Posted by Ema Popova on Fri, May 10, 2013 @ 05:06 AM
In a perfect world companies would have the best specialists for each role and each employee would take on full responsibility for their actions and duties. Just picture that perfect organisation where every team member activities feed perfectly into the activities of the next one up the ladder. The company would then function in a complete harmony. Sounds great, right?
Reality however is different and organisations operate in circumstances far from perfect with resources far from enough. Economic downturns and extremely competitive markets only make the situation worse. Thus companies can rarely operate at their optimum focused on surviving in a challenging environment. This often leads to difficult choices and tension as companies are trying to do their best with what they have at disposal.
Inevitably this affects the interpersonal dynamics and team collaboration. Here are some issues that could seriously challenge the team spirit within an organisation:
Excessive Multi-Tasking. This could be the result of one of two things: high turnover or layoffs. High turnover is an issue that many companies are struggling with today. Whether because Human Resources don’t make the wisest choices or because the work conditions are not what candidates expect, the result is shortage of personnel and in turn multi-tasking. Thus inevitably somebody ends up doing what they consider not to be their job which naturally results in irritation and tension.
Political Games. While some people are happy with their jobs and following their daily routine, others are far more ambitious constantly trying to make their way up the ladder. As people are looking for possibilities to prove themselves they often get carried away and do it at the expense of their colleagues. Attitude that does not only annoy people but could give rise to open hostility.
Responsibility Issues. Responsibility is a big word that not everybody likes. Sometimes due to inexperience or lack of qualification, often times simply because it is easier but people often avoid taking it. When an issue arises however somebody is always at the bottom of things and naturally you want to know who is responsible. When this happens and the ball starts getting passed among the team members, this sooner or later leads to disappointments.
These are all serious issues that unavoidably impact your company performance. This is to say, you have to deal with them and better sooner than later. Discussion and mediation are one way to do so.
What is even better is taking your team off site in a setting that is unburdened with tension and giving them the opportunity to deal with it in a far more creative way. Fun games and team building activities might be just what you need to pull your team together. You will be surprised at what could be achieved when people are given the chance to recognise where the problems lie in a fun way that will also have them come up with solutions themselves. We have a number of team activities and exercises designed for this purpose indeed.Check them out here.
Or if you would like some ideas which are customised to your specific needs just get in touch, we will be happy to help!
Posted by Ema Popova on Fri, Apr 19, 2013 @ 04:58 AM
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Summer is upon us and we know that you are already thinking about some activities and events for your staff. Organising a staff night out is a great way to get them all together and give them the chance to mix and mingle while having some fun. It is these events indeed that they will hopefully talk about down the road.
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Summer is upon us and we know that you are already thinking about some activities and events for your staff. Organising a staff night out is a great way to get them together and give them the chance to mix and mingle while having some fun. It is these events indeed that they will hopefully talk about down the road.
And as we’ve said many times before, activities and events do not necessarily need to be strictly team building to pull your employees together. It is all about giving them the chance to share an enjoyable experience together. It does wonders in terms of building camaraderie among your employees which in turn makes for a great work environment.
The key here is making the event memorable. There are only so many activities you can organise throughout the years… So how do you make them different? How do you make them special so that they are not the consecutive corporate event?
Adding a theme is definitely a good way to do so. It adds to the fun and can transform a standard activity day into something far more memorable. Here are some great themes that we love and we know (from experience!) always go down a treat.
Olympics Theme. The Olympic theme is great for culturally diverse teams as it gives them the chance to participate in different activities representing various countries. It is especially suitable for a Sports Day type of event and gives us the chance to organise a pre-event parade around the grounds to tie in with the day too. The Olympics theme is also great for overseas groups as it could be easily turned into an Irish Olympics Day and give the group the chance to enjoy some traditional Irish activities.
Pirates Theme. Another theme that we love. Ties is great with a number of outdoor activities and especially so with treasure hunt challenges. We’ve organised it for groups along the coast where we’ve had real treasure chests hidden for the pirates to find, we’ve pirate themed various multi activity days with some great pirate props and décor elements, and we have added a pirate theme to traditional summer BBQs. Accessories such as pirate hats, masks, bandanas etc. really add to the atmosphere and make it much more fun.
Caribbean Theme. Unlike the above options, this one is a standalone theme that involves specific type of entertainment and décor but is great for the summer. Garden furniture including tikki huts, tropical centre pieces, Hawaiian leis and other accessories on arrival, upbeat music and limbo dancing all make for a night to remember…
Yes, summer is just around the corner and there are so many ways to boost the mood and organise something special. And we are here to help! Contact Us now and let us transform your summer event into something truly memorable!
