Practically all major companies today organise events called team development or team building – even if in reality they're nothing more than simple gatherings outside the headquarters. When organising your team building event, remember that its main purpose is to help your staff build new relationships and strengthen the existing ones. Your job is to encourage staff to collaborate towards a shared objective and to get to know one another in the process. Here are key tips for organising a team building event, which will improve the morale at the office and become something workers talk about for weeks afterwards.

Define your goals
 
Team building events are most of the time organised for a reason – and this is something you should incorporate in your planning process. The whole organisation of the event should be directed at solving specific problems and bringing desired results.
 
Of course, one outing won't solve any major issues, but an event tailored specifically to the needs of the organisation will significantly help to set the right tone for a larger programme of internal change. Start organising your event with full knowledge about its purpose. Otherwise, you'll just be losing your time.
 
Plan a budget
 
You should know one thing – team building events aren't cheap. When planning your budget, stay within realistic boundaries. Consider all the expenses for the event itself and then add the additional costs of workers being outside the office.
 
Being honest about your budget will help you in organisation itself. Hiring other companies in helping you realise it, you'll see how drawing a specific boundary will help them to come up with ideas relevant to your organisation and budget.
 
Consider hiring a professional
 
Have a look at online services like Gumtree to find professional event organisers, who specialise in team building events and can help you put everything together and come up with activities that will do a lot of good to your team. These professionals have lots of contacts all over the industry and can help you realise even the craziest team building tasks!
 
Remember to provide food and transport
 
Once you're about to invest money in a team building event, don't try to cut corners by making workers get lost or hungry. This is the moment where you can show your staff that you're a great employer. Provide meals and refreshments, such as tea, coffee and snacks during the whole day.
 
Organising a shared transport option, for instance a coach, is a great idea as well. Workers can start bonding and building relationships already on their way to the event. Make sure transport is timely and meals are served punctually – you don't want those services to ruin your event schedule, do you? 
 
Make it fun
 
Finally, you should remember that a team building day should be all about fun. Such events can sometimes become disastrous because workers consider them a chore, not a reward. When circulating the notification about the event, make sure that it sounds attractive. You don’t need to say plainly that it's a team building event, just say that in recognition of their hard work, you are pleased to organise a retreat to spice up their usual daily routine.
 
The effects of a great team building event will remain visible for weeks afterwards. This event is your chance to help workers understand each other better and consequently find it easier to collaborate and communicate. In the process, they'll become more productive and enthusiastic about working for you!