How to Make the Most of Escape Room Teambuilding

Team building activities allow participants to better know one another and work together in a fun social environment. By collaborating, solving problems, and achieving a goal, a team can form new unique bonds which increases staff productivity and enjoyment in the workplace. If you are looking for a team building opportunity, escape rooms are an excellent way to break out of the rut of the office and engage with your coworkers. To make sure your team gets the most out of an escape room during a team building event, consider these tips.

Gather Your Group

Escape rooms are best done with a group. Most rooms have a recommended group size, which is typically anywhere from 4 to 10 participants per room. However, if you have a group size larger than that, everyone can still participate! You can split your group into teams and book multiple experiences at the same time. That option may not be available on the escape room’s website, but do not hesitate to contact the business and ask for a special booking made just for your group. If you have a larger group, reach out to us at events@trappedpuzzlerooms.com  so we can help you set up the perfect team building experience!

Pick Your Escape

Which escape room will your team attempt? There are so many escape rooms currently available now, that trying to find the one that fits your team can seem daunting. At Trapped Puzzle Rooms, our Minneapolis location has 4 stellar experiences available, while our St. Paul location has an impressive 5 to choose from. If a particular theme jumps out at your group, go with that! Having a themed experience that interests your group will ensure everyone has a great time. Still wondering if you have picked the correct experience, send us an email at minneapolis@trappedpuzzlerooms.com and we will be happy to give you some recommendations.

Let the Team Lead

It is easy to carry over the roles we have in the office to a team building exercise. But, if you are used to leading a team, step back and allow your team to lead during the escape room. Often, these types of moments allow your team members to show sides of themselves they do not normally get to feature. You may find an unexpected leader encouraging the team forward, or notice someone is quite good at keeping track of what tasks the group still needs to accomplish.

You have hired fantastic people for your team; give them the opportunity to solve these problems and direct their own efforts. This ensures your team is engaged and are the heroes of the moment.

Share the Spotlight

Escape rooms are fun and fill us with adrenaline and excitement. But, make sure everyone in your group has a chance to be the hero. Give everyone the opportunity to tackle an obstacle, especially if it is one that suits their skill set and interests. Keep an eye out for players who may be hesitant to offer ideas and suggestions; they may be shy or reserved, or they may be nervous about offering ideas to the group. Give them the support they need, as these players often know more than they’re letting on!

Model Asking for Help

When your coworkers are struggling with something in the workplace, you want them to be confident in asking for assistance. Escape rooms are no different. If your team is struggling on a puzzle, or feeling lost as to what to do next, ask for a hint! Getting a hint is not admitting defeat, but recognizing that you need a little help to continue on. And, when the experience is over, don’t dwell on the number of hints you received – revel in your shared victory! Hints are part of the experience and are an excellent time to show your coworkers that it’s okay to ask for help.

Highlight Your Success

When the room is finished, focus on everyone’s success. Find moments when your team excelled and celebrate those. Do not get discouraged by your final time or by the moments when you struggled. That is normal in an escape room; no group gets the correct answer right away every time! Emphasize the moments your team succeeded, the times everyone worked together well, and celebrate your collective victory!

Apply What You've Learned

Escape rooms are fun and fill us with adrenaline and excitement. But, make sure everyone in your group has a chance to be the hero. Give everyone the opportunity to tackle an obstacle, especially if it is one that suits their skill set and interests. Keep an eye out for players who may be hesitant to offer ideas and suggestions; they may be shy or reserved, or they may be nervous about offering ideas to the group. Give them the support they need, as these players often know more than they’re letting on!

Have a great time at your escape room teambuilding event!

Keep these tips in mind the next time you visit an escape room for your team building exercise. If you’d like to book one of our experiences, check out our excellent escape room experiences in Minneapolis or in St. Paul, then get in touch with us via email at minneapolis@trappedpuzzlerooms.com.

 

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Jamie