Posted by Ema Popova on Thu, Apr 11, 2013 @ 07:15 AM
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Team building comes in different forms and shapes. You don’t necessarily need to have the group split into teams, working together on a common task to achieve the ultimate purpose of a team building activity. Enhancing communication and encouraging collaboration is essential, yet it is only one side of the coin.
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What lies beneath and is even more important is sharing an enjoyable experience that they will talk about in the years to come. This is what eventually pulls teams together.
Organising a Family Day is a great opportunity to do so without going for a conventional team building event.
Why a Family Day? Well, the list is long but here’s a few benefits of this style of events which make it really different:
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A Family Day type of event reinforces a relaxed atmosphere. With all the games going on, music and fun, off site and away from the conference room, people tend to have a completely different mentality and attitude. The atmosphere is much more relaxed and people find that more enjoyable.
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There’s something it in for everybody. While the kids are enjoying some inflatables and games, we also run fun competitions for the adults so everybody is involved and having a good time. Having said that and if you’ve already thought ‘What’s with the people that don’t have kids?’, well, the event is simply designed for everyone and that just includes kids too. If you don’t have any, well you could still come along and enjoy.
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It’s a great socialising event. As employees bring their partners along, everybody get a chance to meet the families of their colleagues and build new friendships. The positive knock on effect of that on team work and collaboration are obvious.
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Family Days are memorable. Unlike all the team building events, conferences, meetings, nights out, etc, that are taking place all the time all year round, a Family Day is usually only happens once a year and is the only opportunity for employees to bring their families along. That makes the event different in itself but also gives them some fun memories to reflect on in the future.
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A Family Day is an event that can be easily combined with night time entertainment. When we run these combining a day time activities with some fun that night, we run the kids games and activities up until the late afternoon which then leaves space for the adults to finish off the day nicely with a few drinks and great entertainment. It adds to it and makes for a day memorable day filled with fun.
The summer is upon and it is time to start considering some outdoor options that are in line with the season too. A Family Day is a great option as it’s fun but at the same time offers the benefits of a team building event.
Already thinking about it? Contact us now. Let us put together some great ideas for you!
Posted by Ema Popova on Thu, Apr 04, 2013 @ 10:39 AM
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Treasure hunts! Another simple yet brilliant team building idea. The ‘simple but effective’ truly applies here. Yes, we know you might have probably participated in one of these years ago but let us assure you that there is a huge difference between an ordinary treasure hunt game and one of the themed and /or cryptic ones we specialise in...
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Treasure hunts have, without a doubt, proven to be among some of the most popular team building events we’ve run throughout the years. And we never get tired of them indeed because they are (even in their simplest version) excellent for many reasons. Here’s a few that we felt like sharing with you this week:
- Treasure hunts are great for overseas groups. We often have clients enquiring about a team event that would be suitable for their clients, colleagues or partners from abroad. An Irish themed treasure hunt is an excellent solution as it will take the group through all the main tourist attractions. Along with the clues we also incorporate other Irish themed tasks and challenges to add to the fun. And that’s not all! You can take it further and have an Irish Character MC running the event to make it really memorable.
- Treasure hunts reveal new sides of a city you think you already know. You might have walked down Grafton Street hundreds of times but once you are out there solving cryptic clues, looking for hints and completing challenges under time pressure and, you will discover sites you’ve never seen before. We include various novelty elements and tasks that will keep you on your toes too!
- Treasure hunts are the perfect escape from the conference room. A treasure hunt could be run as a short but effective conference energiser game that will get them out of the room for some on feet fun tasks and challenges. It is nice and refreshing and will help them relax after a long morning of presentations.
- Treasure hunts could be themed around anything you wish. We have run Christmas themed treasure hunt games, Easter city challenges, St. Patrick’s scavenger hunts and many more. If you are looking for a challenge to tie in with the spirit of the season, a themed treasure hunt might be an excellent solution.
The options on treasure hunt style games are endless and we offer a variety of options ranging from inexpensive but fun packages to Limo Hunts, Murder Mystery ones incorporating actors out on the street and much more! For more details, check out our Treasure Hunts page here.
Posted by Ema Popova on Thu, Mar 28, 2013 @ 10:10 AM
Working on a team is a challenging but rewarding experience. In any case, whether we like it or not, it is a must today and something every business needs to encourage and seek to enhance. What happens however with when companies acquires other ones, when divisions are transferred to a new location or any change of such scale takes place?
