The event organizer has pulled off the perfect conference in a stunning venue. The guest speaker has achieved the rare feat of being both informative and amusing, and the catering has been absolutely top-notch. Everyone has now finished lunch, and an expectant hush descends on the contented gaggle of conference delegates as the organiser takes to the stage to announce the afternoon's activities. And with the sound of the words "team-building activities", your heart sinks in expectation of an afternoon of ritual humiliation in front of your testosterone-crazed, hyper-competitive workmates...

But that is where things have most definitely changed in recent times. Team-building is no longer simply an afterthought to a conference programme, or an excuse for macho types to prove themselves, but is now seen as important enough to justify in its own right. Companies are increasingly realising, rightly, the importance of team co-ordination and empathy - after all, the majority of corporations now are structured in the form of small groups engaged in regular, co-ordinated action to obtain results. What is the most important trait of a perfect staff member?

According to managers surveyed in a recent study, being a "team player" was ranked the highest.

Sure, everyone has to work together on a daily basis in the office, and they probably get along most of the time, and perhaps even complete a work task or assignment occasionally. However, good team-building activities will really challenge the dynamics of your team in ways the office cannot, and it is often interesting to see how the roles of various team members become more sharply defined when they are seriously challenged by a problem or task. Who emerges as the natural leader of the group, how does the leader integrate individual skills and resources into a united effort, and how does the team collaborate in deciding task assignments and procedures? The results may surprise you!

Sounds good up to now? So what constitutes a team-building activity, and how do you go about organising one? Fortunately, in New Zealand there are many programmes to choose from, and you will find inspiration from many of the listings in this directory. You might prefer structured programmes in problem-solving that have been professionally designed to test some of the crucial aspects of team cohesion. Another excellent option is the range of recreational outdoor activities for which New Zealand is world-renowned, such as jetboating, rock-climbing or quad-biking. Why not try something a little different - a flight simulator, or even bulldozer-driving! Or combine aspects from the above list for your perfect event.

One of the major benefits to including team-building activities as part of your conference programme is their effect on staff morale. Surveys suggest that at any one time, over half of the staff of a typical workforce are unhappy, and actively seeking new positions. In today's fluid and flexible labour market, low unemployment means a high staff turnover in many industries, as people are unafraid to seek alternative employment the moment they start feeling less than 100% content with their current role. When you factor in the cost of replacing a staff member who leaves - two and a half times their salary - the true value that effective team-building activities can make in ensuring staff happiness and morale becomes all the more apparent.

So get stuck in, get inspired by some of the ideas in this book, and make sure that team-building activities play a major part in your next conference or event. And don't forget that above all, it's about having fun!