Social team building:
Turbo boost for WIR-GEWINNT!
Social team events are in vogue. Why is that? Firstly, because many companies want to make their employees more aware of environmental and social issues than just a fun event in the spirit of corporate social responsibility (CSR ). And secondly, because social team building is easy to implement and fun to boot. Not to mention the international appeal.
Because as part of a team building charity, teams create something meaningful within a few hours that directly improves the lives of hundreds of people around the world. A functioning water filter system for schoolchildren in Africa, for example, or a a bunk bed with a mosquito netso that infections from sand fleas don’t stand a chance. A self-made prosthetic hand makes it easier for landmine victims from Syria to Colombia to do everyday things like eat or write.
Reinhard Stachl, creative mastermind for innovative game and team building ideas with that extra social touch, explains why employees and managers need analog points of contact, especially in the digital age. And how a social team building event not only recharges the motivation batteries for one day, but also keeps them at 100% over a longer period of time.
In this article:
- How does a social team building event differ from a conventional team building event?
- How does keeping the experience range high actually work?
- What social team events do you currently have in your program?
- What is meant by sustainable team events such as Bee a Team or Doing Circular?
- Why do many HR managers and companies still rely on traditional team events?
- Have analog team events become obsolete in the digital age?
- How does a team building event actually work?
- Is it possible to book or hire individual social team events?
How does a social team building event differ from a conventional team building event?
Quite clearly: in the team-building experience on the one hand and the social topping on the other. Conventional team events are like one-day wonders: The experience is limited to a single day and usually to a purely FUN activity. Archery, for example, a joint rafting trip, a soapbox grand prix or whatever – there’s nothing that doesn’t exist nowadays. It’s undoubtedly fun and certainly serves its purpose, but after the shared snack or dinner it’s over.
In contrast, participants in a social team event go into greater depth right from the start, are more involved and do so over a much longer period of time. In this respect, social team building is a real long-distance runner and overtakes any sprinter in terms of motivation and fun.
You come together as a group, create something meaningful and continue to follow the path you have chosen as a team.
How does keeping the experience span high actually work?
It’s simple: after the event, all teams are constantly provided with information and success stories via a landing page or a QR code that they receive at the event. In this way, they can immediately see what has become of their hard work and commitment on this charity event day. Whose life have I improved? What faces are behind them? Who did I actually make happy?
In this way, a completely different level of relationship is established, where I am personally and collectively involved with skin, heart and hair. Does the water filter system, that we have builtactually works with muddy water from the Kagera (river in Uganda, editor’s note). Can the child who was hit by a landmine torn off his hand, thanks to the prosthetic hand eat, write or cycle normally again? How many beehives could be protected from Varroa mites thanks to photovoltaic central heating from the varroa mite have been saved?
That’s the social extra, the cherry on the cake. And that is exactly what makes a lasting impression on the participants, makes them happy and motivates them. All these positive feelings are known to have a beneficial effect on work motivation and morale, which in turn benefits companies and their productivity. A social event acts like a turbo boost for serotonin levels: it simply makes you happy and unleashes the happiness hormones. Win-win on all levels and for everyone involved, I would say.
What social team events do you currently have in your program?
The good news is that there are more and more of them, because we take care of everything in-house – from the idea to the organization and production, including delivery – and can therefore respond flexibly to individual requests.
We have put all our brainpower into the current team events and created a wide variety of offers that we think master the balancing act between fun, meaningfulness, value orientation and team spirit.
Our classic social modules are
At BEE a Team and Doing Circular, in addition to social commitment, the main focus is on idea of sustainability in the foreground.
Ideas4Water is our most successful social event social event moduleIn one day, teams assemble fully functioning water filter systems for schools in Uganda according to a construction plan. We supply the basic framework, the various teams then install the hoses and pipes and test the device for functionality at the end. Cooperation with two global partners ensures that the systems arrive where they are needed.
The organizations take care of quality control and delivery to the respective target groups, which means the team can concentrate fully on the matter at hand. The entire process is completely transparent and comprehensible for employees even after the event. In short: they stay up to date and the loyalty, the after-effect is longer. The great thing is: with this water filter system, people can filter germ-free, bacterially clean water on site, up to 1600 l/h with the electric pump or 700 – 900 l/h with the hand pump. They no longer need to boil water and can produce their drinking water in no time at all, which has an energy value very close to that of medicinal water.
With the project Helping Hands project, participants assemble prosthetic hands for landmine victims around the world. More than 45,000 LN4 prosthetic hands have already been sent to 75 countries, where we work together with an American Helping Hands program or run the project together with Odyssey Teamsan American agency.
The great thing about it is that the employees can see how they have improved the lives of those affected by the social charity event. People can do everyday things again, such as eat, dress themselves or ride a bike. What’s more, the prosthetic hands are free of charge, extremely robust and virtually maintenance-free.
