What are Team Building Games & Days Out?
A good team building game is something that brings the whole team together whether that is to boost motivation and sales or to create stronger working relationships. Choosing the right type of activity, game, or event is extremely important as you want to make sure everyone feels comfortable and relaxed to carry out the task ahead.
The main focus is to make sure the whole team is engaged and working together that’s why it is important selecting the right team building game as there are a lot of activities that are individually focused for example; quad biking or a cookery activity.
A team building game where you are split into teams will promote teamwork as you will need to discuss strategies in reaching the end goal. Versatile group activities see a mixture of individuals having to come up with different ideas and scenarios in unfamiliar situations.
A well thought out team building game will cater for a large number or people with an arrangement of tasks so that there is a role for everybody.
The activity should be fun and high energy getting even the small minority of eye rollers involved!
You will almost always have the odd attendee that finds team building games and activities pointless, but it's usually those certain people that have the most fun.
A good team building company will have a vast selection of games and events for either indoor or outside, even themed days out. It is always nice to have a team building activity away from your base, so if for a corporate activity its nice to get away from your everyday working environment.
GOTO Events will keep everyone relaxed ready to enjoy the activities planned (here's a huge list of team building events).
Here we have listed 7 things to make a great team building game and activity day
- Know your client – knowing your client’s objectives and what they want out of the activity is the most important thing. There is no point in offering them an activity that is single-player tasks if the aim is to get the members to work as a team. Having a clear expectation before the activity is due to commence will be the perfect start to a good team building activity.
- Having great event staff – having great event staff helps the activities run smoothly. It enables the client to not worry about being responsible for the activities and to let someone else do all the planning.
- Encourage – not all participants are comfortable in group activity, its out of their comfort zone so it is important to make them feel included and relaxed at their own pace. Ice breakers are a great way of initiating engagement. They alleviate and tension and nerves including stigma surrounding team building activities.
- Having fun – the main thing that brings everyone together is to have fun! That is the reason we do team building activities. Whether you want just fun or some thinking activities, working together is vital. Some more mental challenges will usually require more than one thinking head and usually a few different methods.
- Structure – having structure is crucial to make the event run smoothly. Most people are usually adhering to a time frame, so it is important the day is carefully planned out running to set timings. That should usually include a break, ice breaker, awards and anything else previously established.
- Group participation - doing an activity that is suitable for a number of people is better for interaction, the dynamics are shifted to those you would usually see on a day to day basis. it is important to give ownership to the team so they can work together to find roles within the team to establish roles for the activity.
- Gather feedback – gathering feedback is a helpful way of gaining truthful feedback of how the activity has gone. As a group setting with a lot of different personalities its great to have input of what was got out of the activity, what went well or what could have gone better.
You can choose from a range of activities including;
- Indoor
- Outdoor
- City Events
- Themed events
- Sporty events
- Creative
- Food and drinks
- Skilled events
- Inflatables
Talk to a specialist event planner now
If you need help and support in arrange a team building activity day, corporate games, and events, please get in touch with us now. Our specialist event planners can put together a range of ideas that will suit your business.
What is a Good Team Building Activity for Work?
A good team building activity for work is something that brings the whole team together. Whether it's to boost motivation and sales or to create stronger working relationships, choosing the right activity is extremely important. You want to make sure everyone feels comfortable and relaxed to carry out the task ahead.
The main focus is to make sure the whole team are engaged and working together that’s why it is important selecting a good team building activity for work right as there are a lot of activities that are individually focused. For example, quad biking or a cookery activity.
A good team building activity where you are split into teams will help to promote team work as you will need to discuss strategies in reaching the end goal. Versatile group activities see a mixture of individuals having to come up with different ideas and scenarios in unfamiliar situations.
A well thought out team building activity will cater for a large number or people with an arrangement of tasks so that there is a role for everybody.
The activity should be fun and high energy getting even the small minority of eye rollers involved! You will almost always have the odd attendee that finds team building activities pointless but its usually those certain people that have the most fun.
A good team building company will have a vast selection of events for either indoor or outside, even themed events. It is always nice to have a team building activity away from your base, so if for a corporate activity its nice to get away from your everyday working environment.
