Team-building events are steadily on the rise. More companies are beginning to realise that teams that work effectively together are far more productive. You can’t just throw a group of random people in the same office and hope for the best. Even a talented group of individuals will fail to achieve their goals without proper communication and collaboration.
Spending the time and resources to organise team-building activities is a worthwhile investment. One study found that team-building has a positive impact across all team outcomes – goal setting, interpersonal relations, problem solving, and role clarification.
It’s clear that team-building events can provide lasting benefits. But organising a big event can be challenging and complicated. Here we put together key points to help you organise a successful team-building event that everyone can enjoy.
Set Clear Goals
Team-building activities should be enjoyable for everyone. But it’s also important to establish clear goals for your employees to focus on. Start by asking what you want to achieve with a team building event. Do you want to improve communication between the different departments? Do you want to integrate new hires with the rest of the team? Or do you want to work on developing problem-solving skills?
These are all important questions you’ll need to think about first. Then you can start planning activities and challenges that best fit your objectives. If you’re not sure what goals to set, identify weaknesses within the organisation that you think need improvement.
Set a Detailed Budget
Once you’ve established goals for a team-building event, the next step is to set a budget. A budget will help to keep costs in check so you’ll know exactly what you can and can’t afford to do. Be sure to budget for the following items for your event:
- Venue bookings
- Transportation
- Catering services
- Activity providers
- Insurance
Speak with your finance department and ask how much money is available. It’s a good idea to leave a little wiggle room in your budget to plan for any unexpected expenses. Be sure to also keep a detailed log of any expenses so you know how funds are being spent.
Schedule During Work Hours
Getting everyone together on a weekend can be especially difficult. Plus, not everyone wants to put in extra time to attend a mandatory event outside of work hours. So aim to schedule team-building activities during the week. Even an hour or two on a Friday afternoon would be better than scheduling on a weekend.
Check vacation schedules ahead of time too. The last thing you want is to plan a big team activity only to find that half the office is on vacation that day. Just by taking these simple steps you’ll be able to get more people to participate.
Make it Accessible For Everyone
The key to a successful team-building event is to get everyone involved. But you also need to consider the kind of activity you’ll be planning. While obstacle courses and relay races are a great way to build morale, keep in mind that not everyone may be willing to participate. And those who don’t may feel left out, which is the opposite of what you’re aiming to accomplish.
Choose a suitable activity that is accessible for everyone but also consider the physical and health conditions of your team members. You don’t necessarily have to choose a vigorous activity. Even something as simple as a team cook-off or a board game tournament can be incredibly effective.
Gather Feedback
After the event is over, reach out to everyone and thank them for participating. Gather constructive feedback and ask what the participants liked and didn’t like. The feedback you gain can then be used to make your next group event even better.
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Alex Morrison has worked with a range of businesses giving him an in depth understanding of many different industries including house cleaning, business IT support and health care. As the owner of Integral Media, he is now utilising his knowledge and experience with his rapidly increasing client portfolio to help them achieve their business goals.