Softair team building experience on the Tiber: a transformative adventure
On a crisp November morning, along the banks of the Tiber, we gathered a group of defence sector professionals—engineers, executives, and managers from across Europe. Our goal? To offer an experience unlike anything in their usual corporate routines. For the Iveco Defense Vehicles (IDV) team, we chose one of the most exhilarating team-building activities available: softair.
Why softair? strategy meets self-discovery
Our recommendation was simple yet strategic. Softair reveals hidden dimensions—of ourselves and of those we work with. The competitive edge, open terrain, and the opportunity to assert oneself in a safe, playful environment allow even the most reserved participants to lower their guard and tap into unexplored potential.
This was exactly the transformation we aimed to facilitate when IDV asked us to craft an extraordinary close to their incentive trip to Rome. Our team recognised that these international professionals deserved more than just fun—they needed an experience that honoured their expertise while fostering real human connection. The varied natural terrain along the Tiber, just outside the city, offered the perfect backdrop.
Learning through play: the secret to stronger teams
You learn a lot about your colleagues when you're crouched behind a log, strategising your next move. In those moments, traditional hierarchies disappear. You're no longer manager or engineer—you’re just a teammate. This insight is consistently echoed in the feedback we receive from clients who choose softair for their team-building activities.
We designed the day to progress naturally: beginning with hands-on, personalised training (a relief for many who had never held a softair rifle), and moving into scenarios that required planning, communication, and execution—under pressure.
What unfolded was fascinating. The outspoken meeting leader might hang back, choosing instead to offer strategic suggestions at key moments. Meanwhile, a typically quiet colleague might emerge as a tactical leader, coordinating movements with calm precision. Once the adrenaline kicks in, communication evolves into near-telepathy—subtle gestures become full-fledged strategies.
It’s remarkable how quickly the kind of synergy companies work years to develop can emerge in just a few hours of immersive, gamified collaboration. Communication sharpens. Diverse problem-solving approaches are no longer obstacles—they become strengths.
Breaking barriers, building bonds
The IDV team included professionals from multiple countries, and the entire activity was conducted in English. Yet, the nature of softair transcends language. It’s a game of action, intuition, and quick thinking—requiring few words but plenty of collaboration.
Here too, the shared challenge leveled the playing field. Cultural differences that can create friction in office settings suddenly became assets. Methodical approaches blended seamlessly with more instinctive tactics.
By lunchtime, the cliques that had formed over the course of the trip had dissolved. Colleagues mixed freely, reliving the morning’s highlights with laughter and playful debate over who really saved the day in the final showdown.
From fun to function
The real measure of a team-building experience isn’t just how enjoyable it is—it’s what happens afterward. For IDV, the transformation was immediate and tangible.
Over the relaxed buffet lunch that followed a morning of tactical adventure, conversations naturally drifted from retelling highlights to applying lessons to ongoing projects. What began as casual chatting evolved into impromptu problem-solving sessions.
Clients consistently tell us that teams who engage in these kinds of activities see measurable improvements in communication and leadership dynamics.
Why it works
There’s something profoundly authentic about being just slightly outside your comfort zone—together. That’s why lessons learned in heightened emotional states tend to stick with us far longer than those from traditional training formats.
We didn’t hand out softair rifles and tactical gear just for the sake of “realism.” Every detail was carefully selected to help create a space where real connection could occur.
Ready to challenge your team?
Reading this, you might be thinking of the very real challenges your team is facing: communication issues that seem unsolvable, group dynamics that hold projects back. Often, this stems from untapped potential in team members who haven’t found their voice in conventional settings.
What if the solution lies in creating the right conditions for authentic connection through shared challenge?
Every organization has its own DNA and needs. For IDV, a military-themed softair experience fit their industrial focus and helped address key team dynamics. Your ideal experience might be completely different—perhaps a cooking challenge, an urban quest, or a creative problem-solving simulation.
What matters most isn’t the specific activity, but the thoughtful design behind it—an experience that reveals new strengths, builds real trust, and sparks communication shortcuts that last long after the day ends.