Utter the word ‘corporate away day’ to an employee and 9 times out of 10 you are met with a groan as they think back to the time Gary from Accounts overshared during a problem-solving task. However, the real point of an away day is to provide the opportunity for individuals to bond on a deeper level and share in new experiences which will ultimately help to bring a sense of community and camaraderie to the office. So, whether you are a business of 20 or 200 people, your away day is a key date in the calendar to help enhance relationships and the teams’ ability to work together. Here are some tips to help plan a memorable away day for all the right reasons.
Know your outcome
The key to organising a successful away day is through understanding what the ultimate aim is. Do you want to foster new relationships between team members? Would you like to take individuals out their comfort zone and show them their true potential? Or do you just think they deserve a relaxing break? Whatever you decide, logistics and potential activities will follow.
Utilise time wisely
Just because it is named an ‘away day’ doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to only a day. Depending on the time you have available and the desired outcome, you should look to create something unique to your company that employees will look forward to. If running the event over a weekend will give them the chance to connect outside of work and relax for a few days, then why limit yourself? Fundamentally, it’s about creating an experience where colleagues can fully engage and get more comfortable with each other. And we all know that the first rule of ‘Bognor Regis Team B Away Day 2018’ is: You do not talk about ‘Bognor Regis Team B Away Day 2018’.
Break Away
Working in an office can build up a level of monotony and so a break from this can be just the refreshing experience your employees need to get out of their corporate mindset and truly relax. Through choosing a location which is new and adventurous, you can create a strong sense of energy throughout and ultimately make the experience more memorable. It might even result in more creativity back in the office, which is never a bad thing!
Cater for the Foodies
Food is an excellent ice breaker and conversation starter, providing the perfect opportunity to enhance some chatter. Decide on the style of catering you feel will foster the desired atmosphere at the event – buffet, sit down meal, canapes etc and watch as everyone gets involved. Plus, we all love a free meal, so lunch time and delicious snacks are a really great time to bring enjoyment to everyone.
Always ask for feedback
Ultimately, it is important to know about the success of your away day, so don’t be afraid to ask your team for their thoughts. Did they have a good time and would they change anything? Every comment is invaluable for helping you to shape the event and enhance it for next year.
Whatever you are planning, Everyone Events has a whole host of ideas and venues to help you organise the best away day possible.
If corporate wellness and adventure is your thing, then Everyone Events has a number of flexible full and half day team building packages available at Surrey Docks and Westway, providing small and large groups the opportunity to try their hand at raft building, canoeing, kayaking, dragon boat racing, climbing and tennis in a safe and fun environment. Why not give it a go?