Team building is a great way to connect with your team and have some fun. It also helps you to strengthen the bonds between members. There are many ways you can plan for an event, but it’s important that you follow these five essential tips for planning your next team building to make sure it goes off without a hitch!
Why – Make sure your event has a purpose.
It’s crucial for teambuilding to feel like both an event that employees will enjoy and also one of importance. It needs to be clear why they are going on this trip so their minds don’t wander off into ‘just another meeting’ territory, as people can get frustrated if they think something isn’t necessary when in reality there’s a good reason behind it.
Studies have shown that many American companies have shockingly low levels of employee engagement. Gallup reports that 70% of American workers are not showing up to work committed to delivering their best performance. A team-building activity is an easy way to change this! Show your employees that you care about their well-being and that your interest in them extends outside of the office.
How – Sort out the logistics.
When planning for your team outing or a group gathering, it’s important to consider what the members of your team want. Think about whether they would prefer being outdoors all day with food and fun activities versus spending more time in an indoor venue like Escape Rooms where there is also plenty of opportunity for competition.
When planning for your team outing or event, it’s important to have input from the group. Consider what schedule works best, how long each day should be and if there is a venue available that fits with those specs!
When and Where – Timing is everything.
It is important to have team building or team outing events on a workday. It’s recommended that it be done during the day, so they don’t feel like they’re missing out on personal time with family and friends. Try to make sure it’s in a location everyone can easily access or think about providing transportation for the group.
If you want the whole group to be more comfortable and on the same page with each other, organize an activity at your office. Or even incorporate it into a previously planned company retreat. If it’s about bonding over a fun experience then go visit a new location for some quality time in a new, engaging environment.
What activities – Give them something to remember
The perfect team building activity must be both a learning experience and memorable. It should allow everyone to grow as people and encourage them to work with each other. Think outside the box to engage your group and facilitate the best experience.
The ideal tone for a team outing is one that should be friendly, but not too laid back. Team building events are successful when the event has enough time to do all of its purposes and goals.
“Escape rooms are a growing trend—people seem to love getting locked up, finding clues, solving puzzles, and escaping. There’s something empowering about that possibility of success, however slim it may be. At Trapology, the escape rooms are all designed and built in-house, with teamwork and communication in mind. The experience forces individuals to ignore the hierarchy of the office. This way everyone can contribute to finding the solution, regardless of their job title.” -Boston Magazine, “Boston’s Most Unique Corporate Team Building Experiences”
Who – Involve the whole company
A team building event is a great way to help your workers bond together. The best way to treat the team building event is like a special day at work. A good team is one where every member contributes to the final product. It’s important that everyone is as engaged and in attendance at the event. Every team member is important, no one should be excluded regardless of position.
Having the whole company make it to the event shows dedication and involvement from every department. Team building is a great way to connect with your team and have some fun. It also helps you to strengthen the bonds between members. We know how hard running events like this can be – we’ve been doing them ourselves for years.
If you want help planning your next corporate event or would just like more information about what makes us different from other companies in this space (or would like even more tips for planning your next team building!), send us a message at info@trapologyboston.com! We look forward to hearing from you!