The team at Goto will keep everyone relaxed ready to enjoy the activities planned.
What is a good team building activity for work - 7 examples
- Know your client– knowing your clients objectives and what they want out of the activity is the most important thing. There is no point in offering them an activity that are single player tasks if the aim is to get the members to work as a team. Having a clear expectation before the activity is due to commence will be the perfect start to a good team building activity.
- Having great event staff– having great event staff helps the activities run smoothly. It enables the client to not worry about being responsible for the activities and to let someone else so all the planning.
- Encourage– not all participants are comfortable in group activity, its out of their comfort zone so it is important to make them feel included and relaxed at their own pace. Ice breakers are a great way of initiating engagement. They alleviate and tension and nerves including stigma surrounding team building activities.
- Having fun– the main thing that brings everyone together is to have fun! That is the reason we do team building activities. Whether you want just fun or some thinking activities, working together is vital. Some more mental challenges will usually require more than one thinking head and usually a few different methods.
- Structure– having structure is crucial to make the event run smoothly. Most people are usually adhering to a time frame so it is important the day is carefully planned out running to set timings. That should usually include a break, ice breaker, awards and anything else previously established.
- Group participation - doing an activity that is suitable for a number of people is better for interaction, the dynamics are shifted to those you would usually see on a day to day basis. it is important to give ownership to the team so they can work together to find roles within the team to establish roles for the activity.
- Gather feedback – gathering feedback is a helpful way of gaining truthful feedback of how the activity has gone. As a group setting with a lot of different personalities its great to have input of what was got out of the activity, what went well or what could have gone better.
You can choose from a range of activities including:
- Indoor
- Outdoor
- City Events
- Themed events
- Sporty events
- Creative
- Food and drinks
- Skilled events
- Inflatables
Want to know more?
Now we've helped to explain why team building is important in the workplace, why not let us help you plan your next day, event or activity? With over 100 different themed event to choose from, our planners can tailor something that will let your team feel the benefit of how this could work for your business.
Get in touch with an event planner now (contact us here), and we could turn a quote around for you in under 45 minutes.
Why Team Building is Important in the Workplace: 7 Reasons of Importance
Team building is a variety of challenges used to enhance working relationships and establish roles within the work place. It is a great way of thanking the staff for their hard work and having some fun out of the office. The majority of companies usually organise some kind of team building based activity annually, it brings everyone together for example new recruits and a change of job roles and promotions. But why is it important in the workplace?
Team building is very important in the workplace to help with morale and the success of a business. With the main goals of any business being to improve the future of your company, increase productivity and motivation it is absolutely essential; and in some cases can be a great treat or a thank you to your hard-working staff.
We are at work for the majority of our time, so it is important to feel valued and get along with our fellow work colleagues. Team building activities improve office bonds and team work which make way for fresh motivation to reach goals - click here to see over 100 team building event ideas.
Team building helps to define team members strengths and weaknesses in certain situations.
It will show you who will flourish under pressure and also give some of the quieter characters a chance to come out of their shell and take the intuitive.
All levels of the company work together, helping each other to reach the end result.
In doing so employees feel a sense of equality which shows they are respected.
The key is to promote strong trustworthy relationships in the work place and show the team they are appreciated to tackle what is to come for the forth coming year ahead.
7 reasons why team building is important in the workplace
Here are our 7 best reasons on why team building is important in the workplace.
#1: THE BENEFITS OF TEAM BUILDING
The main benefit of team building is to boost productivity within the work force and to give the team a fresh abundance of motivation to tackle goals and targets for the year ahead.
#2: THE MAIN PURPOSE OF TEAM BUILDING
The main purpose of team building is to have fun! Team building brings everyone together in a relaxed fun setting.
#3: THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING TOGETHER
It is vital that everyone gets along for a successful business so that everyone is on the same team working together to reach the same goals.
#4: SHOWING STRENGHS AND WEAKNESSES
Team building can prompt creativity which helps to define strengths and weaknesses in certain situations
#5: TO BOOST COMMUNICATION
During team building events everyone can let their hair down. Out of the office can be where some great ideas for the business can be produced. Mixing all levels of the business can see some employees feel comfortable in putting great ideas forward in a relaxed environment.
