Outdoor team-building events: how to approach the topic?

Outdoor team-building events are a very interesting solution, but it’s worth doing it right

Not long ago I described how to approach the organization of outdoor weddings (article here).#atfp_close_translate_span# Today I will share with you my observations on organizing team-building events in our vineyard.

If I compare team-building events to weddings, I immediately notice two different dynamics; a wedding is a party concentrated (on the bride and groom), while integration events are scattered. This dynamic means that the best team-building events, in my opinion, are those that have a flexible structure.

The above may sound a bit enigmatic, so I’ll quickly list them all, which I hope will explain what I mean.

A team-building event should take advantage of the outdoors, not just be in it

Recently, we had an inquiry about organizing an event at a vineyard with the theme… Spain! This isn’t a joke, it’s just what a company came up with. Of course, you can do it that way, but why bother? Our main advantage is that we’re an outdoor venue and a vineyard, and that’s already a script in itself, in a very natural way.. 

What helps employees “integrate” is shared experiences, but also sense of security

We all know and understand the importance of team-building activities, but the participants’ sense of comfort and safety is often overlooked. I’m not talking about physical safety, but rather psychological safety. Remember, when a bus pulls into the vineyard parking lot and people get off, they’re unfamiliar with the place, not yet comfortable, and it’s a mistake to force them to join in. This isn’t a labor camp! 

The most sensible approach is to familiarize them with the venue and convey a sense of belonging. Only then can deeper integration be fostered. Therefore, when planning our winery schedule, I often make sure to offer a winery tour at the beginning of the event, rather than halfway through.. 

Lunch or dinner at the start of the day isn’t always a good idea, as the event tends to be a fragmented affair, and sitting down for lunch or dinner inevitably “slows down” the group, and then forcing the group back into action isn’t easy. I’ve seen this in practice, and I don’t recommend it.

Of course, these comments are conditioned by the time schedule, if the group comes for 2 hours, we will not work miracles here. 

Let’s not create a tight schedule

We often receive a meeting schedule where the organizers “manage” every minute of the event. This is a mistake. Again, our great advantage is that we are a vineyard, surrounded by nature, which has a very positive impact on well-being. At a certain point in the event, it’s necessary to allow the company to “loosen up” a bit. Everyone needs a moment to relax—some more, others less. This can be done skillfully, for example, by offering team-building activities where not everyone will participate; some will just be spectators. This gives them a moment to relax, exchange comments, and encourage others. This is also part of the shared integration.

Let’s take time to plan

Team-building events are often organized at the last minute. There are various reasons for this approach, but it certainly doesn’t positively impact the final “quality” of the meeting because, unintentionally, when something is done at 5:12, we have to improvise. Contrary to appearances, a team-building event like this requires planning and attention to numerous details to be not just okay, but truly excellent. Therefore, given that most team-building events are outdoors, it’s necessary to create a plan B, and in such a way that it has the same quality as plan A.. 

Ultimately, a successful team-building event is one that most participants will say after the event that it was great. This “great” is a component of the participants’ relationships with others, but also with the place they found themselves in. It’s worth remembering this.