| Company conferences are traditionally places where | | | | they work together. |
| too many people sit in a darkened room where the | | | | Using adrenalin activities |
| temperature is too high and the effects of the 'night | | | | Forward thinking companies are now using |
| before' quickly result in nodding heads and inattentive | | | | conferences as a way to integrate both team building |
| delegates. How then to rectify this situation? | | | | and standard conference information. |
| Anyone who has attended a conference knows that | | | | Customers increasingly make use of the fact that |
| there are so many things that are done (maybe | | | | they have access to far more facilities these days |
| deliberately?) to try and keep the delegates attention | | | | (since air travel makes it quick and easy to get to |
| e.g. | | | | places like the Alps for example) which in turn opens |
| - setting the thermostat down low | | | | up many more activities that simply couldn't be |
| - using uncomfortable chairs | | | | considered in the UK (skiing for example) |
| - setting the microphone volume too high | | | | If you want to:- |
| But why go to all this effort when using a little bit of | | | | - Get away from your usual corporate environment |
| creativity (and a little bit of the budget to run the | | | | - Create something memorable |
| conference) can result in a combination of effective | | | | - Gain your employee's utmost attention |
| information distribution together with energetic | | | | - Create an event on budget |
| delegates who are ready and eager to listen. | | | | Then using a service like those offered by activity |
| Getting warmed up | | | | centered corporate events companies might be the |
| To get your delegates in the mood for learning, the | | | | answer. The kind of activities you might expect could |
| use of some quick games can be a real help. A paper | | | | include include skiing, rafting, ice climbing, glacier |
| construction game is a good ice breaker in which | | | | walking or wine tasting to name a few. |
| teams of 2 or 3 people are given a maximum of 3 | | | | Using the right location |
| sheets of paper and they have to construct a shape | | | | Picking the right place to use for your conference |
| that can support an orange for example. Keep the | | | | can have knock on effects on all of the activities |
| game short as this keeps the pressure on and | | | | that you are able to offer. Ensuring that your |
| ensures that everyone's full attention is given. This in | | | | conference is both fun, informative and also intelligent |
| turn helps when you then need to bring on a speaker | | | | can be solved by choosing a creative location. |
| who has information to impart. | | | | Whether it's in a hotel in the Lake District or a |
| Using activities to promote team building | | | | conference centre in the Alps, make sure that you |
| People are best motivated if you can involve them in | | | | have thought through the possibilities open to you on |
| designing and deciding activities which form a part of | | | | your doorstep once there. |
| any conference. Games can be contrived or | | | | Remember too that if you locate your event in a |
| patronising - people want activities that will help them | | | | remote location, then the time (and cost) of getting |
| learn and develop in areas that interest them beyond | | | | your staff to all drive to the location may actually be |
| just work. | | | | far greater than using the economies of scale |
| Planning a whole day of team-building activities | | | | available now with cheap European air travel followed |
| however can be a waste of having everyone | | | | by efficient bus / coach transfer. |
| together for a whole day. Try to find ways to | | | | Having thought through all these possibilities will |
| provide a selection of activities that have a broad | | | | inevitably leave you with an event that is both |
| appeal and are able to help the delegates to learn | | | | memorable, fun and engaging. |
| new skills and even achieve new approaches to how | | | | |