#6: FEELING VALUED
It's great we feel respected and valued at work. It gives a sense of wellbeing and shows that our hard work isn’t going un-noticed. Team building shows reward and respect through all aspects of the work force and sees general productivity increased.
#7: STRIVING FOR A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
Through team building the objective is to make a more successful business. It creates strong bonds and trustworthy relationships. When you have that feeling you feel you can take on any tasks and challenges that are presented.
When team building is needed the workplace
If you feel your team aren’t performing as a team or morale is low team building will help improve that.
Lots of underlying things happen in the work place that can strain relationships, you will find big egos and maybe some people feeling undervalued and not part of the team so having something to bring everyone together can put certain things to rest.
More than two thirds of people that undertook a study by the University of Phoenix said they feel part of a dysfunctional team resulting in a vast majority preferring to work alone rather than part of a team.
A team is usually made up of a variety of personalities and more than not all get along which result in to a lot of clashing in the working environment. That can then become frustrating not just for the people involved but also for colleagues around. Targets can be harder to reach and not become as important, some members will be bogged down by this and will not be giving 100% which could result in more serious actions such a disciplinary action and even in some cases loss of employment/walk outs.
Bad feeling in the work place can also create withdrawal and in some cases depression which can cause disengagement, some dread going into work which lead to extreme stress and pressure on the heart and increased blood pressure. In many cases employees have fought hard to get the jobs they are in now so to walk into an office with bad feeling or previous tension can have a very negative impact.
Further studies show that according to a group of journalists reporting as a small group for a local paper investigated over a hundred studies from the second half of the last century “Does team building work?” gained the knowledge that team building does show a positive outcome.
Choosing the right team building event can have an unmistakable perfect impact for all involved, the aim isn’t to make anyone feel awkward or uncomfortable but just to reunite everyone as a team and bring the focus back to what’s really important – company morale!
How to choose the most suitable event for you!
The best way to choose the right event is to have a clear objective in mind, what you want from it, how you want your team to work together, what challenges you want to be resolved etc, let’s face it having a first class completely unique team building event isn’t going to be cheap, so you don’t want to fork out a load of money for a rubbish day!
It’s a great idea to maybe throw it out to the team, get a selection of amazing events and have a vote to see what ones the most popular, that way you are engaging with everyone and giving some responsibility which will get off to a great start and build up some excitement.
It will be the talk of the work place and automatically bring people together and spark some healthy competition – competition that will reignite the love of the job and a reminder of why we choose to do what we do daily.
Team building is a great way of also re-educating certain behaviours and prompting discussions and ideas to continue back in the work place. Generally, team building creates more open minded thinking and acceptance of other people and their qualities, which bonds together once rocky relationships.
We are Goto Events
Here at Goto Events we are a very successful team building event company. We have seen over the last 24 months a huge need in the corporate industry for these kind of events and they are getting more and more popular.
It started out with some of the bigger brands and companies using team building in their work places and the sheer success and fun factor spread like wild fire and now become popular in some of the smaller companies.
With every event tailor made to suit the individuals needs we can create a bespoke event with the clients objectives in mind. With over a 100 different types of events to offer we are doing over 700 per year and that is rapidly growing all the time.
Our feedback and reviews are second to none and the majority of a cliental are repeat bookings. We work directly with the client and also through agencies to offer what they cant. We have games and events to suit all, indoors, outdoors, themed events.
We do events all over the UK and further afield if needed – nothing is too much trouble for Goto!
The format of a Goto Events team building day
A lot of work goes into making a successful experience for all involved. Lots of work behind the scenes including liaising with the venue and venue staff , making sure we have the right space and access. Event managers make sure a carefully thought out and planned format is in place so timings can get the most out of all the tasks.
The client's experience is paramount, we take care of all the finer details so that the client has a worry free day to really enjoy the event with the rest of their team. Usually when we arrive at the venue the event manager will locate the client responsible for the booking and introduce ourselves, we will check that numbers haven’t changed and confirm the procedure for the day.
It's important to have a really friendly approachable personality. The event manager will share out duties to the event staff and let them know what is expected from them, that way everyone is clear on their job for the day.
