For many managers, “team building” means two days spent doing role-playing exercises in a bleak conference hotel far from head office. But perhaps a more effective way to build teams is simply by playing real team sports, such as soccer, cricket or softball.

David Clark, a project manager at Atisreal UK, a property consultancy, is one of the organisers of the company’s two soccer teams. He says the main point is fun and fitness but it also has other perks: “It gives the guys a chance to meet and relax with their peers from other departments. It builds cross-company relationships.” He adds that the match reports make for interesting reading on the intranet.