Team building. It sounds great in theory — bring people together, build trust, spark collaboration. But in practice? It’s often more complicated than just booking a venue and ordering a round of name badges.
At Zing Events, we’ve spent over a decade creating experiences for everyone from lean start-ups to FTSE 500 giants. In that time, we’ve seen the same hurdles come up again and again. Here’s our honest take on the challenges of team building — and how to tackle them so your next event actually makes an impact.
1. “We Don’t Have the Budget”
Let’s start with the obvious: cost. Team building is sometimes unfairly labelled a “jolly” — nice to have if there’s spare cash, but easy to cut when budgets tighten.
The truth? Done well, it’s not a cost; it’s an investment. Engaged teams are more productive, innovative and profitable. In fact, research shows that highly engaged teams show 21% greater profitability (Gallup). Compare that to the cost of replacing disengaged employees — it’s a no-brainer.
How to overcome it:
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Be clear on ROI. Link the activity to real goals (better collaboration, reduced turnover, stronger leadership).
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Pick scalable formats. At Zing, we can adapt activities like Escape the Box or Deceivers to fit your budget without cutting impact.
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Combine with existing meetings. Running a session as part of a strategy day saves on venue and travel.
2. “Our Workforce Is Everywhere”
Hybrid and remote work has changed everything. Teams that used to sit in the same office are now scattered across the UK — or the world. Getting everyone together physically can be tricky (and expensive).
How to overcome it:
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Go virtual or hybrid. Activities like Around The World or Escape Polar Survival keep people engaged without flights and hotels.
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Think hub-and-spoke. We often run simultaneous events in multiple offices linked digitally.
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Make it worth the travel. If you’re bringing everyone in, go big with something memorable — like a Soap Box Derby or a bespoke company adventure.
3. “We’re Too Busy for Time Out”
Another common Challenges of Team Building? The day job. Leaders worry that time away from the desk means lost productivity — especially in leaner teams or fast-paced industries.
But here’s the kicker: taking time out to strengthen relationships usually pays back in spades. Teams that trust each other work faster, communicate better and solve problems before they escalate.
How to overcome it:
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Short, high-impact sessions. Not every event has to be all-day. We run two-hour sessions like Target 10 that still deliver connection and collaboration.
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Link to existing business priorities. Tie the activity into a strategy refresh, culture programme or leadership offsite.
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Measure outcomes. Show managers it’s time well spent by collecting feedback and action points afterwards.
4. “Our Culture’s Already Great”
This one’s tricky — the “we don’t need it” mindset. Some companies believe their culture is already thriving and team building won’t add much. Often, that’s not the full picture.
Leaders may feel things are going well, but employees can have a different view. According to SHRM, 43% of people who see their culture as “average” have actively looked for new jobs in the last six months. It’s easy to miss early signs of disengagement until it’s too late.
How to overcome this Challenges of Team Building:
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Use team building as a culture check-in. Activities like Animate or Build-a-Bike reveal how people really work together.
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Ask for feedback. We often collect anonymous reflections post-event to uncover hidden challenges.
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Frame it as a reward. Even thriving cultures need moments to celebrate success and say thank you.
5. “We’ve Tried Before… and It Flopped”
Many people have been scarred by cringe-worthy team days — awkward icebreakers, endless PowerPoints, or activities that felt forced. That history can make employees sceptical.
How to overcome this Challenges of Team Building:
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Choose modern, engaging formats. No trust falls here. Our experiences range from competitive game shows to creative film challenges.
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Tailor to your audience. We design events around your people — whether they’re engineers, creatives, execs or a mix.
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Use professional facilitators. Our crew know how to keep energy high and avoid awkward silences.
How Zing Events Helps You Beat These Challenges
We’ve built our business around removing the friction from planning impactful team days. Here’s what sets us apart:
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Flexible delivery: We’re fully mobile. We’ll run events at your office, a hotel, or source a venue for you.
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Scalable formats: From 10 people to 600+, we have options that work across budgets.
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Remote-ready: Our virtual and hybrid solutions keep global teams connected.
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Purpose-driven choices: CSR activities like Putt a Hole in Hunger and Build-a-Bike create real-world impact.
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Expert guidance: We’ll help you define objectives, pick the right format, and prove ROI to the business.
Quick Tips for Planning a Successful Team Event
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Start with outcomes, not activities. Know what you want to achieve (trust, communication, morale) before picking the format.
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Be realistic about time and budget. Better to do a well-designed two-hour event than a full day no one enjoys.
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Communicate the why. Tell your team how this connects to their work or culture.
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Collect feedback. Prove the impact and make it easier to get sign-off next time.
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Partner with professionals. We’ve got the experience (and the kit) to run it smoothly.
What Clients Say
“Zing delivered exactly what we needed: an activity that brought a dispersed team together and left everyone buzzing with ideas.” — ★★★★★ Reviews.io
“We were worried about losing a day of work, but the payoff in collaboration and morale has been huge.” — ★★★★★ Google Review
Final Thoughts
The challenges of team building are real — but none of them are insurmountable. With the right partner, you can create an experience that justifies the time and spend, engages even the most sceptical teams, and strengthens culture long after the event ends.
If you’re ready to move beyond tick-box away days, Zing Events can help you design something genuinely impactful.
👉 Enquire now to talk about your team’s challenges and get a bespoke proposal.