Once you have set up for the event and all participants are ready to get going we usually start with a fun ice breaker - it alleviates initial fear, nerves and the general stigma of the unknown of a team building event.
In most cases team building events are usually a mixture of departments that don’t mix and randomly put on teams with other employees they don’t know or have ever met. This can spark nerves and in some cases make some feel uncomfortable and totally out of their comfort zone so it’s a great way of a brief “getting to know each other”.
By now the energy will be in full swing and everyone will be laughing and happy ,starting to get excited of what’s to come. The event manager overseas the whole event and is there to make sure it runs smoothly and everyone is having a great time!
The event manager will explain the format to everyone and let everyone know what they are playing for points/prizes. This arouses group discussion and prompts some healthy competition, the event will then commence.
The event manager's duties are to make sure all the event staff are at their stations and interacting with the clients. The event staff are carefully selected through a strict interview stage as they have to be professional but fun and bubbly characters.
Throughout the event the event staff will need to keep checking everything is running to plan and that the clients all know what they are doing, trying to make sure everyone is having a turn and getting involved. Knowing that the event staff are around gives the more relaxed participants a little confidence to get involved.
With the help of the event staff and the clients the atmosphere is electric. The team building is underway and everyone is working through the challenges they are set in order to win!
Usually the games/tasks that have been choses are for a certain objective – to either bring the team together, to show weaknesses and strengths or to welcome new starters.
You find that with that in mind the tasks that have been selected get everyone involved, that includes all ages and abilities.
Once the event is coming to an end the event manager will facilitate an “awards” type assembly and with the aid of the event staff usually hand out prizes and medals, we have a bit of fun with the clients and let them know the winners and losers – that leads way for some healthy banter and competition back at the office.
We will end with a de-brief thanking the client for taking part and selecting the selected company.
This leaves a nice personable memory with the client and makes them feel appreciated and important and its just generally a nice way to end the time that has been had by all.
All event staff will then pack down still taking into consideration the clients around whether they are leaving the venue or still chatting amongst themselves about the event and fun they have just had. The event manager will then thank the venue for their help and cooperation.
Want to know more?
Now we've helped to explain why team building is important in the workplace, why not let us help you plan your next day, event or activity? With over 100 different themed event to choose from, our planners can tailor something that will let your team feel the benefit of how this could work for your business.
Get in touch with an event planner now (contact us here), and we could turn a quote around for you in under 45 minutes.
The Managers motivational guide
Motivational Books for Managers
While it is lovely to think that all motivation is intrinsic for managers and we, as you can predict, advocate our services for indoor team building as a way of building motivation, some managers need an alternative viewpoint. This is where books come into play. Books can help you to escape and offer some advice from some of history’s greatest minds. Below we have curated a list of five of the best books for team managers.
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Dale Carnegie – How to Win Friends and Influence People
The seminal guidebook on human interaction. Until the last few years, Dale Carnegie’s book was the go-to guide for anyone who wished to improve their communication and relationships. While new books are flashy and full of new techniques, ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ has stood the test of time as a useful guide.
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Viktor Frankl – A Man’s Search for Meaning
This book is a must-read for anyone. The stories of the Nazi concentration camps are not an easy read, but the powerful narrative and the findings of Frankl can help to bring your own existence sharply into focus. Everyone should read this book at least twice.
Regularly in the top lists of most business leaders reading lists, Frankl’s stark lessons are well written and uncomfortable enough to affect change in all who read this book.
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Sun Tzu – The Art of War
Another powerful guide. The Art of War is heralded by many leaders in business as a guide that helps them in their daily work lives. Well worth a read for those who need some motivation and a help with a business mindset.
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Robert Cialdini – Influence
Robert Cialdini is a master of his craft and his understanding of the human condition is second to none. Cialdini helps readers to be more understanding of others and helps to show how they tick. A vital read for managers to better understand others and the World around them.
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Ryan Holiday – The Daily Stoic
Stoicism has made a roaring comeback in the last few years and this book by famed author Ryan Holiday is an excellent guide to the teachings and musings of such enlightened figures as Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. It’s formatted into a daily page that you read and meditate on for the day. It’s an interesting idea delivered well and can be very helpful for managers.
