Why Team Engagement Feels So Elusive—And How We Can Focus Our Efforts

Let’s face it, keeping teams engaged is harder than ever. With hybrid work, onboarding challenges, and constant change, sometimes it feels like we’re pouring energy into dozens of activities—only to wonder what really made a difference. Over the years at Wildgoose, we’ve seen the same truth play out around the world: when we focus on the right elements of team engagement, results follow.

I’ve spent the past two decades helping teams connect, learn, and thrive. During this time, one principle consistently stands out: the 80/20 rule—also known as the Pareto Principle. It’s simple, but powerful: about 80 percent of results often come from just 20 percent of our efforts. When applied to team engagement, this principle unlocks a wealth of possibilities.

How the 80/20 Rule Applies to Team Building

So what does the 80/20 rule really mean for team engagement? In my experience, not all activities, communications, or strategies are created equal. Some elements drive nearly all the value—boosting morale, sparking creativity, and forging real connections—while others are just background noise.

Over the years at Wildgoose, we’ve crafted over 5,500 activities annually for companies worldwide. This experience has shown us that focusing energy on a few essential engagement drivers makes an outsized impact. Rather than overwhelming teams with endless initiatives, we’ve found that doubling down on what works transforms the experience for everyone involved.

The Key Elements Fueling Maximum Engagement

Let’s break down the “vital few” elements that contribute the lion’s share of team engagement results:

1. Clear Purpose and Shared Goals

People connect most deeply when they know why they’re working together. At Wildgoose, I design every activity—whether it’s an onboarding adventure or a team-building quest—with a purpose that everyone can rally behind. Shared goals create focus and bring meaning to the most mundane tasks. Before launching any activity, we ask ourselves: what story are we telling? What shared achievement will bring everyone together?

2. Real Participation and Creativity

Engagement soars when everyone has a voice. That’s why our platform gives teams the chance to co-create tasks, solve challenges, and share their talents in real time. Whether remote or in person, I notice that when people contribute ideas or choose their approach, their enthusiasm skyrockets. Custom branding, personalised tasks, and open feedback channels all help create this sense of ownership.

3. Fun, Social Interaction

Never underestimate the power of fun. From my experience, laughter and enjoyment are the glue holding teams together. Our activities are deliberately designed to spark smiles and lighthearted moments—be it through icebreakers, puzzles, or friendly competition. Social bonds formed in these settings have a ripple effect, making future collaborations far more natural and productive.

4. Immediate, Visible Progress

People stay engaged when they can see the results of their efforts. MAKE’s platform tracks progress visually, handing teams badge-worthy milestones and instant feedback as they complete activities. I’ve found that small “wins” along the way are more motivating than distant targets—especially during onboarding and training, when teams crave tangible proof that they’re growing.

5. Flexibility and Accessibility

Life doesn’t stop for team engagement. That’s why we’ve made every activity accessible from anywhere and scalable for any size group. Whether your team is in one office or scattered across time zones, the right tools ensure no one’s left out. In my eyes, flexible access is one of the strongest engagement levers there is. It respects diverse needs and opens doors for wider participation without extra cost or effort.

Small Shifts, Big Results: Focusing on What Matters

You don’t need to reinvent your entire culture to experience the benefits of better engagement. What works for us—and our thousands of clients globally—is regularly asking: Which activities brought people together? Which moments inspired the most participation or creativity? Which feedback stood out?

When we lean into proven elements and let go of activities that fall flat, we create space for genuine connection and learning. For instance, many of our most effective onboarding adventures incorporate just three or four interactive modules, each rooted in real participation and purpose. By resisting the urge to add “just one more thing,” we actually boost focus and energy.

How to Identify Your 20 Percent

If you’re wondering where to begin, challenge yourself to identify the few experiences or rituals that have had outsized impact on your team. Here are some reflection starters we use at Wildgoose:

• Which recent activities generated real buzz or excitement?
• When did team members volunteer ideas or solutions without prompting?
• Where have new joiners left feedback about feeling welcomed or supported?
• Which collaborations continued well after the team event ended?

I find that the answers to these questions often point directly to those vital 20 percent of initiatives that do most of the heavy lifting.

Tools That Help You Focus

It’s hard to focus when you’re juggling logistics. That’s why we created MAKE as a platform for effortless activity design, keeping the spotlight on engagement rather than admin headaches. With MAKE, you can:

• Choose from AI-driven templates for team building, training, and onboarding that are tried and loved
• Customise activities with your company’s branding and unique challenges
• Deliver interactive experiences in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid format
• Track progress, feedback, and participation metrics from start to finish

We’re here to give you the flexibility to invest energy where it counts—building connection, sparking creativity, and helping your team thrive.

The Ripple Effect: Lasting Impact Across Teams

I’ve witnessed first-hand how focusing on high-impact engagement amplifies results across whole organisations. When energy is concentrated on experiences that matter, teams forge deeper bonds, adapt to change faster, and unlock creative solutions effortlessly. Feedback consistently tells us that the most memorable, unifying activities aren’t always the longest or the most elaborate—they’re the ones rooted in shared purpose, joy, and accessibility.

Team engagement isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters most—together. Whether you’re planning your next onboarding programme or looking for ways to reenergise your company culture, keep the 80/20 rule top of mind. Focus on those elements that drive true connection and growth, and trust that meaningful results will follow.

Curious to experience how easy it is to craft engaging team events focused on what works? Explore our latest interactive templates and see how MAKE puts the 80/20 rule into action for you at MAKE’s activity platform (https://make.wearewildgoose.com/).

The right energy, in the right places, goes a long way. Let’s put our focus where it counts—our teams will thank us for it.