What makes an effective team truly have outstanding teamwork skills? To find out, we interviewed Márti Sárközi and Csaba Masek—two professionals who combine experience in organizational development, Gestalt therapy, training design, professional basketball, and dozens of unique corporate adventures.
Their real-life stories and lessons offer far more than typical team building activities. In this interview, they share what actually works in the field to create a high-performing team.
What Are the Golden Rules of Teamwork? 3 Essentials from Márti and Csaba
Márti Sárközi:
1. Clear Roles and Self-Awareness
“Every team member needs to understand their place and their role within the team—how they contribute to the team’s success. And that only works if they’re self-aware, if they know their strengths and weaknesses and are willing to own them. That’s where true team building begins.”
This foundation is essential to build trust and clarity within the team. When people are confident about their abilities, they perform better and communicate more effectively.
2. Personal Relationships and Mutual Acceptance
“For a team to run smoothly, people need to know each other, not just names and job titles, but on a human level. There needs to be real connection and empathy. Outdoor team building adventures are a great way to encourage that.”
Especially in today’s remote teams, personal bonding is often pushed aside. But as Márti points out:
“When the team faces a challenge, it’s much easier to collaborate if I’ve had a meaningful experience with my colleague. I know their personality, their strengths. That familiarity makes cooperation feel safer.”
3. Respect and Giving Space
“In a strong, cohesive team, we value each other’s strengths and respect different working styles. We don’t expect others to operate just like we do.”
“Take time management, for example: some team members like to start early and progress step-by-step, while others thrive under pressure close to the deadline. Both approaches can lead to excellent results. A team that works together accepts and adapts to these differences.”
Csaba Masek:
1. Self-Awareness and Team Composition
“Self-awareness is key. And based on that, we should focus on people’s strengths, not try to fix every weakness.”
How? Csaba explains:
“We often try to ‘correct’ weaknesses instead of leveraging strengths. But like in parenting, if a child is struggling in math, we usually hire a tutor. But if they’re great at art, wouldn’t it make more sense to mentor them in what they’re good at?”
That’s where team composition becomes critical
“The more diverse the team, the easier it is to match tasks with people’s strengths. And when there’s strong team cohesion and mutual support, colleagues can jump in for each other without hesitation.”
2. A Clear, Shared Goal
“You need a common goal that everyone can align with. Not just leadership, but each team member must see how they fit into the collective picture. That’s what gives real momentum to collaboration.”
“In short: a company’s vision must be broken down into something personal and meaningful for every team member.”
3. Two-Way Communication
“I know it’s a cliché, but communication is everything. Even the most motivated, competent people will fail as a team if communication doesn’t work.”
One practical tip Csaba emphasizes:
“There should always be feedback—real two-way interaction. One-sided communication is what causes most misunderstandings and conflicts. Team building sessions should model that feedback culture.”
What Are the Benefits of Effective Teamwork?
Csaba:
“Better performance, plain and simple. That’s the beauty of it. The company wins because productivity and profit increase, and the employees win because they enjoy their work more.”
Márti:
“Higher job satisfaction. Over time, this has a major impact. When team members feel better at work, they’re more likely to stay. Lower turnover is just one outcome.”
“For many people, the team itself becomes a motivating factor, they enjoy showing up to work, they enjoy their tasks, and they perform better. In a connected team, there are fewer conflicts. People trust each other and can even laugh things off together. And because team communication is better, they’ll work to solve problems instead of letting tension build up.”
What Makes an Ideal Team Composition Even for a Remote Team?
Csaba:
“The best teams are diverse teams, different strengths, different perspectives. That’s how you make the most of available resources. And when the team building is strong, and people support each other naturally, everyone gets to focus on what they do best.”
Márti:
“But that only works if the team knows how to use those differences. That depends a lot on leadership and company culture.”
“To put it bluntly: we shouldn’t try to create identical ‘droids’ through expectations. We should learn to recognize the value of diversity—and use it.”
What Is the Leader’s Role in Team-Building Exercises and Collaboration?
Csaba:
“Without good leadership, there’s no real teamwork. Even the most enthusiastic group can end up disorganized and ineffective if there’s no shared goal or clear decision-making process.”
Why is Team Building Important, What Kind of Leadership Style Works Best?
“Personally, I believe in empowering leadership, giving people the space and support they need to bring out their best. That means creating opportunities, offering training, and keeping motivation alive. And yes, mistakes must be allowed. Failure has to be accepted as part of the process.”
Márti:
“That only works if the team is competent and motivated. But if those conditions are met, empowerment leads to long-term success.”
How Does Self-Awareness Team Building Activities Help Teams Work Better Together?
Both Márti and Csaba emphasize that self-awareness is more than a buzzword, it’s a foundational skill that supports any kind of team collaboration.
Márti:
“Self-awareness is tied to self-reflection, and without reflection, there is no learning. That applies to every social interaction at work.”
She breaks it down further:
- Confidence: “When someone knows their own value in the team, they can work with clarity and create real impact.”
- Boundaries: “A self-aware person knows when they need help and isn’t afraid to ask. That’s rare in many teams, but so necessary.”
- Decision-making: “Self-awareness helps people make confident decisions within their area of competence.”
- Accountability & Mistakes: “The culture around mistakes is huge. Can people make them safely? Can they take ownership? That all depends on how much responsibility they’re comfortable with, and that comes from self-awareness.”