If you are in need of some motivation for your team, then have a look at our list of indoor team building events. We offer something for every type of company and every type of team. From favourites like Under Pressure and The Crystal Team Challenge to the amazing human board game Teamopoly. We can also offer something more sedate such as a more traditional wine tasting. Whatever your requirements, we have a solution for you. So get in touch with our sales team today to find out more.
Do teams really need to get on?
Do teams really need to get on?
Conventional wisdom would seem to say that it isn’t necessary for work teams to get on. For obvious reasons we do not think that is true, we believe that harmony in teams is vital to the social fabric of a business and that a business with poor communication is dead in the water. Now you may say that as a company that sells outdoor team building events and also indoor team building events, we have something of a biased view, but hear us out!
Teams that play together stay together
OK, we pinched that one, but the idea is right. We believe that teams that are cohesive and get along well are more productive and more likely to stay with your business long term. Studies show that team building and social cohesion can improve business productivity. In 1920 social psychologist Floyd Allport found that people worked better in teams and this finding became known as “Social facilitation.” Companies such as Google put a lot of investment into their people and collaborating their efforts. As one of World’s richest companies, Google knows how to extract the best from their people and they understand the value of a happy workforce.
An investment in the future
Imagine that you could spend a relatively small sum today that would pay you back for years to come. This investment could help to create a harmonious and productive work environment which reduces stress on all its workers and reduces HR issues. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Well, with an indoor team building event you can gain all these benefits and more.
A team building event built around you
Our dedicated team can produce a stunning event built around your team. With amazing indoor team building events such as The Crystal Team Challenge. Or if you want a team building event with a twist then you could have Under Pressure event. Or if your team is more laid back and would prefer something a little more chilled? Well, we can also cater to that with a wine tasting event. Let your delegates enjoy a fabulous selection of wines from around the World and learn from experts on what helps to make an excellent wine. Or for something completely different, you could take on the mad human board game Teamopoly.
Get in touch for more information on one of our bespoke team building events
If you would like to harness the benefits of a team building event for your team then please get in touch. Our team of experts will help to design the ultimate experience for your team and take complete control of all the details, allowing you to sit back, relax and enjoy the experience along with your team. So get in touch today and let us show you what we can do for your business.
EXCITING JOBS ARE HARD TO COME BY - GET PAID TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE
EXCITING JOBS ARE HARD TO COME BY! GET PAID TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE!
Today I have been reading a number of articles online and I saw a company advertising a job with the slogan ‘Exciting jobs are hard to come by. Get paid to do what you love!’ My first thought was that the headline really did grab my attention and made me read further (Boss if you are reading this, I am not looking for a new job don’t worry!). It then got me thinking about my job here at Out the Office and how I really do appreciate my job. Waking up every morning, I like knowing that I will be productive today, and this is because I do actually enjoy it. I look forward to coming in every day and pushing the business to the next level. I have a real passion for events and seeing that I have done everything I can to put a smile on the clients faces. Passion is not something you follow; passion is something that will follow you as you put in the hard work to become valuable to the world.
I really do think it is important to have a job you enjoy and be in a company that allows you to flourish. My job pays well (unless the boss is reading, in that case I would like more) and I have job satisfaction, which really shows through our results. We have great clients and we receive fabulous feedback. Can you really have both? Of course you can!
The conventional thinking of money and job satisfaction comes from a theory developed by the psychologist Frederick Herzberg. He proposed that there were two sets of factors in the workplace. One group, known as motivators, cause satisfaction. These are things like achievement, advancement and interest in work. The other group, called hygiene factors, cause dissatisfaction if they are absent – and salary is part of this group. So, if you don’t earn enough you will be dissatisfied. Lucky I love my job eh! There is a huge element of achievement in this job; putting on a class event while at the same time changing people’s opinions of teambuilding.
So let me tell you a little story, I was at Bournemouth University studying Business and specialising in Project & Operations Management (I am not sure why I picked it now but it seemed the right choice at the time). After University I had no idea what I wanted to do, I didn’t really have a path and I had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. You could say I was letting time pass by. I had previous experience in hospitality so I started working for a popular restaurant chain, but I knew my heart wasn’t in it.
