Planning a team building offsite should be simple. You check everyone's availability, you book something, then you show up.
And yet, it rarely works out that way.
The task can seem to sprout legs and walk off in all sorts of directions at the first utterance of the words: plan, team, day.
It’s not just the logistics that start to develop in complexity. It’s the opinions too. If you have ever participated in or organised an offsite team building day, chances are you’ve been met with a mixture of responses. Some eager to step away from the ‘grind’. Others more cynical and forthright in their opinions:
“Do we really have time for this?”
“I just don’t see the point”
“Woohoo, another day of forced fun.”
Team building is painful when it's not meaningful. It's not just about getting out of the office; it's about creating an experience that resonates with everyone involved and fosters team cohesion. When done right, it can be the starting point for a journey of transformation. But how do you ensure your offsite is more than just a day away from the desk? Here are five ways to make your team building offsite not only easier but also genuinely impactful.
#01 Be thoughtful about the activity you choose.
Choosing activities that genuinely resonate with your team is a sure-fire way to overcome the naysayers. When team members see the value or relevance of the activity they’re taking part in, they are more likely to participate enthusiastically.
Another way to get people engaged is to align a team building activity with a cause your team cares about. Taking this approach can also be a powerful way to support your company's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives.
Why is this important? In 2024, the World Economic Forum conducted informal research with their LinkedIn audience, asking, "What is your company’s biggest challenge in achieving sustainability goals?" Nearly 50% of respondents pointed to a lack of employee engagement. This statistic highlights a critical opportunity: by choosing meaningful, ESG-aligned activities, you create a dual benefit: enhancing team cohesion while advancing your company's sustainability objectives.
#02 Keep everyone informed.
Ok, so you have an idea of how to get your team engaged and provide benefit to the organisation. Maybe you’ve already gone ahead and booked something. Now it’s time to communicate.
And a calendar invite isn’t going to cut it.
As the influential playwright, George Bernard Shaw once said: “"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
Don’t forget to bring your team along on the journey. If you've chosen a cause-driven activity, tell your team why you chose it, and how you hope it will impact them professionally and personally.
Keep the conversation about the cause alive in the lead up. Have these conversations in one-on-ones, all-hands meetings, and even casual chats over coffee.
#03 Manage the day.
The day is here. You’ve worked out how to get everyone from the office or home office to the site.
Surprise, surprise – there's more excitement than you anticipated!
To keep the energy positive and the competition productive, lead by example throughout the day. Ask questions of people, cheer others on, and keep an eye on interpersonal dynamics.
Bonus points if the activity you’ve booked includes people who will take carriage of keeping the competition friendly.
#04 Have fun.
Whatever it is you decide to do, ensure there is an element of fun! Fun sparks connection and will provide an opportunity for bonding that your team otherwise might not have.
#05 Follow-up.
Reflecting on the experience with the team after a team building activity is crucial for making the benefits last longer.
Sometimes encouraging reflection can feel like opening a can of worms. But if you’ve chosen an activity your team can connect with authentically and feel good about, you should end up with more passion than pessimism. Not to mention the benefits it will deliver to your business. So, take some time to discuss what was learned and how it impacted everyone to help reinforce the positive effects.
Uniting WA offers a unique, social impact driven team building experience for up to 20 people at a time, called ‘Recipe for Change’. Over half a day you and your team will learn about the issues surrounding homelessness in Perth before taking part in a team cooking challenge that will also nourish people sleeping rough the next day.
Recipe for Change is less 'box ticking’ and more impact for your team and the community around you.
To find out more, search Uniting WA Recipe for Change.