Also with the school project for Kenya the participants are also getting down to business in the truest sense of the word. In just one day, they carpenter school desks and/or a bunk bed with a mosquito net, professionally guided by a coach. Why is that? Because the children sit or sleep on the bare earth during lessons. Sand fleas have an easy time of it, they bite and often cause painful infections and inflammations. With a few simple steps, an entire department can furnish an entire school class. I think that’s an absolutely wonderful thought and makes you happy, don’t you? And when I also keep seeing photos of our partner association “Zukunft Dank Dir” when I see the children sitting on the bench with a smile instead of on the floor with their legs scratched up, it has priceless added value.
What is meant by sustainable team events such as BEE A TEAM or DOING CIRCULAR?
A sustainable – we also like to call it a “green” team event – combines resource awareness with social thinking. The best of both worlds, so to speak.
Sustainability is like the big sister of our social responsibility towards society. Everyone should always think about this when they go shopping, start their car or do whatever else. It makes a difference whether I use the available resources carelessly or even wastefully or whether I think about it in advance.
And we all know it: our planet’s fever is rising, so every contribution is important. All the things that are built at the events fulfill a purpose. This means that no resources are wasted in vain, but are put to good use for society. This also applies to BEE a Team and Doing Circular.
With BEE a Team the participants build a beehive complete with PV-controlled heating. In this way, they literally put the biggest enemy of bees, the Varroa mite, on fire. The Varroa mite cannot tolerate the heat and dies. It can then no longer infest the brood or spread viruses and endanger the bee population.
In the past, the mite was treated with chemicals such as formic acid, but this is no longer necessary with this method. By installing the 39 to 42 degree “PV-powered central heating” for the hive, the Varroa mites die off, but the bees themselves still feel very comfortable. If the bee year was successful, all participants will receive ¼ kg of honey from the hives they built themselves. This is guaranteed to make your breakfast bread taste even better.
Here, the participants dealt with different types of plastic and were made aware of the topic in general. Where do the raw materials come from, how long can they be used, do they remain in the cycle or do they become residual waste? If I make something new from old plastic, give it a new shape, then the circle is complete and I have not recycled 70 or 80% of a raw material, but 100%. That is green team spiritas we understand it.
Why do many HR managers and companies still rely on traditional team events?
Because it’s the easier way. And because a trend first has to catch on before it becomes hype. A lot can happen in between and depends on a wide variety of things. For a social team event, the company definitely has to put up a bit of money. Providing a school class in Africa with furniture is a different budget than a fun rafting trip on the Enns followed by a snack. Of course, it always depends on whether the companies are doing real CSR and whether they want to remain true to the social radius of an apartment cat.
Donating to a good cause is a great thing, but it doesn’t usually have an emotional impact on employees and is not very sustainable. In short, as the person responsible for HR or management , I always have to ask myself the question: Do I want to strengthen team cohesion with an entertaining one-day show? Or do I take the topic seriously and choose a strong topic with social depth instead of a walk on the surface? Various teams have improved the lives of hundreds of people through their charity work, and it was fun to boot.
I compare our Social Team Events to skipping rope: It trains social responsibility, is effective, simple and insanely fun.
Have analog team events become obsolete in the digital age?
Not at all! Team building and incentives are known to strengthen cohesion enormously, boost morale and can develop a dynamic in which many companies are still happy to invest. However, as already mentioned, the trend is moving towards meaningful and powerful topics, and these are social team events are the ideal filler.
Especially in the digital age, analog points of contact are needed more than ever. The energy that arises when two people meet is something that no like or email can ever replace. True to the motto “We win”. That’s why it’s so important to keep creating breaks and feel-good experiences between Zoom meetings, PCs and keyboards. To offer a setting where people can get to know each other better outside of the office setting.
In Austria, we have a saying that people come together when they talk. I would argue that doing is even better. And that’s what it’s all about: the team has to deal with each other, with all their strengths and talents. Who drills? Who paints? Who puts the tubes together? There is a clear goal that you can see and understand at the end of the day.
Something that plays a role in another person’s life.
How does a team building event actually work?
Basically, every social team event runs in a similar way, but of course a little differently depending on the theme. You receive an introduction, get together as a group, implement the specifications according to the construction plan and then test the functionality. Finally, there is a creative part and the plant, the bee dwelling or the hand prosthesis are made ready for dispatch. Afterwards, everyone receives a QR code with a direct link to the landing page or tracking.
What is particularly important to us is that we take care of the whole package: the organization, delivery of the parts, setting up and dismantling the stations, preparing the creative part or whatever else needs to be done. We don’t go home until everyone else has had their snack.
Is it possible to book or hire individual social team events?
I would even say that this is our specialty!
As an idea workshop and all-round implementer by our own definition, we offer our customers the complete carefree package, brainstorming and visualization, custom-made products and delivery or assembly on site included. Thanks to our many years of experience in the event and promotion sector, we not only have the necessary know-how, but are also well prepared on the day of the event for all possible incidents and hiccups.
Because the feedback from the participants is all so positive, if not enthusiastic, it naturally spurs us on every day to expand this area further. And perhaps make a small but significant contribution to making our world a little better.
Have we awakened your social streak?
Let us talk from person to person, because we are happy to help you!