Companies end up with diverse teams made up of people with different nationalities, values, culture. On top of the fact that people are by nature different and real team work in itself is hard to achieve, such a change complicates the situation even further….
As Steven Covey preaches in his 1989 best seller ‘Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’, it is indeed interdependence that achieves the greatest results, regardless of what sphere of life we are talking about. As Covey explains in his book, we all go through stages from dependence to independence as we grow and while most of us reach independence, only some achieve the interdependence stage and these are the top performers in every field.
In other words it is collaboration that helps us achieve exceptional results, not our work individually.
We have taken that philosophy and based some of our events on the idea of collaboration indeed. The result? Some of our greatest, most impactful and loved events were created that are also fun and engaging. Here are some reasons why you might want to consider a collaborative event next time:
1. They make you feel that you belong. It’s a well-known fact that organisations compete against each other. Yet, on the inside, each organization should be like a family to which everybody should feel that they belong. A family that they can rely on and which they also support. Often times, however, busy with our daily tasks, we often forget that. A collaborative teams building could help you remind your employees that they are indeed part of a family. This does not only make people feel better but also boosts motivation.
2. They help you keep the big picture in mind. This very much stems from the above. And it’s logical as well. It’s much easier to work on a team of 5 people, as we often do, than it is in a group of 50. We thus tend to forget that our team is part of an interrelated system and that we all have the same ultimate goal - progress. Even if not immediately or directly, our actions will eventually affect the whole organization. A collaborative exercise will help you emphasize the importance of keeping the whole in mind.
3. They help you spot the natural leaders. Just imagine: the group have the task at hand, they are under pressure, some people have heard some parts of the brief, others have heard other parts. And when they start working together here is what happens: some discuss what they believe should be done with the person right next to them, others shout over to the other part of the room trying to communicate what they think the right approach is, while others still just hang around without doing anything. It sounds messy, doesn’t it? Until one or two individuals step up and get everybody organised. Suddenly everybody is listening attentively, the activities get synchronized and everything starts flowing much better. These people are what we call natural leaders. We all know why these people are crucial to every organisation. A collaborative team building game gives the chance to such individuals to show their potential and to you to spot it.
What is the best about a collaborative team event however is that it is designed to get across clearly a simple truth: working all together we can achieve much greater, much bigger goals, than if we were to work separately. And this is obvious from the results in the game itself.
Convinced now? Why not check out some of our ideas on great collaborative events here? More options available on request, Contact Us now.
Posted by Ema Popova on Thu, Mar 21, 2013 @ 07:07 AM
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Here at EventWorks our clients know us for our creative, original and different events. Despite that, we do sometimes get asked about traditional style team building events. When a client approaches us asking about an orienteering session or an off road driving event for example, unfortunately we have to say ‘No’.
Not because these are not good or fun in themselves but simply because we see no real team building benefit in them.
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Throughout the years we have come to realise that most people have participated in events of this sort on at some stage and find it boring having to do them again. For this reason we find that organising such events with a team building purpose is just a bad idea.
Here are some good reasons to avoid conventional team building events:
1. They are not memorable. One of the greatest benefits of team building is the knock on effect of them having some nice memories to share and look back at. Good memories pull teams together and enhance the company morale.
Give them the chance to live something fun and unique together that they remember for the years to come!
2. They are not engaging. As mentioned above, if the participants have already taken part in the same or similar event, chances are they will find this one boring and will not commit to it. This in turn means that the ultimate purpose of the activity, that is to reinforce team spirit, will not be achieved.
Invest the time and money into an event that will really help you build a team!
3. They don’t build trust. This one is closely related to the above one. A conventional event is far less enjoyable than something new and different and will thus not get them enthusiastic about it as expected. That is to say, you will miss out on the opportunity to achieve another essential purpose of a team building event – build trust among team members.
Trust within a team is crucial for obvious reasons and while it takes a long time to build it an actual work environment, a team building event can really catalyze the process.
For all these reasons and more we are dedicated to providing you with events that are different, creative and fun. Events that will live in their memory, make them laugh, build trust among them and help you achieve the ultimate purpose of such an event – create a team spirit.
Want to know more? Why not check out our team building events here?
Posted by Ema Popova on Thu, Mar 14, 2013 @ 11:10 AM
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As we are moving away from the winter and the weather gets nicer and warmer, it is time to start thinking about outdoor team building activities. As enjoyable as indoor games can be, going out for a fun activity with colleagues has a number of benefits among which the change of scene, the chance to have a walk and the sunshine to name a few.
