Team away days can work wonders for your business, helping to improve culture, boost morale, and generate new business ideas.
Setting clear goals and a budget in advance is essential. Whether you are aiming to strengthen the bond amongst your team, increase creativity, or just to provide a refreshing break from the workplace, be clear on what you want to achieve. Setting these objectives early on, can really help when you come to choose your activities.
Understanding your team’s behaviours through DISC profiling can also be beneficial. That way you can consider activities and how they might suit different personalities and behaviour styles.
We’ve collated some team away ideas, many of which can be combined depending on your goals, venue and timings.
Outdoor Activities
Activities like GoApe and outdoor games can offer a fun way to build team spirit and improve communication skills. You can hire ‘It’s a Knockout’ style assault courses, creating a competitive element, whilst also encouraging your team to work together and overcome challenges.
Escape Rooms
An excellent solution for problem solving and team building. Working together to solve puzzles within a time limit can build a strong sense of achievement and camaraderie as well as sharpening critical thinking Again, you could bring in a competitive element.
Sports Day
Plan some traditional sports events like relay races, tug of war, and sack races. Not only does this promote physical health, but it can encourage the team to bond, relieve stress and have fun
Apprentice Style Challenges
Create tasks, which can be related to your business, in a similar style to The Apprentice. You can consider using both group and individual challenges, as a way to develop strategic thinking and project management skills.
Wellbeing Workshops
Offer meditation or yoga sessions to help your team relax and recharge. Not everyone will feel comfortable taking part, so it might be that this is optional. Alternatively, you could consider bringing in wellbeing experts to support in reducing stress and improving overall wellbeing, making a happier and more productive team.
Guest Speakers
Invite industry experts to inspire and educate your team. This can provide valuable insights and new perspectives that can be applied to your business.
Creative Workshops
Similar to wellbeing workshops, you could encourage creativity with activities like painting, pottery or even cooking classes. These sessions can be a great way to relax and bond over shared experiences.
Training Sessions
Use part of the away day for professional development. Offer training on new software, leadership skills, or other relevant topics to enhance your team’s capabilities. Although, it’s important to remember that this needs to be engaging for your team. So think of different ways this can be communicated with your team.
Things to consider when organising team away days:
- Accessibility: are the activities inclusive and accessible, catering for the needs of your team?
- Health and safety: have you conducted a risk assessment for the event?
- Objectives: what do you want to achieve from the day, does the content / activity reflect this?
- Communication: make sure staff are fully aware of what the event entails, what is required from them and anything they may need to prepare in advance.
- Logistics: consider whether you will arrange transportation to and from the venue for staff.
- Budget: determine your budget early in the planning process as this will help to influence your choice of location and activities. Prioritise spending on elements which will have the most impact.
- Consider Timing: Choose a day that minimises disruption to your business and ensure that most team members are available to attend. Also consider the time of year you’re planning for. Weather can greatly impact the success of the day, so plan accordingly.
Be clear on the agenda in advance, and ensure you set boundaries on work expectations. Do you want your staff to monitor their work emails, or completely switch off? If it’s the latter put a plan in place to ensure all clients or customers are aware in advance. You could also establish a line of communication for emergencies should anyone need to reach you. That way, you can create a focused environment where your team can fully engage with the event.
For more support with managing and motivating your team, find out more about working with Bespoke HR here.