10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Corporate Team Building Activity

When companies set out to strengthen their culture, one of the first ideas that typically comes up is team building, but ’team building‘ is a vast term, with a nearly unlimited number of options to choose from. Some deliver lasting impact, while others fade the moment the event ends. If you want to invest in something that truly engages employees, builds connection, and reflects your company’s values, it’s worth asking the right questions before you choose.

Here are 10 questions to guide your decision and ensure your next corporate team building activity is meaningful, effective, and worth the investment.

1. Does this activity align with our company values?

Team building should reinforce what your organization stands for. If your company values innovation, collaboration, and community impact, the activity should mirror those. For example, building bikes for children in Title I schools brings employees together around teamwork and demonstrates a shared commitment to giving back.

2. Will employees actually enjoy it?

Escape rooms, bowling, or trivia nights may sound fun in theory, but not everyone loves them. A great team building activity includes something for everyone: introverts and extroverts, competitive and collaborative personalities alike. Think about activities that let employees work at their own pace, contribute their skills, and feel proud of the outcome. 

3. Does it build real connections between employees?

The best activities help people move past job titles and meet each other as people. Look for experiences where collaboration is built in, and where problem-solving requires communication, teamwork, and trust. A shared sense of accomplishment creates bonds that stick long after the event ends.

4. Is there a purpose beyond the activity itself?

Traditional team building can feel like checking a box: you do the event, everyone has a laugh, and then it’s back to business as usual. Purpose-driven activities create a ripple effect. For example, when employees work together to build and donate bikes, they’re not just strengthening their own team, they’re making a direct impact that they can see on children in their community.

5. How will this activity impact company culture?

Culture is built through experiences. A single well-designed event can reinforce pride in your organization and give employees a story to tell about what it’s like to work there. Ask yourself: will this activity inspire people to share about it on their LinkedIn profiles, speak positively to their friends, and say they’re proud to work at your company? 

6. Is it inclusive and accessible for all employees?

Not everyone wants to run a ropes course or compete in a high-intensity game. Team building should welcome participation from employees of all abilities, fitness levels, and personality types. Activities like bike builds work because everyone can contribute meaningfully, even if they’ve never built a bike before. 

7. Does it offer a balance of fun and substance?

Purely “fun” events can feel frivolous if they don’t tie back to a larger goal. On the flip side, activities that are too heavy-handed may feel forced and press boundaries. The sweet spot is something that employees genuinely enjoy and walk away from with a stronger sense of connection and purpose.

8. How easy is it to plan and execute?

Internal planning can make or break a team building experience. If your HR or leadership team has to coordinate dozens of details, like transportation, supplies, and facilitators, it adds stress instead of relieving it. Look for turnkey experiences that handle logistics for you so you can focus on the outcomes.

9. What lasting impact will it have?

A one-time happy hour won’t change how employees feel about their jobs. But an activity that creates a shared memory, fosters community pride, or benefits others leaves a lasting imprint. Employees remember how they felt when they saw 2nd-graders riding bikes for the first time, not what they scored on trivia night.

10. Will this experience help us achieve our business goals?

Employee engagement isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It directly affects retention, productivity, and company reputation. A team building event should emphasize your goals, (directly or indirectly), strengthen your workforce and reinforce your company’s role in the community.

Choosing with Intention

When you weigh these questions, the right activity becomes clear. Corporate team building is most effective when it connects employees to each other and to something larger than themselves. Purpose-driven experiences, like Wish for Wheels’ Team Build & Give experiences, check all the boxes: they’re inclusive, turnkey, meaningful, and unforgettable. A long-term partner recently said “If you’re even remotely considering a community service project with your workforce, you should absolutely consider Wish for Wheels. Your employees will love it. The community will feel it. And your team will grow stronger because of it.”

Contact us today to learn more about planning a Team Build & Give experience for your organization or download more information about our events by clicking here.