Corporate team building events can bring significant benefits to organisations. A close-knit team is crucial to a business’ success, and a well organised team building event is a great way of building those relationships and developing key skills.
While the popularity of corporate team building doesn’t look set to wane any time soon, people’s ideas of what this should look like are evolving. Below, we’ve put together some of the key trends we expect to see in the industry in the year ahead.
Bespoke Experiences
In 2016, ‘bespoke’ will become the buzzword for corporate team building events. Companies are increasingly turning away from off-the-shelf products and are instead demanding experiences that are specifically designed to meet their objectives. A good events company or consultant should be able to work with you to identify your needs and design an experience that works for you and your employees.
Incorporate Technology
This year, for the first time, millennials will make up the biggest percentage of the work force. With this in mind, technology will be a key concern when thinking about team building events for 2016. When designing large company conferences or destination team events, organisations will increasingly be turning to interactive technology, such as social media, apps and analytics, to add to the whole event experience.
Evening Events
Who says team building has to take place during the day? Evening events can be just as effective as long as they are planned right – and we expect to see more of them in 2016. In general, evening time events tend to have a more relaxed feel with an emphasis on having fun and getting to know your colleagues. Murder mystery evenings can be really effective, offering a fun, laid back atmosphere which encourages problem solving and collaborative working. And for corporate team building in London, there is a plethora of evening options including wine tasting events and cocktail making.
The Great Outdoors
As we move into 2016, we expect to see more and more companies waking up to the benefits of outdoor team building events. Moving outdoors helps open participants’ minds to new perspectives, and research has shown that being outside can have a positive impact on the mental wellbeing of your workforce. When it comes to outdoor activities, the possibilities are endless. Take to the trees with a rope course, challenge your team with a wilderness survival event, or keep it simple with a company picnic which enables people to get to know each other in a relaxed environment.
Pop Culture
Team building events based on films and television shows have become increasingly popular in recent years, and this is set to continue in 2016. The familiarity of the format makes it easier for employees to get engaged with the activity, and you can choose the television show or film that best meets your strategic objectives. Whether it’s improving business planning and sales with ‘The Apprentice’, or showcasing your culinary skills and getting creative with a ‘Great British Bake Off’ inspired activity, a popular culture-based event can be highly effective, and lots of fun to boot.
As companies continue to try and ‘achieve more for less’, a well-functioning, motivated team is more crucial than ever. When it comes to corporate team building, there are so many options available – hopefully we’ve given you some inspiration to help make your team building activities a success in 2016.
Charlie Berry is the event director at Zing Events. Zing is a corporate event company that delivers innovative and creative team building activities in and around London.