b'team buildingPhotos courtesy of TeamBonding.part of the puzzle, a large componentSTRATEGIES FOR VIRTUAL the playing field and remove the of a finished product and possiblyAND HYBRID EVENTSconstraints of corporate hierarchy. beyond. You get a cool mural thatIn-person events may be back, butEven shy people feel comfortable comes back to the office or anywherevirtual events arent going anywhere.letting their guard down and sharing you choose.Currently, TeamBonding is doingtheir thoughts and ideas. Our goal Goldstein has seen situationsabout 80 per cent in-person eventsis to get them engaged in a way where the company donated theirand 20 per cent virtual.thats comfortable for them, explains mural to local charities that theyA valuable strategy for virtualGoldstein. When youre making collaborate with, demonstrating theirevents is to capitalize on activitiesdinner together with executives, potential dual purpose.related to holidays and cultural events.theres a lot less intimidation. Some Although Halloween isnt typically apeople are better at things than OUT-OF-THE-BOX OPTIONS popular team-building time, Goldsteinthe people they work for. Getting What out-of-the-box team-buildingencourages event planners to revisiteveryone on the same level is what we activities does Goldstein suggest?its potential for event opportunities.try to do.There is no one-size-fits-all answerThere are so many fun things youThis all comes with choosing to that question, which is why 90 percan do for Halloween. Our virtualthe right program. They start by cent of TeamBondings programsoptions include haunted houses,identifying the clients desired are customized. We personalizepumpkin carving and game shows,outcomesis it learning something? the experience with company- says Goldstein. You cant always getGetting to know each other better? specific trivia, images and questions,together in person, but virtual [events]Then we help them adjust the Goldstein explains. Its not aboutcan fill the gaps for companiesprograms so they fit the group and rolling out the same old team- that are together, and remote-firstprovide options. We have programs building eventits about designingcompanies can have fun together. Thethat have multiple benefits, including something custom to their group,experience doesnt take a lot of time. collaborative, creative, fashion, music, team and company. Thats what makesWhen clients ask him to rank theart and cooking, Goldstein says. it important. best team-building event formats,Theres a lot of opportunity to pick a A popular TeamBonding facilitatorhe lists them in the following orderprogram that just feels like fun to the says that he has three minutes at theof preference: in-person, virtual andgroup, and team building is built into start of the event to get the groupshybrid. Hybrid events can certainly attention. In those few minutes, theywork, but event planners need tothe program design.must set the expectation that thehave the right technology, setup andTeam building has moved far group will enjoy what theyre about toprogram design to keep everyonebeyond tired trust exercises where do, or else it just wont work. But partengaged. Weve all been at hybridyou catch your colleagues before they of that is the event planner choosingevents where in-person attendeesfall. Now, new potential hires dont the right program that fits theare prioritized and virtual attendeesonly want to know about the salary, needs of the group and the desiredare essentially left behind. Goldsteinhours and benefits. They also want outcomes. At a two- to three-hournotes that hybrid events havent beento know what you do as a team, says team-building event, youre not goingperfected; the best format is the oneGoldstein. You spend a lot of time to make lifelong friends, Goldsteinthat meets each companys specificwith people you work with. You want notes. But youre going to break thesituation and desired outcomes. to enjoy where you work and get ice and get people to learn aboutto know your colleagues, especially each other. Theres a lot you can do inENCOURAGING THE SHY the younger generation. Its not just that time, once the expectations areAND INTROVERTED [about] building a teamits about set properly. Our events are designed to levelbonding them.36 CORPORATE MEETINGS & EVENTS corporatemeetingsnetwork.ca'