A Classic Through the Years:
Why Team building Remains Essential in 2025

As the saying goes, “some things never change.” This holds especially true for soft skills—transferable life skills that remain relevant across roles and industries. From communication and influencing skills to leadership and teamwork, the demand for these skills has been consistent for decades.

In today’s workplace, where Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, Power BI, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives dominate conversations, one area that organizations continue to come back to as a priority is Team Building.

The Post-Pandemic Shift Toward Team Building

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed business operations, making remote work the norm. While it offered flexibility and productivity gains, it also created challenges in collaboration, innovation, and maintaining company culture. As employees gradually returned to physical workspaces, many companies noticed a growing disconnect—teams struggled to communicate, collaborate, and re-engage after prolonged isolation.

According to Gallup’s 2023 “State of the Global Workplace” report, employee stress reached record highs, while trends like quiet quitting became a growing concern. In response, many companies turned to team building programs to help employees reconnect and rebuild teamwork.

Outdoor team building activities have gained traction as a way to reduce workplace stress and improve engagement, according to Forbes. Similarly, a survey by BrightHR found that 79% of employees believe having fun at work leads to higher productivity. Research from the University of Warwick supports this, showing that happy employees are, on average, 12% more productive than disengaged counterparts.

These findings underscore the importance of well-designed, engaging team building programs in building a motivated, high-performing workforce.

What Makes a Great Team Building Program?

Not all team building activities deliver meaningful results. To ensure impact, organizations should consider the following key elements:

1. Inclusivity & Engagement

• Activities should cater to diverse participants. A skilled trainer will gather information on attendees’ backgrounds, age groups, and any health considerations to ensure everyone can participate comfortably.

 2. Clear Objectives and Outcomes

• While team building should be enjoyable, it must also serve a purpose. Whether addressing communication gaps, fostering trust, or developing leadership skills, setting well-defined objectives and outcomes will be essential in ensuring activities align with organizational goals.

 3. The Power of Debriefing

• The true value of team building lies in the debriefing session, which turns a fun activity into a meaningful learning experience. It connects participants' behaviors, actions, and attitudes to the outcomes, helping them understand why and how they achieved those results. Through facilitated reflection, trainers should encourage participants to recognize how their actions align with workplace dynamics. A skilled trainer doesn’t dominate the conversation but listens attentively, asking probing questions to promote self-awareness and connect behavior patterns to real-world workplace outcomes, whether positive or negative.

 4. Motivation Through Recognition

• Never underestimate the impact and significance of food and rewards, especially in local contexts. After mentally and physically engaging activities, a good meal serves as both nourishment and a reward, encouraging informal bonding. Small prizes—even humorous ones—can help boost morale and encourage friendly competition. This ensures your team building session ends on a high note, reinforcing the purpose and value of the experience.

Team Building in Malaysia: Leveraging HRD Corp Funding

Team building has remained a cornerstone of corporate training for decades and will continue to be vital in the years to come. In a rapidly changing work environment, where collaboration and shared goals are essential, team building activities help reinforce motivation, drive, and commitment. Recognizing its impact on employee retention and performance, HRD Corp has recently expanded its funding scope, allowing organizations to invest more in structured, impactful team building initiatives.

For companies looking to foster stronger, more cohesive teams, customized, HRD Corp-funded teambuilding programs offer a valuable opportunity. To explore how your organization can benefit, reach out to DreamCatcher for tailored solutions that align with your team’s unique needs.