Your team is one of the most valuable assets in your business. They are the reason you’re able to get projects done, operate your business, and serve your customers in the way you do. That said, their ability to work well together didn’t happen overnight.
Employees must grow authentic relationships with one another to have a cohesive team that communicates and collaborates well. It’s an ongoing commitment that requires a good bit of effort. However, there are ways to fast-track relationship-building, like hosting company bonding events.
Company bonding events can strengthen your team and help them work better together, resulting in better business outcomes. We’ll talk more about this and how to design meaningful team bonding events below.
The Significance of Company Bonding Events
A strong team respects what each person has to offer. They understand and value each other’s strengths. They help each other work on what they need to improve. They’re communicative, empathetic, and solution-oriented. More importantly, they have real friendships.
Building a team like this is easier when employees are put in situations that force them to learn about and work with each other. That’s where company bonding events can be helpful.
The whole point of a company bonding event is to get everyone together to deepen relationships. The activities are meant to facilitate collaboration so that employees can improve the way they work together.
Your team will leave each event with tighter bonds and better teamwork. They’ll bring what they learn at each event to work. As a result, team cohesion will improve, and more consistent quality work will be the outcome.
Tips for Designing Impactful Company Bonding Events
You’ve got to go beyond pizza lunches on Fridays. You need creativity and accessibility at the forefront of every event to ensure they’re memorable experiences for your employees. These three tips will help you create unforgettable company bonding events for your team.
Get Your Team Involved in the Planning Process
Going off of what you think your employees want almost always ends up missing the mark. On the contrary, you can ensure they get what they need out of your company bonding events when you allow your team to help you plan them.
For example, you may think a company picnic where everyone does their own thing is a good enough event. But your team has a different perspective. They want the picnic and they want structured activities that facilitate teamwork so that they can get to know each other’s working styles more. You can then work on the picnic part and have them plan the activities.
Everyone gets what they want out of the company bonding event. In addition, employees are more likely to be excited about and attend the event when they’re involved in planning it.
Determine who wants to help plan each event. Write down their roles and responsibilities and when things are due. Then, step back and let your team complete their tasks and have fun with the planning process.
Hyper-Focus on Accessibility and Inclusivity
Making sure everyone feels included at your event is number one. What good is a company bonding event that the entire team can’t engage in and enjoy?
It’s a good idea to create an accessibility checklist as well. Include these kinds of questions on that checklist:
- Is there clear signage that indicates where restrooms, parking, and other amenities are at your event?
- Are their designated pathways for essential areas and are they accessible to those with mobility aids?
- Are entrances and exits wheelchair accessible?
- Are there a variety of seating options to accommodate different comfort levels?
- Are quiet areas available for those that need noise breaks?
Hyper-focus on accessibility and inclusivity for every event to ensure everyone’s needs are acknowledged and met. Ask your employees to let you know about anything they need to enjoy what you’ll be doing at your event.
If you’re having guest speakers or hosts at your event, make sure they’re from all walks of life so that everyone on your team can connect with someone. A wide array of food choices is important too, as people have all sorts of allergies and dietary preferences.
Get Creative With Your Activities
The activities you do at your company bonding events impact how engaged your employees are. What your employees learn and take from the events is linked to the activities they do as well.
So, take your time choosing your event’s activities. Step outside of the boring team-building activities box and opt for something more creative, like an outdoor adventure.
Being outdoors, generally, has a positive effect on people’s moods. Nature can be a stress reliever. You feel happier while getting much-needed vitamin D and boosting your immunity.
In addition, there are many cool activities you can do outdoors with your team such as:
- Going on a team hike;
- Having a picnic;
- Doing a relay race or obstacle course;
- Visiting botanical gardens;
- Spending a day at the beach.
Aside from outdoor team-building activities, you can also try these innovative activities to build a stronger, more connected team:
- Do an escape room challenge together;
- Go to a cooking or exercise class together;
- Do a series of volunteer events;
- Go on a company camping trip;
- Split everyone up into smaller teams and do a city scavenger hunt.
Lean on your team for more ideas for creative team-building activities you can do at your next event.
Conclusion
You have a long to-do list as a business leader. But building a stronger team should always be at the top of it. A solid team works well together. And when they work well together, they help you achieve business goals faster. So, use meaningful company bonding events as a way to nurture those relationships.