After working there for a while I quickly started to lose any interest that I had, the passion wasn’t there but I continued to work hard and do a good job. I used to dread the thought of going to work, the drive in seemed so long and I used to spend my shift clock watching, thinking when can I get out of here. I started to feel a bit depressed and thought why am I working in something that I literally hate as it’s affecting me in a lot of negative ways. It finally hit me and I thought there MUST something better for me out there. The very next day I handed my notice in and the countdown begun.
It may have been a silly move to leave a job and not have anything else confirmed but it felt right and the pressure was released. I felt happier instantly. Looking back now it was the best decision I have made in my life!
The next stage was to get a job I enjoyed – something I wanted to work hard for. I managed to fall into working in events and started to work freelance doing a number of fun and exciting events around the UK. I was doing a fun team building event and it hit me, (I had my lightbulb moment), could this be the career for me? What’s not to like? Your outdoors a lot, meeting different people every day and having fun while getting paid. I had a meeting with the MD and we got on well and the vibes were good, (guessing she fancied me). I got a full time job and I was a very happy man. The next stage of my life begun and the passion grew from there.
2.5 years on and I am still working for the company and I’m now Head of Events. I love my job and it feels weird to think of life beforehand. I even met my girlfriend here and we have a beautifully little rascal because of it. I still look forward to working every day and the team we are building here is great fun. I really do think it is important to love your job and everyone can sense how enthusiastic we are because of the passion we possess. We all want to do a great job and push the business on!
So what do I love about the events industry and the job then? Is it the many laugh out loud moments we have? Is it the variety and creativity of the job, or is it seeing our positive impact and how people blossom? Actually it is all of these plus many more. Here at ‘Out the Office’ it has been great to see the rise of the company from where we have come to what we are looking for in the future and a big part of that is because the employees love their job.
We have been looking for a new placement student recently and we have been really trying to convey why we love the job and why they should be interested in working here. There is never a dull moment and a lot of satisfaction is to be had in creating something from scratch and seeing the success to the end. We only want employees that will fit in to our work family and that will appreciate the exciting job that comes with it.
The lesson is – enjoy your job and be happy!
Over and out!
GREAT GATSBY PARTY FOR G-FORCES
GREAT GATSBY PARTY FOR GFORCES
The Get Out The Office team arrives bright and early to make sure the venue is looking excellent for the evening’s event. Deliveries left right and centre, and everything really coming together to make it one exceptionally special night for the GForces team. It’s 6.45pm at the Ashford International Hotel, the scene is set, the music is playing, the fountain is on and the GForces guests start to arrive. They are instantly hit by the amazing Great Gatsby themed reception room where the Champagne is flowing, photos are being taken by the New York backdrop and the guests are eagerly anticipating what is going to happen with the evening activities.
The host calls the guests into the main room where they can’t believe their eyes – how the room has been transformed! The drapes looking amazing, the fountain centrepiece and the flowers everywhere make it look like the real Great Gatsby Party. Everyone takes to their seats where they enjoy the presentations, awards and great food and when they think that is it, they are well and truly wrong.
The IT girls finally arrive and all everyone can think is WOW! They are truly amazing and really make the event, the singing and dancing goes down a storm and really gets the crowd going. It is fantastic to see everyone on the dance floor really enjoying themselves and celebrating a great year.
Debbie Smith MD of Get Out The Office says “It is a delight to see all the hard work and plans really come together and see everyone having such a good time, me and my team have thoroughly enjoyed the event and are absolutely delighted with The IT girls, they even gave me goosebumps I thought they were that good”
Tim Smith Director at GForces says “It’s been a really strong year and the staff really deserved something big and I just can’t believe what a fantastic event the Get Out The Office team have produced. The amazing setting really hits you when you walk into the room, and it has been an incredible night to end the year, thank you to everyone.”
DEVELOPING THE EVENT TEAM OF CHAMPIONS
DEVELOPING THE EVENT TEAM OF CHAMPIONS!
Here at Out the Office we are always looking for new staff to join our operation team to go out and run the events and, of course, give clients the time of their lives! As a company we are constantly looking for things we might be missing and thinking of ways to improve.
