Your Staff Say This About Your “Dumb Team-Building Day"

Team-building days are meant to be invigorating, but if they’re poorly planned, they can feel like a waste of time—or worse, an uncomfortable obligation. Often, employees say these events feel “forced” or “out of touch.” Imagine a day of tedious games or contrived bonding activities that miss the mark completely! Many staff members leave these sessions thinking, "That’s a day I’ll never get back."

Why does this matter? When teambuilding is disconnected from real needs, it backfires. A poorly received event can heighten disengagement and erode respect for leadership. Meaningful team-building activities should reflect your team’s unique strengths, address real communication barriers, and foster authentic collaboration.

Tip for Leaders: Involve your team in the planning process. Ask them what activities they’d find valuable and fun. Real connection stems from shared respect and purpose—not gimmicks.

As you can see above, I recently asked my Facebook community what was the worst team building they’d ever been to – some of them sad, some shocking – and so many bad experiences – we can definitely do better.

Want a sample team building day agenda – download mine here.

AJ

Alexandra Joy