The growth of home and hybrid working in recent years has reinforced the importance of team building. Companies are experiencing a real need to bring people together in a way that forges meaningful connections and strengthens their ability to work effectively together on a more remote basis. And yet, in the current financial climate PAs are often having to trim the number of in-person meetings. So, how can these objectives be achieved? They can with team building activities that bring staff together.
PAs challenged to deliver team building activities to bring staff together
Clearly when staff get together on a more reduced frequency, the pressure is even greater for a PA to deliver a sense of occasion, engagement, and corporate return on investment with their events. Engaging and motivating at all levels, combining work agendas with relationship building, is the PA’s challenge. Luckily, the array of options for team building experiences has diversified to help. Many venues offer completely bespoke packages that can be tailored to meet the needs of a corporate client. Time spent together can be effective and meet objectives, rather than awkward or cringeworthy.
One such venue that has invested in both its facilities and team building offering is Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa in Sheffield. Here, Ruslana Yarmolyuk, General Manager, shares her top five team building activities that can be added to a business meeting or created as a stand-alone event. She said: “It’s essential to offer enough team-building variety to suit all age ranges, personalities, and energy levels (!) in a business. There is a need to address inclusion right across the company including engaging with homeworking employees.”
Axe Throwing
A high adrenaline activity designed to appeal to the hunter, gatherer in us all. Axe throwing has lots of benefits for your team, and its great fun too.
Firstly, axe throwing is intensely physical, allowing an outlet for all that pent up tension – most of us need to release stress built up during our daily lives. It is an activity that allows people to relax their boundaries which in turn will allow your team to relate to one another. Ultimately this means they’ll work better together in the future.
Finally, it’s highly likely that your team won’t spend most weekends axe throwing, so for most, it’s an opportunity to try something new and exciting. Broadening your horizons in this way, is thought to improve memory, mood, and motivation. It also increases adaptability and helps people to overcome fears. Very in line with the objectives of most team building activities.
Family Fun Day
A great way to reward your team and their wider support network is to hold a family fun day. This type of event always brings people together and encourages interaction between colleagues and their families.
Family fun days are ideal to this time of year. They lend themselves to summer parties, making the most of outdoor spaces with a range of activities such as fairground rides, inflatable assault courses, pony rides, garden games, tipi beer tents, and of course some delicious food too. BBQs, pizza ovens, even an ice cream truck for big and little children! With the kids entertained it gives the adults chance to relax and bond.
The best thing about family fun days for team building is that staff can attend a corporate event without feeling like they’re missing out on family time. This seems to matter more now than ever, as home-working has delivered a better work:life balance for many, and they like the taste of it. The downside is that some homeworking employees will prefer not to get involved in company events at all. A family day appeals as its less formal and an activity that doesn’t feel like ‘going to work’.
Archery and Afternoon Tea
Spend an afternoon in the great outdoors and learn a new skill with an activity guaranteed to hit the target, followed by refreshments that will you put the TEA into tea-m.
Archery is fabulous for focus and confidence building. Again, it is a new skill – helping teams with confidence and creativity.
At Kenwood Hall we often combine our physical activities with something that gives teams chance to relax and reflect afterwards. This is one example of a bespoke package, but really there are infinite options to combine activities.
If the weather is kind, we suggest that afternoon tea be taken outside on the terrace or manicured lawns. Picture your team gathered at picnic benches, sipping champagne in the sunshine while enjoying an array of treats from our Laura Ashley The Tearoom. A perfect way to round off the business day.
Cocktails and Crafts
Give your team chance to express their creativity with an art therapy session accompanied by bespoke cocktails.
We collaborate with professional external providers who can take you through the steps of creating a beautiful canvas to a theme of your choice. Having an artistic outlet can unleash creativity and boost productivity. And the best thing is that everyone gets a memento of the occasion.
Cocktails, well of course they can loosen everyone up and encourage interaction, especially if you incorporate a cocktail making session. Not everyone wants to include alcohol in their day. In which case we can also offer a mocktail masterclass.
Now, we think this works best with your team together, but it can be delivered hybrid too. Online for those who prefer not to attend in person and at the venue for those who can attend.
Wellbeing Retreat
Start your day with an outdoor yoga session on the lawns. Spend time amongst nature with a forest meditation session or boost your team’s resilience with breathwork and cold-water therapy. Round it all off with an afternoon in the spa where a range of treatments can help your team get back to feeling like the best version of themselves.
Wellbeing retreats can be single day itinerary, a post conference session, or run across multiple days with overnight accommodation included. Our onsite chefs can create ultra healthy menus to complement the physical and emotional healing.
The best thing about a wellbeing retreat is that your team will be back feeling refreshed and reinvigorated ready to tackle their to do list with renewed energy.
More about Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa
Find more information on corporate team building at Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa.Located just 5 mins from Sheffield city centre and with easy access to M1, the Hotel features 144 bedrooms & suites, eight meeting rooms for up t0 200 theatre-style, a conference delegate café & games room, spa, indoor pool, bar, and restaurant. It nestles amongst extensive grounds with a picturesque lake, making it an ideal venue for team building. Free on-site car parking. Free WIFI.
You might also enjoy reading about how to use your business’s outdoor space to keep teams engaged well after they return from their activity packed away day.
