Do not force the corporate stuff
Some of the best team-building events are the ones that don’t make the employee feel like he/she is spending the day at the office. In fact, team-building activities that try to openly share leadership lessons are less powerful. Sharing experiences, spending time together, and working towards a common goal will let the bonding occur more effectively and organically. If you would like to know about conference delegate management then see here.
Ditch the company picnic
Learning and happiness are tied closely together. When you try new things with your workers, it helps generate good vibes amongst them. This in turn will help benefit your business in general. Opting for something unique and outside the employee’s comfort zone helps encourage the staff to come together in new ways.
A member of a team was afraid of heights and was hoping to conquer that fear someday. We planned to take the entire staff to the country’s longest zipline. The thrilling experience of being 600-feet above Whistler helped the entire team to bond together that day.
It’s not a splurge – it’s an investment
A few years back, we decided to organize a team-building event for our franchise partners NASCAR racing. The price was around $350 per person and wasn’t a fortune. But it was quite a big investment for a growing company. The investment was totally worthwhile at the end of the day since the team learned a lot that day and felt appreciated. The experience of screeching around a track at more than 145 miles per hour was unforgettable since most of the employees felt like champions.
The point is – this stuff is important to build the morale of your employee. You don’t have to spend on expensive trips or experiences but be willing to make a sizeable investment on your team.
Keep that positive energy going at the office
Most team-building events fail because they are just one-time activities. You should find ways to keep the excitement going. The challenge is to create opportunities for your employees to interact and connect in meaningful and unconventional ways.
Our daily huddle is one way we do this. The entire company assembles at the same time every day for a fast-paced stand-up meeting. We check in on our major projects and celebrate our achievements together during this time. Also, our employees are encouraged to share their 101 life goals list with their colleagues. We have an app to make things easy for them. Some of the goals include walking the Great Wall of China and learning to read Tolstoy in Russian. It is one of the most powerful ways of learning about people and their dreams. They also help generate ideas for future team-building events.
If there is laughter and a sense of accomplishment, you are definitely on the right track with your team-building activities.