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The fact that the weather is nice in itself is reason enough to go out and we have quite a few options which will also give you the chance to boost the team spirit, encourage collaboration and get them to have fun together while enjoying that sunshine.
The Apprentice is based on the famous program and is run by our hilarious Character MC who will get them to think on their feet while competing for the big prize – being hired! We include a variety of outdoor tasks and challenges just like in the program, yet nothing embarrassing. Everybody gets a good laugh in the final boardroom scene where teams will have to explain and defend their decisions.
Beat The Clock City Challenge is a great combination of unusual and cryptic tasks completed out on the streets of any town or city in Ireland. Run by our undercover agent, the game involves challenges which are delivered in a non-traditional way and are performed under time pressure. Expect phone box calls, being followed by a spy, having to find strangers out on the streets and much more…
Team Works incorporates a series of great games and activities which are in the spirit of good old traditional team building. We have only selected activities which we know participants always find enjoyable such as Spiders Web, Toxic Waste, Parachute, Giant Tangrams, etc. As the teams are being kept moving through the different zones, they will earn points and have some fun at the same time. And that’s not all! We have a great surprise finale in the basket for them too!
Pit Stop Soapbox Challenge will give them the chance to build their own racing cars from scratch, customise them and decorate them to their taste. We set up a parts shop and provide them with instructions and rules on what is required. Great finale as the teams race against each other to test the functionality and speed of their cars.
Company Day events are a great option for the summer. Whether you are looking to organize a Summer BBQ activities, Family Day, School Sports Day style event, Themed Day or anything within these lines, the options are endless and we can completely customise it for you to suit your needs and requirements.
Yes, the summer is just around the corner and the options are numerous. If looking for more ideas or not sure which one would suit your group best, why not contact us? We would be happy to talk to you and put together some ideas suitable for your team.
Posted by Ema Popova on Thu, Mar 07, 2013 @ 09:05 AM
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Companies throw a lot of effort into providing trainings and team building for their employees. Considering the importance of human capital for businesses today and especially for the labour intensive service providers, this is no surprise.
Team building can do wonders in terms of enhancing the office atmosphere, fostering long-term collaboration and improving the work morale. And while team building is important to incorporate into every company’s strategy, it is just as important that the activities are suitable for the group and enjoyable too.
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Unless this is the case, team building will prove not only to be a waste of time and funds but worse, it could get them agitated. The negative knock on effect on your business because of people being discontent could be larger than you imagine.
Here are five tips to help you make your team building events a success but also to maximize the benefits of the activities:
1. Know the group. Not all team building activities are suitable for every group. From experience we know that financial wizards prefer mental challenges and physical activities to art tasks while groups working in marketing for example would rather enjoy a creative challenge. Whatever the activity it is important that it is suitable for your team, otherwise it won’t be enjoyable.
2. Consider timings carefully. Offer a half day off rather than an after work event. People consider this their private time and even if the activity is fun they will not put their hearts into it. Also avoid late afternoons and team building activities toward the end of a conference as at this stage everybody is thinking about going home and they will not commit to the task at hand.
3. Relate the activity to real life. Choose games and activities that will place them in situations similar to the ones they experience at work every day. Relating the situations arising in the activity to real life will also help them relate the methodology of finding solutions to real life issues as well.
4. Make it fun. Absolutely crucial. Add a theme to the activity, have an actor running it or make sure that a few jokes are incorporated at least. Even if you are going for a more serious training and you would like to have them as focused as possible, a bit of a laugh never harms. On the contrary, based on experience we know that when people are having a good time, this is when they really open up to ideas. This is turn means that the drive-home message will be heard ever better.
5. Get everybody involved. And we mean everybody! Don’t let managers sneak out of the room right before the activity. Have them mix in with the group and actively participate in the games. This will reinforce the we are all one team culture but also bring down barriers and reinforce an approachable image of company leaders and managers.
No group is identical to any other one and of course members within each group are different too. Make sure to take that into consideration. If you are not sure of a single activity that will satisfy the whole group, then just go for an event that incorporates several, different in nature sections. That way there will be something in it for everybody and mistakes will be ruled out.
Posted by Ema Popova on Thu, Feb 28, 2013 @ 06:56 AM
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Keeping audience attention is more important and more difficult that grabbing audience attention. While the latter is obviously crucial, the first one is much harder to achieve from start to finish of a presentation let alone the whole conference.
Just the thought of having to sit through a conference is one that can easily put off pretty much everyone.
