Meetings Blog Mar 09, 2018
You’re thinking of possible teambuilding events to arrange for your team and already have a few key items on the checklist:
Even saying the words ‘team building’ out loud can make some people a little nervous, so providing a solution that works for each of the checkpoints above will mean a positive, comfortable and rewarding experience for all. There is plenty of time for the real work to take place – which will also require facilities and support from your venue – so ensuring there is some focused activity for everyone to get involved in is a pleasant bonus, and often unwise to overlook. Here are a few ideas to help with the inspiration…
The word ‘escapism’ often refers to the act of being able to switch off from a daily routine, but our NH Valencia Las Artes hotel gives it a much more literal appeal. Thanks to our collaboration with The Escape Room, you and a small group of your colleagues will find yourself locked in a hotel room with only intelligence and imagination as your keys to freedom.
By solving various puzzles and challenges you will (hopefully!) find your way out and en route will have developed some of those team-working skills and likely found out a little more about each other. This unique experience is also an excellent idea if an unusual icebreaker is desired, and the concept can be developed further with an outdoor adventure exploration or treasure hunt.
Golf is a sporting pastime loved the world over and if your group has a penchant for the game then look no further than one of the many NH hotels that offer a golf course package for that healthy, fresh-air competition. Our NH Hotel Almenara on the south coast of Spain is one such venue with 27 holes allowing up to 3 different rounds options of 18 holes. Some extra kudos will be gained from the fact that it was Ryder Cup golfer Dave Thomas who was responsible for the course’s design. Check out our other golfing hotspots.
Along similar lines, archery is another popular activity that allows for a competitive atmosphere while maintaining the fun aspect with most participants never having picked up a bow. Learning a new skill while having a laugh with your colleagues in a comfortable environment can have a really positive effect on the individual and the group.
No one is in any doubt that exercise is a perfect stimulant for an individual’s mood, so why not get the team’s collective heartbeat pumping with an organized sporting event, a Zumba class, or a well-coordinated and safety-conscious mountain climb. Another option is to plan a route and take advantage of rental bikes that are widely available. This not only ensures the lungs get an appropriate workout but it also gives the gang a focused and interesting way of meeting the city.
Of course, a more zen-like approach to sporty teambuilding events can be to organize a yoga session for the group which, although limiting direct interactions in the team, can bring a real spiritual connectivity. And they can wave goodbye to any lingering stress or tension that may have existed.
Connecting the tastesIf the team is an eclectic bunch of individual interests then there is one activity that always tends to bring them together. Food, glorious food! Whether it’s a DIY barbecue where everyone gets a chance to be head chef, a cocktail class where the best in the bar business show off their mixing skills, or a wine and ham tasting session, there’s never a shortage of discussion points. Enhance the value of the activity by setting group challenges, for example, a Masterchef-styled competition where everyone tastes and votes, or a fact-finding quiz on the class contents. Delicious food sparks a positive chemical reaction in our brains, which is the perfect accompaniment to a team building session. Food and drink are also a consideration for how to finish off your day and how better than an evening gathering where the ensemble can mingle in a unique setting discussing that day’s activity.
Unexpected? Yes. Messy? Can be. Loads of fun? Absolutely. Have you ever considered arranging for a whole wall at your venue of choice to be open season for all those budding artists in the team? This is rarely a quiet affair – although any truly talented brush holder may choose a corner spot to sign their work – allowing for great conversations and interactions that are less likely elsewhere. Creative juices flow, ideas are shared, and what, at first, appears like a childish playgroup can quickly mature into a stress-busting and wonderfully rewarding experience. Certainly, one that will be remembered, especially when we send you the photo we capture of the final mural for posterity, even if it is more akin to Picasso than Rembrandt!
We all know the value to any group of positive and personalized teambuilding events – that new friendship, strengthened camaraderie, increased motivation and self-assessment – so look at what activities you could be arranging for your next event and speak to our team to find the ultimate solution.
