Unique Ideas for your Teambuilding Events
by Sally Magallanes, CMP
What can you add to your program to really engage attendees? Participation is the goal - being involved in a truly interactive session that delivers a message. Let’s get the blood flowing by adding creativity and fun. Whether you are a Fortune 500 company, mid-sized corporation or non-profit association, when interactivity is the focus, no one will have a chance to be bored or not learn!
by Sally Magallanes, CMP
What can you add to your program to really engage attendees? Participation is the goal - being involved in a truly interactive session that delivers a message. Let’s get the blood flowing by adding creativity and fun. Whether you are a Fortune 500 company, mid-sized corporation or non-profit association, when interactivity is the focus, no one will have a chance to be bored or not learn!
Teambuilding is nothing new; however, the activities and means to bond certainly are changing. With all these changes, sometimes the hardest part about including teambuilding in your event is deciding which activity best suits your group and the goals set forth for the meeting. With that in mind, we reached out to a few companies offering some very diverse, popular activities that are bringing excitement to teambuilding programs.
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Innovative Teambuilding
The benefits of teambuilding are endless. From camaraderie to increased communication skills, the right activities can inspire your team to learn how to work together better and how to creatively solve problems.
Corporate Event Interactive (CEI) creates a multitude of innovative and networking experiences designed to energize teams. They can customize activities just to fit your group’s needs. A few offerings are:
Ken S., president, Business Executive Association, needed a means to infuse a new level of creativity and fun into his rather stale meetings. From building race cars, to participation in casino events and scavenger hunts, it was never the same! The activities “produced true interactivity and forged bonding between different members, changing the dynamics of the meetings! Members are now communicating with each other in new ways.”
Charity/Fundraising
Giving back feels good. Doing so as part of a team creates a unique experience for employees, increasing their job satisfaction and morale, company pride and engagement.
There are many meaningful and entertaining ways to give back. TeamBonding™ has many offerings. With offices in several Midwest cities and a National Touring Company, they can facilitate programs in any location. Some of its predominate “give back” activities:
Jeffrey L., GE Healthcare, wanted a specialized activity to build rapport with 90 global members of the legal team. He noted that TeamBonding™ worked very effectively to personalize the Charity Bike Build, incorporating creative segments that included a trivia event, building, and even riding the bikes. “The benefits were creating connections with the GE global team, and the rewards of giving something back to the community. Bikes were donated to a local Boys and Girls Club.” Bike locks and helmets were also provided.
The benefits of teambuilding are endless. From camaraderie to increased communication skills, the right activities can inspire your team to learn how to work together better and how to creatively solve problems.
Corporate Event Interactive (CEI) creates a multitude of innovative and networking experiences designed to energize teams. They can customize activities just to fit your group’s needs. A few offerings are:
- Socially Responsible Events (charitable and green programs)
- Team Bonding (sports, adventure hunts/races, game shows)
- Experiential Learning (problem solving, employee development/communication)
- Meeting Energizers (90-minute programs, such as music trivia, or mini-Olympics)
- FUNdraising (annual charity events engaging participants)
- Reception/Dinner events (casino nights, Texas Hold ‘em)
Ken S., president, Business Executive Association, needed a means to infuse a new level of creativity and fun into his rather stale meetings. From building race cars, to participation in casino events and scavenger hunts, it was never the same! The activities “produced true interactivity and forged bonding between different members, changing the dynamics of the meetings! Members are now communicating with each other in new ways.”
Charity/Fundraising
Giving back feels good. Doing so as part of a team creates a unique experience for employees, increasing their job satisfaction and morale, company pride and engagement.
There are many meaningful and entertaining ways to give back. TeamBonding™ has many offerings. With offices in several Midwest cities and a National Touring Company, they can facilitate programs in any location. Some of its predominate “give back” activities:
- Charity Bike Build (building bikes in teams and donating to needy children)
- Do Good Bus (riding a bus to an unknown destination and doing something GOOD)
- Wheelchairs in Motion (teams obtain materials to assemble, test and decorate wheelchairs)
- Operation Military Care (challenging/fun event, putting together care packages for Armed Forces)
Jeffrey L., GE Healthcare, wanted a specialized activity to build rapport with 90 global members of the legal team. He noted that TeamBonding™ worked very effectively to personalize the Charity Bike Build, incorporating creative segments that included a trivia event, building, and even riding the bikes. “The benefits were creating connections with the GE global team, and the rewards of giving something back to the community. Bikes were donated to a local Boys and Girls Club.” Bike locks and helmets were also provided.
