Teamwork, friendly behavior, and trust in each other’s abilities are some of the key elements of an efficient collaboration, which is the foundation of a productive and happy work environment.
However, none of these will happen organically when you mix a bunch of people together (like it tends to happen in a newly-formed team) and ask them to play nice. It takes time and open communication to get to know a person and the office is not exactly the ideal place for idle chit-chat.
That’s why companies pay a lot of money for team-building exercises, activities, and even trips. While performing these activities, participants are encouraged to bond and get to know each other with the purpose of creating a more cohesive team. While to some it may seem pointless, we need to know and trust the people we work with in order to give it our all. Moreover, a team leader or a manager needs to earn the trust of the people they are guiding.
In times of COVID, it became even clearer that a solid team, with members who knew and trusted each other, could work just as well remotely as they did in an office. On the other hand, newly formed teams or teams where the company didn’t put as much emphasis on building interpersonal relations had a lot of difficulties adjusting to the new method of working.
Therefore, as things start to open up, it’s important to allow your employees to reconnect in a team-building activity. And, if you’re looking for tips on how to organize such an event, here are some ideas to get you started:
Do Your Planning & Research
A successful team-building event needs to involve the right people, at the right time. Also, it needs to follow the approved budget.
Therefore, it’s crucial that you start planning for this event a few months ahead (if possible). To make sure you won’t miss any of the important aspects, you should use an event management software tool that lets you invite other participants who can make comments and suggestions.
It’s crucial to start with researching your team’s preferences for a venue and activities, to make sure everyone will find something interesting during this whole endeavor. Next, look for an available venue that respects all the recommended health regulations (like cleaning, disinfecting, and social distancing).
Once all these are set, start working on the timeline of events. This is where you can use the event management software for drawing a schematic of the event and a timeline with all the major activities. Next, ask your colleague to provide their feedback and refine the list of tasks and activities based on their opinion.
Establish Your Goals
- What do you hope to achieve by doing this team-building event?
- Who is it aimed at?
- Why is it necessary?
Some team-building events are designed for communication and getting to know each other’s stories. Other events encourage friendly competition and introduce the idea of rewards in the team. On the other hand, other events are built around a new project and the entire team needs to familiarize themselves with their tasks and the overall landscape.
In summary, it’s important to know the main goal(s) of the event so you’d know the type of activities to set and resources to use.
Make Room for Pampering
Team-building events don’t necessarily make you think about relaxation and leisure. However, it’s important to introduce at least a few activities where participants can get to enjoy their time away from the office.
For instance, if the event is organized at a high-end hotel, book a luxurious spa day just for your team. On the other hand, if the event takes place at a cabin in the mountains, allow the participants time to explore and roam around.
At the end of the day, a successful team-building event will combine business and pleasure. This way, your guests will be happy to attend and will enjoy the activities.
