What happens when coworkers and cubicle-buddies ditch the meeting-room for the mud-pit? A whole lot of teamwork, bridge-building, and improved office morale. Which is why employees are taking a step outside their 9-5 to find more in the mud for the ultimate team building experience. Here’s why you should build a Corporate Team and take a nosedive into The Toughest Event On The Planet, together.
1. Goal-Setting
Tough Mudder’s full line-up of team-oriented obstacles require a little strategy and goal setting before you take them on. This is a great opportunity for coworkers to brainstorm an objective and plan as a team. First, you’ll figure out how you’re going to push, pull, and roll your way through the 60ft of slick, rotating barriers of Block Ness Monster. Then, you’ll use your strategizing skills to get each coworker over the 10-foot hold-free slanted Skidmarked wall. Finally, you’ll take on the 15 foot slick quarter pipe of Everest 2.0 with fearlessness and focus.
Your corporate team will remember that setting goals is a great way to stay motivated, challenged, and focused on the task at hand. You might even feel like you’re on top of Everest after you earn your way to Mudder glory…
“Our team assembled in December of 2016. From that point, we had a group message so we could all help get each other pumped for this, keep everyone motivated to continue to go to the gym and also hit the trails to train. When the day came, we put on our war paint, huddled up with all 16 of us and crushed the course, not only as a team of work colleagues, but as a massive team on the course.” – Carsten Lee, Corporate Team Red Bull
2. Camaraderie
What happens at Tough Mudder does not stay at Tough Mudder. You and your coworkers will be talking about the way you muscled through Funky Monkey The Revolution, endured through probably The Worst Brain Freeze On The Planet after Artic Enema, and ate mud during Kiss of Mud at the water cooler for at least the next year. Plus, what says camaraderie more than a team of employees decorating their work-wear with a finisher headband on Headband Monday?
When a team of co-workers leave their fears in the parking lot together, they become friends for life, which can increase effective communication and accountability at work.
“Though many of us met for the first time that morning, we all started together, worked together, cheered for each other, and finished together. There was plenty of time to bond during while running and there were great trust exercises on the obstacles.”– Alicia Jarrett, Corporate Team United States Army
3. Teamwork
Tough Mudder’s full lineup of team-oriented obstacles like ShawShanked, SkidMarked, and Pyramid Scheme guarantee that you’ll cross the finish line with more friends than you started with. Whether it’s through a helping hand (or knee, leg, and shoulder), or an extra vote of confidence, your fellow coworkers and Mudders will be there for you every step of the way as you earn your finisher headbands as a team. Your team will remember that when it comes to being better than your best, teamwork is key. You’re tougher together, after all.
Amazing experience. Such great learnings and affirmations around team building, trust, adventure, stepping outside your comfort zone… all so applicable to the business world! And simply FUN!” – Kayla Torontow, Corporate Team Pethealth Inc.
4. Relationship Building
Feel nervous around your CEO and other higher-ups? It can be intimidating to speak with to someone with tenure, but nothing bonds a team like mud. On-course there is no hierarchy, there is only 100,000 gallons of grade A mud, high fives all around, and helping hands. You’ll watch your coworker conquer heights as they hang from Funky Monkey The Revolution, you’ll see your boss emerge mud-soaked and smiling after Mud Mile 2.0, and you’ll bear witness to your cubicle-mate pushing themselves mentally as they scale Pyramid Scheme. You and your corporate team will get down and dirty as you run, crawl, and climb through 10+ miles of mud and challenging obstacles. Consider Tough Mudder the ultimate ice-breaker.
“Although not planned, I ended up running the entire race with one of my young Lieutenants. I’m sure he had no expectation before the race that he’d partner up with his boss (a full-bird Colonel). We had a great time and we’ll always have this unique shared experience as long as our careers remain intertwined…plus we completed the challenge faster than anyone from our air force base.”– Member of Corporate Team Hanscom Air Force Base