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Hands up those of you who have ever felt like screaming or at least walking out the door because the event was dragging out too long, the topic was boring, or you saw nothing in it for you…
We have all felt like that at some stage even when it was interesting in fact. The issue: passively listening and having to keep your attention for longer than physically feasible. You as an organiser of one of those events have to put yourself in the shoes of your attendees. It is an absolute must. Especially if you are hoping to do better. What were the things that drove you mad? Back then what did you think you would do differently or never do?
Well, here’s the two most basic yet most important hints we can give you based on our experience:
- Keep it short
- Break it up
While the first one is very much down to your own organisation, the second one is something we can help you with. We have years of experience in both managing conferences and organising team building as part of these and we know that adding some fun breaks makes all the difference and always pays off.
Here are some ideas on short and snappy activities to break it up:
Art Explosion. Can last between 15 and 30 minutes (depending on your needs) and adds a creative touch to the overall event. Each team, provided with art & craft materials, work on a custom designed board that they have to decorate using their imagination. What they don’t know however is that each of the boards are designed so that they are different. When we put them all up at the end (just like a huge handmade jigsaw), they spell out…. well, anything you wish! Makes for a great conference finale!
Breaking News. Another fun team building activity that they do at their tables. Here originality is crucial and even if there is nothing to create a huge impact at the end of the conference, as in the case of Art Explosion, we guarantee that they will get a good laughter! Each team gets a pre-designed newspaper front page layout that they use to create their own newspapers with their own stories. The best part: the activity could be themed around anything you want.
Brain Game. An on-screen team building challenge that we have designed and developed ourselves. These are 5 different games which are based on clever, fun animations to test their observation and analytical skills. Each game lasts approx. 15 minutes so that you can have several short breaks whenever you wish. These are fun and they always go down a treat.
Which option is the best one will depend on the group, on your preferences and on the conference itself of course. The above are just some options and we have many more ideas on great team building activities that you can check out here.
If still not sure, why not contact us? We will be happy to listen to you and provide solutions that will best meet your requirements.
Posted by Ema Popova on Thu, Feb 21, 2013 @ 06:01 AM
It is in our nature to compare ourselves to others and compete with them. Competition is present in all spheres of our lives from school to our private lives to our careers. The business world is no exception. Competition has turned into a natural reflex of companies to deal with their environment. It is preached and it is sought.
In fact, we are so focused competing that we forget the other side of the coin – collaboration. In his 1989 book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey outlines seven main principles that are viewed as tips for the general public but are widely adopted by business leaders. Among these are tips such as being proactive, putting first things first, looking for win-win outcomes etc.
At the top of Covey’s pyramid of effectiveness is what he calls interdependence. In other words, collaboration. And no wonder as collaboration does in fact have far more benefits than competition if you think about it.
This is as valid for the business world as it is in terms of team building. Most of the team building games are designed so that participants work into teams but they often also compete against other teams. While this keeps participants on their toes, it also means that you are robbed from the opportunity to demonstrate how collaboration can lead to much greater, much bigger results. The benefits are numerous but here the ones we consider the most important:
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Collaborative team building makes you feel that you belong. We are all so focused on beating competition that we often take our competitive spirit to our workplace. We forget that at least within our organisation we are all one team, one family and we should all pull together into the same direction. Collaborative team building gives you the opportunity to demonstrate that participants are indeed one big team after all. Seeing the results of the common efforts makes people feel that they belong to a larger group and that is motivating.
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Collaboration helps keep the bigger picture in mind. This one is closely related to the one above and just as important. Organisations are made up of different departments and functions and we are used to working in smaller teams which often makes us forget that we are all parts of the same whole. And here is the eternal issue: Marketing Vs Finance. Sounds familiar? Well, bottom line is that activities in any end of the business will eventually affect the whole organisation – it is an interrelated system. A collaborative team building exercise helps you emphasize on the importance of keeping the bigger picture in mind and the consequences of not doing so.
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Collaborative events help you spot natural leaders. When you put them all together into one team, as it is a large group within which coordination is hard, naturally chaos emerges. Some people are chatting away in smaller groups while others are discussing how the task should be approached and then there are those who are just sitting around. Out of this chaos there always are those 2 or 3 participants who stand out immediately. They take the initiative and come up with a strategy to handle the challenge effectively and quickly. These are what we call natural leaders. They don’t need to be in charge officially, yet people follow as they trust them. Individuals who are natural leaders are crucial to every organisation and a collaborative exercise will help you spot them immediately.
Yes, collaboration is important. This should be reflected in the events you organise for your teams as it helps you stress how important it actually is. With that in mind, we have designed some great options on collaborative team events for you. You can check them out here.