We are always looking to see if the event team are ready to provide a high-quality event and if not, then why? We want our staff to convey our ideas, they are the face of the business and we want our fun and friendly brand to be shown throughout our team! One of the main jobs for our guys in the office and the event manager on the day is to make sure the events team is thoroughly prepared; from looking the part to knowing the itinerary inside out, and of course being prepared to always meet and exceed our clients expectations!
Being part of a world-class team is not only fun for you, but will make the event more successful and everyone can have a good time and enjoy their working life. Here at Out the Office we have come up with five big time tips for guidelines to ensure you have the right team who enjoy their work while properly executing fantastic events J
#Employing the right candidates
This has to be number one. If you think that the greatest employees are just going to fall into your lap then you are mistaken – you have to go out and find these little gems. I won’t lie, this can sometimes be a challenge, but it’s so important and could potentially be make or break for a repeat booking. Even if you have a volunteer team helping out on events, they still need to be vetted because they are still the face of your company and have to do a good job – no excuses!
Finding and building a solid team is no quick fix. This will take time and effort so give it the attention it needs, and I promise you now that truly successful events rely on competent and cohesive staff members who truly work together! We all want that dream team for events and I assure you it can be done with focus and experience. Work on growing a team that collaborates well and has fun on the job! Creating a fun atmosphere and a positive staff culture will bode well for you and your events.
#Communication is vital
Poor communication really can take down your event in a matter of seconds. You and your team have to be on the same page about how the event is running, and keeping people in the loop regarding changes is a must. If not, it can all go to chaos and nobody wants that. To combat this, start with a staff meeting and make sure everyone knows what is going on. Refresh all staff members of their responsibilities for the day and make sure they are CONFIDENT doing this job. This will help the staff see the bigger picture, understand what is expected of them and assure them that everything is covered for the day. Finally, remind them to smile and have fun!
We all know that events change in seconds and the plans will alter so make sure you update your staff. Using radios or having another team meeting in the break is always a good start to keeping everyone in check. Having a quick line of communication to your entire team is valuable so don’t forget it!
#Praise and Feedback
It is important to give credit when credit is due. If you have a dream team on your event then please do let them know they have done a top notch job and how much you recognise their hard work. A little thank you and highlighting the good work they have accomplished really does go a long way. After all, we all love being valued and appreciated.
Just imagine doing the event from hell – It has been long day, the event was brutal, you have worked really hard and you are exhausted. You come to the end of the event and your hard work has been met with negativity. Nobody needs that. So if you do need to criticise, try to do so by giving some constructive feedback that the team can discuss. Always offer feedback in a fairly positive way to keep the teams spirits high.
If you hire the right people from the start, then they should always be trying their best and want to make sure the event is as good as it should be. Life isn’t perfect though and issues can occur. It’s all about how you deal with those issues and as a good event manager you must be able to think on your feet and deal with these issues in a positive way. Your future success depends on it!
#Bringing Ideas together
Once you have the event team of champions, you want to keep them and teamwork is vital. Since these guys are always on your events, why not get their opinions and ideas on things? How do they think the events can be improved and do they have any awesome new event ideas that clients might love. Take time to brainstorm as a group and do your best to embrace any and all ideas.
Everyone has different skill sets – so use them! Some people may have weird and wonderful ideas but you may be able to use them and develop them into something more realistic. Your clients love seeing something new and fresh so encourage your team to think outside the box and make your events shine.
When you’re in charge you may think your ideas are the best and should reign supreme, but seeing the event through a different set of eyes can often help get the best results. Young or novice event planners may not have years of experience under their belt, but can definitely see it from a different perspective that might be closer to that of a delegate. Use this to your advantage! Ask questions, collaborate and listen to the feedback of your team.
#Share your victory
Successful events always have a great leader running the show and calling the shots but don’t forget that they always have an amazing team behind them doing the dirty work, which elevates the leader towards success. When you get praise or your company receives praise or an award for a job well done, don’t forget that everyone has played a part. You did this TOGETHER.
Even small things like a handwritten note to your team or an end of year celebration goes down well, just to show how much you appreciate the dedication they have shown to the company.
