I’m so very careful when I talk about the ROI of team building. Metrics are hard to come by. And I’m not one to exaggerate to try to gain new business.
But there is ROI from corporate team building on two levels. From my perspective as a life long creative type I know well the value of ROInspiration®. Inspiration boosts engagement and the sense of ownership team members feel for group mission. This opens the door to innovative problem-solving.
What To Expect From Your Corporate Team Building Event
The first thing you need to determine is what you expect from your corporate team building event. A one day, half day or several hour program won’t change your culture for the long run. And if you expect it to, you’ll be disappointed. However, a well facilitated creative team building program is a great catalyst or capstone to a change initiative.
There’s a good article here on how to build a team – the right and wrong way to approach corporate team building. I believe your main goals should be to build trust, create more open communication, align group vision and team goals. In general, the goal of increasing collaboration and harmony also increases a group’s ability to be visionaries, to openly share, and to work together as problem solvers. There is real team building ROI when you know what you’re after.
Not so coincidentally, I’m passionate in my belief that Team Building Through Song® is a powerful and really fun way to achieve these goals. Great songs tell stories. They distill ideas and information into succinct emotional messages that communicate the best of who you are, where you’ve been and where you’d like to go. The group songwriting process enables you to create organizational artifacts (your songs), and powerful takeaways.
When to Plan a Team Building Event?
- When you need to re-align, build or re-build trust
- After a merger or acquisition
- Before the start of a new project or initiative
- When you want to reward your team and celebrate success
Best Corporate Team Building Locations
The best corporate team building location is wherever you are… Really? Yes, really… Because what you’re doing is more important than where you are. The best corporate team building will always be a program that’s guided by your objectives and your concerns. Are you in need of unification after a merger & acquisition? Do you need to build trust after downsizing? Do you just want to have fun? Figuring out your objectives is the first critical step to planning a successful team building activity.
Corporate Team Building, Anywhere
So let’s assume you’ve bought into my argument above and you’ve defined just why you’re planning a team building event. At that point, you can begin to plug your objectives into available programs. For example; let’s say you want to build trust through an activity that’s a bit edgy and exciting, without being too dangerous. Here’s a company that will help you accomplish that through white water rafting. Let’s say the water cooler conversation at your office is obsessed with the TV show, The Amazing Race. Guess what? There are several companies out there providing Amazing Race corporate team building.
So if you know why you’re there…the best corporate team building location is wherever you are…Really!
Are You Ready for ROI?
ROI does exist and in many forms. In addition to the soft concept of inspiration, your monetary investment in team building will be returned if you align your goals with your spend and the type of program you choose.
If you’d like to talk about a team building event and how you might obtain ROI from such an event, I’d love to help.