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Comedy/Improv:
Interactive programs should have fun as a component. Another way to accomplish this is with comedy and improvisation. Encourage your team to take risks, think quickly and creatively and, most importantly, laugh… at themselves and each other.
ComedySportz® combines humor and improv in all activities. Take your group to a venue where members provide input for the high-energy comedy sketches. Individuals might be interacting onstage with other colleagues. This national entity has various “units” to benefit groups:
A special program was created by ComedySportz® for the International Special Events Society (ISES). Members needed a new means of “speed networking” at events - meeting every person in attendance and establishing at least one qualified connection. Barb H., president of ISES Chicago Chapter, was very pleased with the activities and outcome. “The exercises implemented for ISES members helped them refocus on why they attend a networking event and how to maximize these opportunities. Strategies were played out, in unique and fun ways, allowing them to meet objectives (speed networking), learn to make each connection meaningful and give ISES an edge over other networking groups.”
Teambuilding can accomplish projected goals in crazy, fun, challenging ways that will bring new inspiration to members and meetings! Each program can be as unique as the group of participants. Many can be tailored specifically for your team players, building fun, innovation, laughter and contests into the activities. Next time you want real engagement from your group, think interactivity!
Sally Magallanes, CMP has been a freelance writer and editor for over 15 years. She wrote extensively for MPI-Chicago Area Chapter’s former print piece, News & Views. Other specialties include proofreading, research pieces, biographical profiles, website content, marketing, e-newsletters and developing mission statements. She has been a full-time and freelance meeting professional for over 20 years, working with corporate, medical and non-profit groups. Ms. Magallanes has a BS in Hospitality Management, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL.
Interactive programs should have fun as a component. Another way to accomplish this is with comedy and improvisation. Encourage your team to take risks, think quickly and creatively and, most importantly, laugh… at themselves and each other.
ComedySportz® combines humor and improv in all activities. Take your group to a venue where members provide input for the high-energy comedy sketches. Individuals might be interacting onstage with other colleagues. This national entity has various “units” to benefit groups:
- ComedySportz® Clubs (fast-paced, interactive improv in numerous Midwest cities)
- The World Comedy League ComedySportz® National All-Star Team (travels to your location to incorporate improv and interaction)
- Team Match Competition (two performance teams battle for laughs in improvised scenes and songs; audience participates and decides winner)
- Exhibition Match (three top improvisers, referee and keyboardist perform hilarious games; filled with audience involvement and feedback)
- Team Advantage (workshop events that help build team communication/performance).
A special program was created by ComedySportz® for the International Special Events Society (ISES). Members needed a new means of “speed networking” at events - meeting every person in attendance and establishing at least one qualified connection. Barb H., president of ISES Chicago Chapter, was very pleased with the activities and outcome. “The exercises implemented for ISES members helped them refocus on why they attend a networking event and how to maximize these opportunities. Strategies were played out, in unique and fun ways, allowing them to meet objectives (speed networking), learn to make each connection meaningful and give ISES an edge over other networking groups.”
Teambuilding can accomplish projected goals in crazy, fun, challenging ways that will bring new inspiration to members and meetings! Each program can be as unique as the group of participants. Many can be tailored specifically for your team players, building fun, innovation, laughter and contests into the activities. Next time you want real engagement from your group, think interactivity!
Sally Magallanes, CMP has been a freelance writer and editor for over 15 years. She wrote extensively for MPI-Chicago Area Chapter’s former print piece, News & Views. Other specialties include proofreading, research pieces, biographical profiles, website content, marketing, e-newsletters and developing mission statements. She has been a full-time and freelance meeting professional for over 20 years, working with corporate, medical and non-profit groups. Ms. Magallanes has a BS in Hospitality Management, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL.
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