When people think of team building, visions of stuffy meeting rooms, terribly outdated trust exercises and motivational videos come to mind. All in all, it’s a pretty scary thought for any employee when their boss tells them that there is an upcoming office retreat; however, increasingly the decision makers are turning to fun days or weekends away to better instil the critical team spirit needed for success.

BOHDI Adventures

In the fast paced and often stressful world of Shanghai, it’s important to get out of the city every now and again for a little fresh air and relaxation. BOHDI Adventures has a series of packages that make a nice addition to any incentive program, helping to rejuvenate employees as well as improving their teamwork and skills. With activities including ropes courses, orienteering, trail biking and scavenger hunts, BOHDI provides both a fun day out and a valuable lesson in teamwork. BOHDI has eight years experience and numerous locations all around China, ensuring it has what it takes for a great office excursion.

Web: www.bohdi.com.cn

Dragon Teambuilding 

Large enough to provide customers with excellent facilities, but small enough not to compromise on customer service, Dragon is one of Shanghai’s premiere team building companies. Specialising in problem solving and group strategies both indoors and out, Dragon Teambuilding has worked with Ferrari, IKEA and eBay to name just a few. The company has a good track record and is a safe pair of hands when investing in this sort of trip.

Web: www.dragonteambuilding.com

HRO

HRO is an intercultural, creative behavioural science firm and provider of high quality training, assessment and coaching services. They aim to leave a strong and positive impact on any individual or group they work with and ensure that organisations and workers are functioning to their full potential. Doing this through a combination of coaching and action learning, HRO is able to bring the best out of any team, be it a group of entry-level workers or executive management.

Web: www.hrobjective.com

Paintball

Whether it’s because you spilled coffee on your keyboard or accidentally shredded an important contract, bad days are a fact of working life. A great way to alleviate this stress while simultaneously building team spirit is a fun round of paintball. The Weicheng Paintball Shooting Sports Center doesn’t specifically offer a MICE package, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting your Rambo on. Paintballing is a great way to develop bonds and encourage teamwork even without free biscuits and tea half way through.

Web: www.sh-paintball.com