What Kinds of Self-Awareness Methods Work Best for a Team Building Event?
“Honestly, any kind. What matters is the willingness to examine your own behavior. That alone improves team dynamics.”
“Assertive communication, conflict resolution, problem-solving, time management—all of it builds on self-awareness.”
How Does Gestalt Therapy Support Team Bonding?
As a Gestalt therapist, Márti brings a unique lens to both coaching and team development.
Márti:
“Gestalt is a psychological approach, a therapeutic method, and a self-awareness toolkit. The goal is to help someone see a situation from multiple angles, to create a fuller picture.”
“People tend to view situations, whether at home or at work, through automatic patterns. This narrows their perspective. But if we can learn to notice new viewpoints, we open up to making different choices, and that creates freedom.”
Why Did You Choose Outdoor Fun Team Building Adventures for Team Bonding Activities?
Outdoor, story-based experiences are at the heart of the World of Adventures team building programs. But why?
Márti:
“Whether it’s a family, a friend group, or a team at work, people learn more about themselves, and how to collaborate, when they’re relaxed and enjoying themselves in a shared, engaging environment.”
“The physical aspect of hiking introduces natural opportunities to support each other. At the same time, the problem-solving challenges reveal different skill sets. You start to see who listens, who leads, who thinks together, and how they focus on common goals.”
“It’s a fun activity with a serious purpose. Many of the same situations arise as in an office: conflict resolution, decision-making, communication, and even change management. The difference is, people are more open and less defensive.”
Do you want some team-building suggestions?
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Why Reflection Is Key: Turning Outdoor Team Building Games into Learning
Outdoor team building games are powerful, but only if teams take time to reflect afterward.
“That’s where team coaching comes in,” says Márti. “The most effective team-building activities include structured reflection.”
“A good adventure creates the raw material: the team experiences situations and makes choices. But it’s in the coaching session that those experiences are processed, and insights emerge that can truly change how the team operates.”
What Makes This Format Better Than Traditional Team Building Programs?
“Compared to classroom training, outdoor team building has a much higher emotional impact, it’s physical, mental, and social at the same time.”
“Compared to ‘just for fun’ activities like bowling or karaoke, adventure-based team building creates real learning, especially when it’s custom-tailored to the team and its current challenges.”
“We even weave in the company’s language, inside jokes, and cultural values into the storyline. That’s what makes it feel personal—and powerful.”
And team building activities doesn’t stop there.
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“The coaching afterward helps transform the experience into practical insights for the workplace. We’ve found that this combination of outdoor challenges and team coaching is incredibly effective.”
Need some tips?
Here are 25 ideas for indoor and outdoor team building games.
The Personal Story Behind the Adventure
Where did this passion for nature-based, story-driven team-building activities come from?
“It started when we got dogs. We began spending time in nature every day, walking in the woods, recharging. That’s when we realized how powerful the outdoors can be. Being outside helps you relax, disconnect from work, and genuinely connect with others.”
“And then comes the second ingredient: play. Some people don’t enjoy hiking for its own sake, but when there’s a story, a mission, a challenge, they get immersed. They become the main character, and time just flies. Even for those who usually avoid this kind of activity, the narrative pulls them in.”
“That’s what makes it so effective. You have physical movement, mental tasks, emotional connection, and all in a low-pressure, informal setting. And yet, the team faces real moments of decision-making, cooperation, and conflict resolution.”
“It’s not about competition, but collaboration. And because the setting is relaxed, people are more willing to take a look at themselves and how they operate within the team.”
Team Coaching: Turning Team Building Sessions into Growth
“Reflection is the bridge between experience and learning. That’s why we pair our adventures with structured team building sessions, so that the team can process what happened, identify patterns, and make better choices moving forward.”
“It’s not just about fun. It’s about helping the team that works together truly grow together.”
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FAQ
Common Questions About Team Building
1. What is the definition of teamwork?
Teamwork is a dynamic process where interdependent individuals work together toward a shared goal. It’s more than just dividing tasks—real teamwork involves aligned roles, clear responsibilities, and joint decision-making. Each person contributes from their strengths, creating synergy that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
2. What’s the difference between team-building activities and collaboration development?
Team building typically involves short, high-impact events (like workshops or outdoor adventures) that boost trust, connection, and soft skills.
Collaboration development, on the other hand, is a longer-term process focused on structure, how decisions are made, how feedback flows, how roles are defined. Ideally, they go hand in hand.
3. How can you support conflict resolution within a team, large or small groups?
- Early intervention: The sooner you identify the root of tension, the easier it is to resolve.
- Structured dialogue: With a facilitator or coach, use tools like active listening or interest-based negotiation to ensure safety and clarity.
- Psychological safety: When mistakes are accepted and open feedback is encouraged, conflict becomes a growth opportunity, not a threat.
4. Key benefits of team building, – good teamwork really boosts motivation?
Absolutely. According to the Self-Determination Theory, motivation thrives on:
- Autonomy – the freedom to shape one’s own work.
- Competence – being recognized and supported in what you do best.
- Connection – feeling like you belong, and working toward a meaningful common goal with others.
When all three are present, people are more committed, less likely to leave, and more effective in their roles.
Ready to Design Your Own Team Adventure? Team Building Activities in Budapest or Hungary
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Because the best team building activities help people grow, connect, and perform – together.
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Request a quote for a custom WofA Adventure, so you and your colleagues can play a unique Adventure, at a location of your choice, designed just for you!
