A team building activity is not entertainment.
It is a tool.
When poorly chosen, it may be fun in the moment and quickly forgotten.
When well designed, it strengthens relationships, improves collaboration and leaves a lasting impact.
Choosing the right team building activity starts with understanding what you truly want to achieve with your team.
Why choosing the right activity really matters
A team building session should never exist just to fill a programme.
It must serve a clear purpose.
A relevant activity can:
• build genuine connections
• reveal team dynamics
• improve day-to-day collaboration
A poorly adapted activity, on the other hand, may create discomfort, fatigue or disengagement.
Start by defining the objective of your team building
This balance is often best achieved during a team building experience, where professional objectives and moments of connection naturally coexist in a calm Provençal setting.
Before selecting any activity, ask yourself one essential question:
what do you want this team building to achieve?
Strengthening team cohesion
Building trust.
Encouraging informal exchanges.
Helping people get to know each other better.
Improving communication
Breaking down silos.
Encouraging listening.
Creating safer spaces for dialogue.
Uniting teams around a shared vision
Re-engaging teams.
Giving meaning.
Creating collective momentum.
Without a clear objective, no activity will be truly effective.
A team building activity only makes sense if it serves a clear purpose.
Start by defining the objectives of your corporate seminar.
Adapt the activity to the team profile
No two teams are the same.
No activity works for everyone.
Group size
An activity designed for ten people may not work for fifty.
The format must fit the actual size of the group.
Level of seniority
Some activities are suitable for operational teams but less appropriate for executive groups.
The level of exposure and engagement must be carefully considered.
For leadership teams, team building activities must remain subtle and aligned with strategic goals.
This is why executive meetings and leadership retreats in Provence benefit from carefully chosen, low-pressure activities.
Company culture
An activity should reflect the company’s values.
Forcing people too far out of their comfort zone rarely produces positive results.
Team building in nature: a powerful lever
Organising a team building activity in a natural setting creates a healthy break from everyday routines.
Nature:
• calms
• slows the pace
• encourages more authentic interactions
In Provence, outdoor team building activities provide an ideal environment to strengthen cohesion without unnecessary pressure.
Collaborative walks, sensory workshops, gentle collective challenges or experiences linked to local culture allow teams to work together differently.
Collaborative activities rather than competitive ones
Competition is not always the best option.
The limits of overly competitive activities
• they highlight the same profiles
• they can generate frustration
• they sometimes reinforce existing tensions
The benefits of collaborative activities
• they value collective intelligence
• they encourage cooperation
• they foster inclusion
A successful team building activity helps the group succeed together, not individuals compete against one another.
Integrating the activity into the seminar rhythm
Team building should never feel disconnected from the rest of the seminar.
It works best when it is:
• integrated into the overall programme
• scheduled at the right moment
• aligned with working sessions
An activity that is too intense at the end of the day exhausts teams.
A well-timed activity restores energy and focus.
The role of the venue in choosing the right activity
The venue strongly influences which activities are possible.
A suitable venue allows:
• indoor and outdoor activities
• smooth logistics
• a stress-free experience
In a fully privatised setting, teams feel more relaxed.
Activities become more natural and more engaging.
The venue strongly influences the type of activities that can be offered.
An ideal setting for a productive and inspiring seminar allows more natural and engaging team building experiences.
The venue strongly influences the activities that can be offered and the overall experience.
To understand how venue, objectives and activities work together, discover a corporate seminar in a unique setting.
Common mistakes to avoid
Choosing a trendy activity
What works elsewhere may not suit your team.
Overloading the programme
Too many activities dilute impact.
One well-chosen moment is more effective than a packed schedule.
Forgetting the meaning
An activity without a clear link to your objectives remains anecdotal.
In summary
Choosing a team building activity is a strategic decision, not a logistical one.
The right activity:
• serves a clear objective
• respects the team profile
• fits within a coherent setting
• creates lasting value
A successful team building activity does more than create a pleasant moment.
It sustainably improves relationships and collective performance.
