Team building events can foster strong relationships within your team, boost morale, and allow your employees to have fun. While they can require some planning, there are significant benefits to planning a team building event. With proper preparation and planning, your team building activities can be rewarding for employers and employees.
Tips for planning a successful team building event
1. Set objectives
Firstly, consider why you want to run a team building session. Do you have new starters that you want to integrate into the company culture?
Have there been recent tensions between staff members? Or do you just want to let people have fun and partake in a new activity? Setting clear intentions will help to direct the course of your team bonding plans.
2. Decide on activities
Activities will make up most of your team building day, and there are endless options you can choose from. Plan activities that will build trust among team members and allow everyone to get involved.
Common team building exercises include puzzle-solving, physical challenges, creative tasks and games to encourage conversation. Ideally, plan a range of different activities to cater to individual preferences and abilities. Brainstorm some ideas and then create a budget, including costs such as activity and venue fees, logistics, and catering.
3. Hire a venue
You want to choose a venue that has the capacity for your team and the events you want to run. Consider if you need outdoor space, meeting rooms, or food and drink services. Book a day which is convenient for as many members of staff as possible, and when the weather is likely to be suitable (for outdoor activities).
4. Make a plan
Then organise the agenda for the team building day. Divide your team into small groups so people have the chance to work closely together and practice open communication.
Decide if you’ll have each group do a different activity in the morning and then swap over in the afternoon. Try to have everyone together for lunch because it gives the opportunity for groups to share and chat about what they have been up to. Send out an agenda for all attendees and let them know what to expect and anything they need to bring with them. This will help make employees feel prepared and excited for the day.
5. Get feedback
Remember to prioritise your original objectives during the team building event and have fun. Sometimes things don’t go to plan, but if people are working together and enjoying themselves, then it can still be a successful and memorable event.
Get feedback from attendees afterward on how they found the event and whether it helped them feel a sense of belonging. Keep this feedback in mind when planning future events.
At MPG Events, we have a range of event venue spaces which can be the perfect backdrop for your team building day. With outdoor spaces, marquees, high-tech meeting rooms and catering, we can accommodate many different venue requirements. To learn more, get in touch by calling 07395375006 or emailing events@mcmanuspub.co.uk.
