Make it memorable
Tips for team building
There's more to team building than the name suggests. While the crux of corporate bonding is the productivity gains of a loyal team, there's a whole lot more to it than first meets the eye. At one stage, team-building events used to be regarded as effective only if they were gruelling events, with the "logic" behind such a stance indicating that predominantly in times of discomfort, indignity and downright humiliation qualities essential to the office were developed. Fortunately, this view has changed somewhat and the essence of corporate bonding is now a whole lot sweeter.
The changing workplace
As the workplace undergoes radical changes, there has also been a reassessment of the appetite for team building events. The demand is still there, but the preference is for creative thinking prompting a whole new range of options from personnel managers and professional events companies. It's interesting to assess the current market for corporate team building events. While it used to be all the rage to send teams white-water rafting, walking across red-hot coals or on a two-day survival trek in the hands of ex-SAS soldiers, times have changed - and many would say that this has been a change for the better. Not only are team building corporate events and activity days supposed to improve morale within the office, but they also function to reward team players and ensure that everyone feels comfortable with what they are doing.
Thinking outside the box
Events that are a little bit "outside the box" or thought-provoking are the real winners these days, especially when they have multiple dimensions to cater to individual preferences and real-life working qualities, and not just the oft-touted example of being able to cross a river on an improvised raft made from discarded oil drums. Rather than pushing people to adapt rapidly to an alien environment and respond to pressure situations quickly (and thus bonding later in the office), these days the emphasis is on creative solutions that help people get to know each other better, having a bit of fun or presenting hard-working staff with an enjoyable way to relax with colleagues. Developing a team or leadership skills doesn't necessarily need to be forged out of stress, as there's often enough of that in the workplace. Team building events and corporate event days are therefore more about bringing employees together, and providing a successful medium to do so even on a national or international level. With companies often relying on workforces throughout the UK, Europe and even the world, there's even more call for in-tune team building events to ensure that rapport is fostered between colleagues at all levels of the business.
Trying something new
Team building events work when they allow staff to try something new, and this could be anything from archery or medieval fun days to samba lessons or cookery classes. Memorable experiences like helicopter flights provide a reward for hard-working employees and enjoyable events like treasure hunts are ideal solutions, as they allow teams to solve clues together - and often in an exciting yet unfamiliar location like Paris. Other options include more day-to-day approaches, and informal monthly get-togethers with the company picking up the tab and weekend retreats have proved popular and successful among staff.
(expires 15/4/2011)
So ACT NOW, motivate your staff at a price that will
not break the bank - contact us straight away to arrange your corporate teambuild
in London. You have nothing to lose but everything to gain.
Andy: 07866 421838 andy@awinningteam.co.uk
Steve: 07957 806446 steve@awinningteam.co.uk
