5 Team Building Mistakes to Avoid

Planning Team Building Activities is a positive step toward housing a happy team! Make sure that they are effective. You don’t want them to have a redundant or negative outcome! Here are 5 Team Building Mistakes to Avoid.

Different Abilities

Avoid making the mistake of not acknowledging your teams differing abilities. Your team is made up of people with different skills. They also have different interests. Most importantly, they have different abilities. When planning your next team building activity consider this. While one team member might enjoy a Hair and Make Up class, another might enjoy dirt buggying a bit more! Also, older members of your team might be more comfortable taking a trip to a pottery or going on a boat ride. Try and cater to what your team will benefit from the most. 

Cliques

Cliques promote segregation. Try and break up office cliques at your next team building activity! Working together is the key! Cliques form naturally in any social situation. The crowd from the admin office might be close friends. The interns might have a lot in common with one another. Give everyone the opportunity to work with someone new! This enhances communication between team members. 

No Clear Goals

Make clear goals at the start of the activity! Maybe send an e-mail explaining why you have chosen this particular trip. If goals are not made clear, your team might be confused. Communicate your aim early on to ensure they are achieved. If you are planning an excursion to an Adventure Centre, do let your team know why. Although they will enjoy the fun physical exercise, make sure they know that there is a wider point. 

Overly Ambitious

Baby Steps! The idea is to have a few excursions per year. A few in office Ice Breakers, a Summer BBQ and a trip Dolphin watching. There are activities to enhance everything! Don’t spend two weeks taking trips to stay cooped up for the rest of the year. Don’t expect to achieve everything all at once! Over working a team to achieve a goal will wear them out. Be consistent! Don’t make your team bonding activities too ambitious.

Neglecting to act on People’s Suggestions

Act on the suggestions of your team. If your team expresses an interest in a particular area, act! This will encourage your employees to make suggestions to you in future. If a team member suggests something wacky like Zorbing, do some research. Find out what the benefits are. Ask around to see if there is interest. Take on board what people have to say! 

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8 Unusual Team Building Activities

If you’re looking for a team building activity that’s just a little different. Then you have to check out these 8 Unusual Team Building Activities! Not only are these activities brilliant fun from start to finish but they also encourage team bonding and trust in a variety of ways.

1. Blindfolded Food and Drink Tasting

This ream building activity is all about trust. Trust is key in building strong long term working relationships. A team member is blindfolded and is fed food or drink. They then have to guess what it is. Obviously include a few trick foods and some weird foods that’s sure to catch people out. The faces people pull will lead to some hilarious moments in the office. So, do make sure to catch it on camera.  Oh also, just heads up, make sure to check for allergies beforehand.

2. Drink Tasting & Cocktail Class

Another unusual team building activity is going to on a Beer, Wine or even Whiskey Tasting. It’s a fantastic way for a team to unwind, learn about the make up of craft beers, wine and whiskies. It’s also a great way to kick off a team night out and allows the team to bond in a relaxed setting.

If you fancy something a little sweeter, you can always try a Cocktail Making Class. Try new concoctions and learn a few tricks from an experience mixologist. It’s sure to come in handy for any more team building events down the line.

3. Opposite Gender Day

Now this team building activity will turn a few heads. If everyone agrees to it, you and your team are in for one of the funniest days you’ll ever have in the office. The guys dress up as the girls and the girls dress up as the guys as they go about there normal working day. You can take it up a notch and try take on a team members traits and mannerisims. Also seeing guys trying to walk in heels is always funny. Photos are essential for the staff room. This is a brilliant team bonding and building activity.

4. Paintball

There’s something just a bit magical about shooting your boss or co-worker with a high powered paintball. This team building activity is certainly an unusual way to develop stronger work relationships. But, it has been a massive hit with teams and companies over the years as a team building event. It encourages people to work together as a team, improve communication, and brings people closer together.

5. Cake Day

Everyone loves cake. I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t love cake. So, use this universal love of cake as a team building activity. Organise a Cake Day each week and some different each week brings in something delicious for the team to eat. It’s brilliant fun, and tasty, but it also continues to reinforce team bonding in the workplace on a weekly basis.

6. Karting

There’s something about some friendly competition and adrenaline pumping high speed karts that just seems to bring closer together. It’s seems unusual that this activity would be such an effective team building tool. But, once you’ve spent a day doing a Karting grand prix you’ll understand. You’re building memories with your team and without knowing it strengthening the links within the group.

7. Twister

This is a fantastic team building activity to reinvigorate any team in the office. Break out Twister and relive a few childhood memories with this game. It’s bound to get plenty of laughs and spills as people try to flex and stretch into place. But, ultimately fall flat on their face.

You can always take it to another level and bring in a host of different board games from you childhood like Mouse Trap, Buckaroo or even some Scalextric to bring a real element of fun into the office. Now that’s what we call a team building activity.

8. Sky Diving

Now this is most certainly an unusual team building activity. Throwing yourself out of a plane at 12ft let alone 12,000ft with a work colleague is an unusual activity. But should you and your team decide to take the plunge you are sure to come away with an unforgettable memory, experience and strengthen team bond. Racing towards the Earth will do that for ya. All you have to ask yourself is do you have the nerve?

So, there you have it ladies and gentleman. These are our 8 Unusual Team Building Activities for you and your team to try. Some are in the office and others are full day away from the office. Whatever you decide, we’re sure you’ll have a fantastic time.

As we always say, don’t go big, Go BigPotatoes!

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A work annual outing is always a brilliant occasion. The buzz and excitement around the work place lifts everyone. Everyone is in a happier mood in anticipation of what will be a great day and team building event. A happy team is a hard working team is what they say. There are a few things to bear in mind when organising an annual outing. So, here’s our 5 Tips When Planning An Annual Outing!

