• Save money with these teambuilding ideas.
I
t is critical to plan teambuilding initiatives that won’t break the bank or cause leaders within the company to question the real purpose of the event. Midwest Meetings asked industry
professionals for their ideas on how to host a great teambuilding event on a budget and here is what they had to say: Humanitarian Teambuilding According to Brad Goodsell, president of Executive Travel Di-
rectors (ETD) Chicago, community service activities are gaining in popularity because they are generally less expensive and they send a message of fi scal and social responsibility to a company’s employees and the watching public. They are also terrifi c at reinforcing an organization’s mission and often result in higher employee engagement than traditional teambuild- ing activities. They are often viewed as more worthwhile because they are ultimately helping those less fortunate with a shared mission. Ideas for this type of activity include; preparing and serving food at a homeless shelter, hosting a Habitat for Humanity work day, collecting supplies for and creating care packages for soldiers, and organiz- ing a winter coat drive or a holiday toy drive
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for needy children.
What is Really Necessary? If you still want to host a more traditional teambuilding event,
as a planner it is important to ask yourself, “What is truly needed to make this event happen?” According to Ed Graziano, founder of Corporate Event Inter-
active, Inc. Chicago, “Items such as decorations, special lighting, and elaborate sound systems may not be necessary and might not be missed by attendees.” He recommends that you save the cost of securing such items
and keep in mind that the event is about the teambuilding experi- ence. If you absolutely feel that decorations are necessary for the event, then get creative and see if making the decorations can somehow be incorporated into the event. Review Your Venue Options Summer is a fantastic time to host outdoor events and many
local parks offer space that is perfect for teambuilding at little to no cost. The thing to keep in mind, if you do secure this type of venue for a teambuilding effort, is that some sort of shelter may be needed in the event of inclement weather. You may also have to secure additional beverages or adjust your day’s events in the case
MIDWEST MEETINGS SUMMER 2011
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