The 5 benefits of collaborative mural painting for teams
Every year as an HR manager, you need to organise a team building for your colleagues. You used to love organising it, it was fun, you could think of something creative. You went kayaking, did a cooking class, beer tasting, chocolate making, treasure hunt, VR games, laser tag, you name it. You did all of these already. Now you need another idea to wow your team again this year: collaborative mural painting!
I bet that’s something you haven’t done before because that’s a completely new and unique concept. The idea is that you get together with your colleagues and with the help of a mural artist, you co-design and paint a mural in your office. No artistic ability is required and the result is guaranteed to look awesome! Still on the fence? Here are five reasons to try it at your next team building.
1. You refocus on your values
When you onboard a new employee, you probably tell them about your mission, vision and values. You want them to understand who you are as a company and what you stand for, but after some time in the day to day grind, those values take a back seat. Th Wall by Numbers painting process starts with a co-design session based on just that, your identity and core values as a team. The mural painting will build on these values and turn them into visual metaphors that will inspire your team during and after the painting process.
Collaborative mural painting at the Too Good To Go office in Copenhagen
2. You spend time with your colleagues in a relaxed and mindful way
You and your colleagues are busy, always chasing deadlines and then rushing home to have some free time with your friends and family. Happy hour with your colleagues is a rare occasion and you don’r really have an opportunity to just “hang-out” stress-free. Collaborative mural painting is a chance to take a step back and do something fun together while hanging out in a chill atmosphere. There is some mellow music, some relaxed painting and a celebration of your beautiful artwork at the end.
Employees painting the wall in Copenhagen
3. You get creative as a team
Free-flowing creativity is often encouraged at the office, but there isn’t always an opportunity to actually get creative together. For that to happen, you need to step away from the usual routine and do something different in a different setting. Moving your body while painting is also addig to coming up with creative ideas whether you are discussing your next vacation or a work project you got stuck on for the past three weeks. And since painting usually happens in groups of 4-5 people, there is also a possibility for intimate conversation with colleagues you maybe haven’t yet had the chance to connect with, until now.
4. You are reminded of your history and mission each time you set foot in the office
The Wall by Numbers creative team building is not just a one-off event that you forget after it happens. You are actually left with an office mural that acts as a reminder of why you do what you do every time you and your team gets to work. As one participant said it: “Every time I step into our kitchen, I’m reminded of what a cool place we work at!”
Collaborative wall painting in Ghent
5. You make your space your own
After covid, our relationship with the workplace has changed significantly. Many of us are now working from home and might go to the office once or twice per week. Maybe there is a new office space because the old one has been too big post-covid or maybe the old office is just plain bland and boring. By painting a mural that you co-design and co-create as a team, you are claiming your office as an important space of creating value. This way, the mural is both a reminder of everything you stand for, and also everything that’s still to come.
Office mural mockup
If you want to learn more about painting a mural in your office and if it’s the right activity for you, feel free to reach out here.