When you are trying to decide upon a team building activity or agenda for your group, how can you maximize success? First of all, if you have a committee or third party planner who is trying to gather information on team building options, please make sure they can fairly represent the people who will actually be participating in the team building activity. It is not uncommon for several unfortunate things to happen right from the get-go:

1. The committee is made up of a group of people who find certain activities very appealing, but the people who will be participating would not. As an example, we once were contacted by a group that loved the idea of paintball or something very physical like a high ropes course. However, the people who were actually going to be participating were not at all comfortable with this type of activity.

2. The committee members are not on the same page. One person contacts one team building companiy with one agenda in mind. Another member contacts another team building company-- with different objectives in mind. This is not fair to the team building companies, nor is it fair to the actual participants. All proposals should be based on the same set of facts and information. Committee members need to agree upon this before calling vendors and asking for proposals.

3. The meeting planner is not familiar with the group profile at all. This makes it difficult to get a good proposal, because the activity needs to appeal and be appropriate for the group and the objectives of the activity. Just throwing everything up on a wall and seeing what sticks is the worst way to find the right activity.

NEXT-- look for innovation and creativity in the team building provider and their events. Everyone has done some version of a scavenger hunt or boat/raft building, etc., etc. What is new and different? Look for a range of options that are unique. And look for a provider who is creative, flexible and can customize an activity for your company or client. Can the team building company create something totally new, just for you-- or is it always the same list of options they offer everyone? 

Interaction and engagement are key components. Is the activity something that will engage everyone all the time? --Or is it something where people will be watching or waiting for a turn? Worse, is it something where people might not feel needed; it is easy to opt out-- and go off and check their emails? Great team building should engage everyone on the team-- at least 90% of the time.

It should be memorable and meaningful. The last thing you want to hear after a team building event is over is that it was a "waste of time." People need to come away feeling that they had fun, that they got to know their team members better and that the activity helped them to bond in ways that other things (like going to a baseball game together) never will. If you asked a team building company to provide some serious learning component, then you should feel like they delivered it, and the activity illustrated exactly what they had promised it would.

Lastly, competent, skilled facilitators can make or break a team building event. Many of these activities are competitions, and groups can be very competitive and even emotional. If you do not have skilled, experienced, upbeat professionals facilitating the event, it can all break down very unexpectedly. Many of our clients request specific facilitators on our staff year after year, because they are so good and have excellent people skills. They get to know and trust them. Just because an activity looks great on paper does not guarantee success.

In summary: 1. Make sure those selecting the event or program are knowledgeable about the participants and represent their interests and abilities. 2. Look for a company that is innovative and creative. 3. The activity should maximize interaction and engagement. 4. The activity should be memorable and meaningful. 5. Have competent, skilled facilitators. Paying attention to these five areas will help to insure an event that people will enjoy and talk about for years to come.