Four businesspeople in boardroom with one businessman sleeping.Monkey Business Images Ltd
In our eighth annual Executive Survival Guide, we show you how to do business with an egomaniac, build a brand like Drake, climb the corporate ladder (without stepping on anyone), avoid Snapchat snafus and ditch underperformers—gently. If you're looking for a slightly more formal education experience, we'll also help you find the right EMBA or MBA program.
Every team-building exercise ever invented aims to boost cohesion, problem-solving skills, co-operation and creative thinking. But forget the old trust-fall exercise. Here are five extreme off-site ideas to try instead.
Kidnapped!
Your boss is being held for ransom by a group of unknown baddies. Your mission: Follow the clues to identify the kidnappers, rescue the hostage and bring the culprits to justice. (Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, New York, L.A., London and Seattle; corporateexplorertraining.com)
Zombie Survival Camp
This twist on traditional survival training covers military tactics, weapons and "hand-to-rotting-hand combat," plus traditional bushcraft like building a shelter and starting a fire. The team—including a former Army grunt—will come to you and develop anything from a three-hour workshop to a full weekend Zompocalypse. (Toronto; zombiesurvivalcamp.ca)
League of Rock
Coached by professional musicians, participants learn how to write lyrics, perform with real instruments and put on a concert. You can also start a 12-week corporate music league, with staffers splitting into groups and culminating in a battle of the bands to raise money for charity. (across Canada; leagueofrock.com)
Amazing Race
Teams tear around town searching for clues and completing challenges before their co-workers do, à la wildly popular reality TV series of the same name. Each course is custom-designed—in 10 years, they've never run the same one twice. (Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City and other cities on demand; amazingracecanada.com)
The Locked Room
You and your team have one hour to escape, using clues you'll uncover by solving word, logic, mathematical and mechanical puzzles. Each room has a different theme: a wine cellar guarded by a mad vintner who wants to turn your blood into wine, the brig on Blackbeard's mutinous ship, the Minotaur's lair and more. (Calgary; thelockedroom.ca)