How to Plan A Successful Corporate Team-Building Experience
Corporate team-building has become a staple in many companies' cultures. The "corporate team-building experience" is intended to bring employees together, foster collaboration, and enhance productivity. However, many corporate team-building experiences fall short of their intended objectives due to poor planning and execution. Employees may find themselves participating in these sessions that they find unfruitful or unengaging, and the results may not translate to the workplace.
In this article, we will explore the considerations behind planning for a successful and sustainable corporate team-building experience:
Clarify the Objectives
The first step in planning a successful corporate team-building experience is to clarify the objectives behind what the session should achieve. Companies need to be clear about what they want to gain throughout the entire experience. Is the objective to foster better communication, enhance problem-solving skills, or improve trust between team members?
Once the objectives are clarified, companies can make more strategic choices regarding what corporate team-building experience they are after and choose something that aligns with these goals. Clarity on the objectives also ensures that everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal.
Consider the Team
It is essential to consider the team when planning for what corporate team-building suits them. Companies need to know the team's dynamics, stage of development, and current or potential challenges they face. Understanding these considerations help companies determine the needs of the team and select the corporate team-building experience that would best suit their needs.
For example, newly-formed teams are at a different stage compared to teams who have worked together for a period of time. Teams in different fields and industries each face a different set of challenges. The corporate team-building experience should take into account all these nuances of how each team differs from the other. This is why companies must choose quality corporate team-building partners who can deliver an experience that is customised to the specific needs of their team.
Communicate the Why
One of the most important steps in planning a successful corporate team-building experience is to communicate the why. It is essential to communicate to the team why the company is investing in corporate team-building and what it aims to achieve.
When employees understand the why, this is where the company can get the buy-in from the employees. With the buy-in from their employees, they are more likely to be invested in the experience. The management should take the initiative to communicate the objectives of the session, how it aligns with the company's values, and how it benefits the team and the organisation as a whole.
Clear the Schedule
Clearing the schedule is another important step in planning a successful corporate team-building experience. This might seem insignificant but the impact of this step should not be underestimated. Companies need to ensure that enough time is set aside for the session. This doesn't only refer to the duration of the session but also includes the time leading up to it.
For instance, removing important deadlines or work commitments before the event ensures that employees can attend the session with less stress. This is a good way to showcase the commitment of the organisation to invest in their employees and this would translate to maximum participation and engagement in the session as well.
Create the Environment
Creating the right environment is crucial to creating a successful corporate team-building experience. Not only should companies choose a venue that is conducive to carrying out the corporate team-building workshop as planned, but they should also begin to conduct an "internal audit" of the corporate environment of the workplace.
Having an honest assessment of the current environment of the corporate culture gives companies an understanding of the gaps that they need to bridge. Beyond that, they can start to envision the kind of environment they want to create for their employees and take actionable and decisive steps to move in that direction.
Final Thoughts
Planning for a successful corporate team-building experience requires careful consideration of several factors. Companies need to clarify the objectives of the event, consider the team's stage of development and current needs, communicate the why, clear the schedule, and create the right environment.
By bearing all these factors in mind during corporate team-building planning, companies can ensure that they know the exact needs of their team and make a wise choice in the corporate team-building experience that would benefit all.
If you are in the midst of planning your corporate team-building, our team of corporate team-building specialists in Singapore are here and ready to meet your needs: drop us an enquiry and we’ll be in touch!
Written by Rachel Chai
Connectedness • Empathy • Strategic • Belief • Context
Rachel is a Strengths School™ Certified Strengths Trainer and the Content Lead at Strengths School™. Being deeply introspective, she believes in helping others draw connections between how their unique strengths play out in their lives.
We are corporate team-building specialists based in Singapore, equipping in-person, virtual, and hybrid teams with practical tools to maximise collaboration and minimise conflict. Trusted by 600+ teams globally, our proven track record showcases our expertise in helping teams achieve their corporate team-building objectives.