#Conclusion
Some people may work just for the money, but everyone also wants to enjoy working. If they enjoy working this will show and the clients will realise that they love their job. Strive to do your best at building a quality culture for your staff that evolves around praise, feedback and communication, as they are all vital. This may not be easy, but over time your team will develop into a cohesive unit if you can keep these tips in mind. If you follow all of these steps you will become a more successful leader and your team will want to work harder for you because of it.
i-EVENT
I-EVENT
So I was perusing Twitter this morning, as you do, and one of the top trends caught my attention. It was a company called Boston Dynamics which is part of the Google corporation, and for the last few years Boston Dynamics have been developing a humanoid robot. They have been improving their already existing model and they now have a polished prototype of their ‘next generation’ Atlas robot. It’s wireless instead of battery powered, it’s 5 feet 9 inches tall (same as an average man) and it weighs in at 180 pounds which is almost half the weight of its predecessor. People are starting to debate the capabilities of robots, and are wondering if one day robots will be able to complete our jobs more effectively than we can, and therefore make humans obsolete. According to NBC News, some of the jobs that humans are ‘most likely’ to lose to robots in the future include Astronauts, Soldiers and Rescuers. While I can understand that there may be certain jobs where there would be a distinct advantage to having robots instead of people, I also think the same can be said the other way around. But this got me thinking… could a robot ever run an effective and fun teambuilding event?
In the events industry, our clients thrive on having a good relationship with us from the initial contact all the way through to the delivery. We, as events experts, have to understand exactly what it is our clients are looking for and be able to create a bespoke event that’s tailored to them. We have to take into account many varying factors such as the purpose of the day, their individual preferences, the number of delegates and their budget, the venue they have chosen and the time of year (among many other factors). After all, there is no ‘event formula’ that works for all events. Furthermore, our clients want fun, energetic and motivated staff running their events with whom they can enjoy some friendly banter with throughout the day. Could a robot ever do this?
On an event, as humans, we can effectively read a group of people and alter the way we approach them, talk to them and lead them through certain activities and tasks. If we see there is an individual struggling with a certain task, then we always do our best to encourage the rest of the team to recognise their teammate is struggling and help their comrade to complete the challenge. In some cases, we would even step in ourselves and aid them to succeed. After all, that is what teamwork is about and we want to practice what we preach. The ability to recognise that a human is struggling requires you to sympathise with them and register that you also have struggled whilst performing a similar task. Either this, or you need the ability to read their facial expressions and body language and recognise that they are not comfortable and are finding the task either physically or mentally challenging. This requires a level of consciousness and a sense of empathy. Could a robot ever do this?
So, you arrive at a venue and you are shown to the events space provided for your event. The first challenge is to visualise all the equipment you have, and try to mentally setup the activities. How would you utilise the space provided to ensure you get the maximum from it? How could you maximise the space to accommodate all the delegates without bottlenecks or space issues? This requires experience and knowledge of all your equipment and how your games run. For this you need your memory and some common sense. Perhaps you think back to previous events that you’ve done in a similar sized space and lay out the activities the same way? Perhaps you visualise all the different games set up and move them about to fit them all in, like a giant game of tetris. Could a robot ever do this?
As England is now evermore becoming a multi-lingual country, we all have to be more aware of people who may struggle with the English language. Often on events we meet people for whom English isn’t their first or even their second language and we need to spend some extra time with them, one on one, to explain the objectives and rules of each activity so they can actively take part with confidence. After all, there’s nothing worse than people looking to you for help if you don’t know what on earths going on! Natural language communication is therefore a big part of our job, and this can take several different forms. It can be very different depending on the person we are trying to communicate with. If you explain the rules and they don’t understand, then a different approach is required to try and communicate the objective to them. Sometimes this can require a bit of body language, pointing and acting! Perhaps another member of the events team or one of the other delegates can speak a bit of their language, and we can try to explain that way. A bit of determination and common sense is required. Could a robot ever do this?
I’m not here to tell you whether robots would or wouldn’t be able to do these things, because who knows what’s possible in the future, especially taking into account the phenomenal advancements in science and technology over the last few years alone. But imagine for a minute that you have the task of booking a teambuilding event for your company. Would you want to deal with a friendly human with years of events experience, or a circuit board with a formula in its head? I know which I’d rather…