Tips for preparing your corporate seminar
For several years now, ways of working have been constantly reinventing themselves: hybrid working, full remote, flex-office, etc. The health crisis has accelerated these trends, enabling working people to gain greater autonomy and flexibility.
On the other hand, convivial discussions around the coffee machine are becoming rarer, and moments of informal exchange are diminishing. As a manager, you may be wondering how to maintain effective communication with your team. Setting aside time to meet during a team building event can be a good way of building trusting relationships between employees.
Discover all our tips for organizing a successful company seminar.
Define a precise objective before organizing a corporate seminar
The corporate seminar or team building aims to bring together people from the same structure or department around a common project. It often takes place outside the office. To prepare, start by defining an objective. This should be linked to a question facing the organization, and the people invited should be in a position to answer it.
Let's look at a few examples. Do you want to get employees to create together? You can use collective intelligence to design a new offer. Or imagine a giant brainstorming session for your next communications campaign.
In this case, don't forget to include some outdoor breaks to help everyone relax. A group physical activity between two presentations will be welcome. You can also get together for educational purposes.
A new tool has been deployed that takes a long time to learn?
Rather than letting everyone get to grips with it from behind their screens, you could meet up for face-to-face training to grasp all its functionalities. The learning process can be extended with online modules.
Last but not least, you can invite all your employees to join in and develop team cohesion. Why not do it for the company's anniversary? It's an opportunity to take stock, celebrate successes and look back on challenges met thanks to shared achievements.
Offering a business trip is a way of thanking employees for their efforts. Today, we are witnessing a major crisis of meaning that is causing employee commitment to plummet. In fact, according to an Audencia / Jobs that make sense study, 53% of respondents say they want to feel "useful" through their job. Over and above personal interest, 57% want to contribute to the challenges of ecological and social transition. These figures show us that it's essential to frequently remind people of the company's raison d'être and the values that guide it.
Set a date and location for your out-of-office trip as soon as possible
On the practical side, before choosing a date to organize your seminar in the countryside, first think about the daily lives of the participants. Do you have a large number of parents among your employees?
School vacations should be avoided. Another precaution: ask the teams concerned about their busy periods, so that it doesn't happen in the middle of a rush. You'll need people who are attentive and fully present to make the meeting a success.
As far as location is concerned, it has to be easily accessible. Look for locations with major train stations nearby. It's not only more convenient, but also more environmentally friendly.
Get away from your work environment, yes, but with the right equipment to make the most of your time. When choosing accommodation, make sure that the equipment provided matches the needs of the participants. For example, The Oasis House has developed a collection of homes for working in the countryside, with all the necessary high-tech equipment. So you can enjoy outdoor activities, but also benefit from productive hours without being paralyzed by a lazy web connection.
Involve teams in the professional event program
To get employees on board and make them want to take part, give them several months' notice with a "Save the date" invitation. Stimulate their curiosity by circulating some information in the months leading up to the seminar.
Why not ask them to take part in the festivities? You could give them carte blanche to run workshops on their professions or current projects. A roadmap will be appreciated. Its purpose is to describe the day's activities, hour by hour. Keep in mind the team's shy or introverted members, as this will reassure them. Once the event is over, you can send a satisfaction questionnaire to the participants. What did they think of this time away from the workplace? What would need to be improved if this initiative were to be repeated? What were their favorite moments?
This will ensure that you don't have to start from scratch when planning a new customized seminar. Are you satisfied with the results? Take the time to write a review, and include photos and videos taken during the event. Unfortunately, there's no magic formula for a successful business event. However, the ingredients discussed in this article should help you to organize a business seminar with peace of mind.
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