In today’s fast-paced healthcare environment, hospital teams face immense pressure every day. This includes navigating life-or-death decisions to managing high patient volumes and emotionally demanding situations. 

With so much focus on clinical excellence and operational efficiency, it’s easy to overlook one of the most critical elements of hospital performance – the strength of interpersonal relationships among staff.

Strong connections between employees aren’t just nice to have – they’re essential. They reduce burnout, improve communication, and ultimately enhance patient care. Yet, these relationships don’t always flourish within the walls of the hospital, where stress is high and time for casual connection is scarce.

That’s why many hospitals are embracing creative, offsite activities designed to build trust, boost morale, and foster collaboration in more relaxed and enjoyable environments. 

Whether it’s an outdoor group challenge, a community service day, or a friendly round of a social sport, these shared experiences have the power to deepen bonds and reenergize teams.

Among these options, golfing games stand out as a surprisingly inclusive and flexible choice. With various formats that encourage group participation and low-pressure fun, golf can offer both a refreshing break and a chance to connect. 

Below are five proven methods that can help hospital leaders and HR teams create stronger, more connected workplaces – one meaningful experience at a time.

1. Organize Group Golfing Sessions with a Twist

Golf isn’t just for retirees or seasoned players anymore. With new formats and a growing trend toward social, casual golf, it’s become an excellent option for teams of all ages and skill levels. 

It’s not about sinking the perfect putt. Golf is about shared laughs, strategy, and even a little friendly rivalry.

Let’s discuss some of the reasons why group golfing sessions work for improving employee relationships:

  • Low-Pressure Competition: Most golfing games are designed for fun. Scramble formats, best ball, or even mini-golf encourage group involvement without individual performance pressure.
  • Plenty of Downtime for Conversation: Golf is naturally paced with time between shots to chat and connect.
  • Inclusivity: Non-golfers can still participate in team formats or support from the sidelines.

There is more than one way to hit a golf ball. Some of the popular formats for group play include:

  • Scramble: Players from teams, and each team member hits from the best ball position.
  • Shamble: A mix of individual and team play, where strategy plays a larger role.
  • Best Ball: Each player plays their own ball, but only the best score on each hole counts for the team.

Incorporating themed challenges, rotating partners, or fun prizes can make the experience even more engaging. The key is variety, such as exploring golfing games that keep things fresh and accessible for everyone. Refer to various in-depth guides for ideas tailored to hospital groups.

2. Host Team-Based Volunteer Events

Nothing brings people together like working toward a shared purpose. Organizing volunteer opportunities outside the hospital walls creates meaningful moments of collaboration while benefiting the larger community.

Some of the most popular team-based volunteering options include:

  • Habitat for Humanity build days
  • Packing meals for food banks
  • Local school or library renovation projects
  • Charity fun runs or walkathons

These experiences promote empathy, build trust, and allow coworkers to see each other in a different light that’s beyond scrubs and shift schedules. Plus, working together in a non-clinical setting creates natural opportunities for genuine conversations and bonding.

A pro tip to keep in mind is to rotate team captains and involve staff in selecting causes. When employees help shape the experience, engagement levels increase significantly.

3. Create a Rotating “Staff Socials” Calendar

Sometimes, the simplest activities are the most effective. Creating a regular schedule of informal socials, such as those hosted or planned by different departments, can promote interdepartmental friendships and reduce feelings of isolation among staff.

A few different ideas for monthly socials include:

  • Trivia nights at a local pub
  • Paint-and-sip events
  • Picnic potlucks in the park
  • DIY craft or baking competitions
  • Board game or video game nights

Rotating the hosting responsibility encourages buy-in from different teams and keeps the content fresh. It also helps flatten hierarchies as nurses, physicians, technicians, and support staff interact in relaxed, informal ways.

One thing to keep in mind is to always choose venues or formats that accommodate a wide range of schedules, especially night-shift and weekend staff.

4. Start a Staff Wellness Adventure Series

Workplace wellness initiatives often focus on diet or fitness, but there’s enormous value in simply spending time together outdoors. Building a series of wellness-themed mini-adventures can be a refreshing way to support both mental health and staff bonding.

A few options for you and your team to consider include:

  • Hiking or nature walks in local parks or nature reserves
  • Yoga retreats (half-day or weekend) designed for beginners and mixed-abilities
  • Paddleboarding or kayaking outings on nearby lakes or rivers
  • Urban scavenger hunts that combine physical activity and problem-solving

These outings offer a double benefit – stress relief through movement, and relaxed, shared experiences that encourage people to open up. You don’t need intense fitness goals, just an invitation to move, breathe, and laugh together.

Pair adventures with light-hearted social media challenges (like photo contests) to create buzz and document the fun.

5. Design Collaborative Team-Building Challenges

While traditional team-building can feel stiff or overly scripted, thoughtfully designed challenges can be energizing and meaningful, especially when they tap into creativity or problem-solving in new ways.

Some fresh takes on team-building activities include:

  • Escape rooms are fun and mentally engaging, perfect for developing collaboration
  • Improv or storytelling workshops are excellent for enhancing communication
  • Culinary challenges, like “Chopped-style” cook-offs or collaborative meal prep events
  • DIY innovation labs set a real-life hospital challenge and let teams brainstorm creative solutions in a relaxed setting

Keep the focus on fun, exploration, and group effort. Avoid heavy “learning outcomes” or forced role-play, and instead celebrate teamwork through natural, shared experiences.

A few tips for success include:

  • Mix up departments in each team to encourage cross-functional relationships
  • Offer low-stakes prizes to increase friendly competition
  • Provide reflection time to share highlights or laugh over mishaps

Why These Activities Work

Hospital environments demand high resilience, precise communication, and seamless teamwork. But inside the hospital, there’s limited time to build the trust and camaraderie that fuel those dynamics. 

That’s why outside-the-box experiences, like golfing games and shared volunteer adventures, are so effective. They offer an environment where people can be themselves – relaxed, open, and receptive to connection.

These methods work because they achieve the following:

  • Humanize Colleagues: When staff interact outside their roles, they see each other as whole people.
  • Promote Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Informal interactions deepen understanding and reduce conflict.
  • Encourage Collaboration: Trust developed outside the workplace directly improves on-the-job coordination.
  • Boost Morale and Engagement: Fun, creative activities help staff feel valued and part of a supportive culture.

Final Thoughts

Hospital teams are the backbone of quality healthcare, and their relationships matter. While in-hospital training, check-ins, and communication strategies all play a role, offsite engagement is a secret weapon for building stronger, more resilient teams.

Whether it’s bonding over golfing games during a relaxing afternoon outdoors, sharing laughs at a staff trivia night, or collaborating on a community project, the magic happens when people connect as people, not just coworkers.

By weaving together these five proven strategies, hospitals can cultivate a workplace culture that feels connected, energized, and ready to meet any challenge with unity and purpose.