be a conversation topic during breaks. And many years later, each participant will remember the time spent on such a vacation with pleasant nostalgia. Now, when talking about work, they will be able to proudly say that they are part of a company that cares about the team. They will tell their friends that they are working in the best company where each employee is not just an accountant or a secretary, but first and foremost, a person.

And, of course, don’t forget about the amazing landscapes that will open up before you during the hike. Be sure to take your camera with you. You will definitely want to capture the surrounding panoramas. Decorating your office wall with collective photos, each of which is imbued with warmth and positive emotions, will create a cozy atmosphere. Now work will become easier and more enjoyable, and therefore more efficient.

Conclusion

Corporate hikes will give all participants a unique experience of communication and interaction. Any inconsistencies in work will seem trivial and easily resolved for them later. After such a teambuilding, you will:

• Observe how yesterday’s barely acquainted colleagues will become a close-knit team
• Learn about new facets of your employees’ character and personality
• Discover hidden leaders
• Establish a trusting relationship with your team
• Bring back vivid impressions, colorful photos, and memories

Nature and its beauty will relieve stress, through which people are used to seeing each other. These are unique memories and photographs, mutual care, and relaxation from everyday life. It is a way to get closer, make friends, and show the best qualities in the team. Hiking is an awesome teambuilding option to see people as more than just office neighbors.