Pick A Day That Suits Everyone

This seems pretty straight forward I know. But you’d be surprised how often people don’t stop to think what day would suit your team. You want your team to get the most out of the day, experience and outing. If they’re distracted or thinking of an unfinished project or even if it’s coming up to a big deadline. They won’t enjoy it.

Your annual outing should be an enjoyable time away from the office. And not seen as a hindrance to your team completing their work. Some teams prefer to have an outing at the start of the week as come Friday they may be under pressure. Whereas other team may like to have it towards the end of the week to kick off their weekend. You know your team better than we do so, you’ll know what time will suit them better. And do get their input.

Dress Appropriately

Depending on what team building activity you choose, it’s a wise move to let your team know what type of clothing they’ll need. For an indoor activity it might be light, breathable clothing for an active afternoon before the night ahead.

Alternatively, if it’s an outdoor activity, check the weather forecast and suggest that the team bring a light jacket, hoodie and if our unpredictable Irish weather is anything to go by maybe some sunscreen too. Also, if you’re going straight from the activity to dinner on the annual outing. Make sure to remind the team to bring a change of clothes and a towel for a shower etc.

Team Bonding Meal

On an annual outing with BigPotatoes.ie we always make a point of suggesting going for a meal to allow your team to bond even further. The dinner is also seen more as a treat. Not every team member will be keen to be dragged away from their work to go on the annual outing but a meal is sure to sweeten the deal.

Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail

This is a pretty obvious tip and a smart one too. Preparing for the Annual Outing can be a little tedious and boring at times. But, if you share the workload across the team and turn this preparation into a type of scavenger hunt. It will make the process a bit more fun.

You may want to pick up little takeaways on the day, a few bottles of bubbly maybe, beers, nibbles, a first aid kit, water, and disposable bags to mention a few. You may even decide to have a mini awards day after the activity.

Keep It Going

Over the course of your annual outing your team will get the chance to make memories, bond as a team and improve working relationships. As with any good relationship, it takes work. So, plan ahead and ensure that you keep that team building ethos up. Reinforce where ever possible the team building skills you learnt on the annual outing and transfer that positive energy from the outing into their work.

So, there you have it ladies and gentlemen. Our Top 5 Tips When Planning An Annual Outing. Hopefully these quick little tips will help to improve your overall experience on an annual outing both before and after the event.

Remember on an Annual Outing, don’t go big, go BigPotatoes!

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9 Reasons To Choose BigPotatoes For Your Next Event

Here at BigPotatoes we are the experts in organising fantastic events big and small. We aim to exceed expectations and will provide a service and event like no other. Unlucky for some but not for us. Here are the 9 Reasons To Choose BigPotatoes For Your Next Event!

1. We Won’t Burn A Hold In Your Pocket

Regardless how big or small your event is. We’ll make sure that you get the best value for money. So, if you book a Team Building Event, a Work Night Out or even a Weekend Away with the other half. We’ll make sure you get the best deal. How? Well we work with fantastic suppliers who have given us extra special discounts, in exchange for our big potatoes. We then pass this onto you.

2. We’re Event Planning Legends!

The only thing better than our potatoes is our event planning skills. If you hear us say we got this, we got this! We’ve planned events of varying sizes and have probably heard all the craziest requests you can think of. So, whatever you’re looking to achieve out of your team building event, work night out or even Christmas party. We’ll make sure it’s a rip roaring success.

3. Variety Is The Spice of Life

Here at BigPotatoes we pride ourselves on offering as much choice as possible. Every person, group and team are different so we aim to have an activity and to cater an event to suit any type of group. The hardest part will be deciding on what to do!

4. Unreal Customer Service

Our team are powered by spuds and coffee. This means there always full of energy and are pumped to guide you throughout the whole event planning process and answer any questions you might have. Seriously, for one minute, our team take an active interest in whatever type of event your planning and care that it’s a success and exceeds your expectations.

5. You Like Me, You Really Like Me!

We could easily shout as loud as we possibly can about how great we are, our savage packages, and list of activities etc. But we let our actions and events do the talking. Our testimonials are proof of this with so many of our groups, clients and team sending us fantastic feedback. We place a lot of stock in these and we aim to provide a 5 star service everytime.

6. A BigPotatoes Event Gets Everyone Excited

There’s no getting away from it. When you start to organise a work, team or group event. You want everyone to be excited about the upcoming day out. How do you make sure that this is the case and the buzz around the team of office. Tell them we’re heading on Big Potatoes event and just check out all the activities they have on offer! Simples!  And you in turn come out looking fantastic for the one organising it.

7. We’ve Sampled All The Activities

It’s one of the perks of the job but it also ensures we know exactly what happens on all the activities. This way should you have any questions about what’s involved during the activity we’ll be able to confidently tell you.

8. Easy Ways To Pay

Depending on your event we have a variety of easy payment options. If it’s a group for example and everyone is paying individually, we have an easy online system in place which allows everyone to log in and pay when they can. This also saves you running around after people for cash.

9. We’re A Lovely Bunch

We love organising Team Building Events, Activities, Work Nights Out, Annual Outings and Weekends away. We want to organise more and more and provide you with the best event possible irrespective of the budget or size. We’ll there all the way through the process right up the day before the event and we’ll be calling to see how it was afterwards too. I think Father Ted said it best…

So there you have the 9 Reasons To Choose BigPotatoes For Your Next Event. We can’t wait to hear from you so drop us a line anytime on info@bigpotatoes.ie. Or if you fancy a chat call us on …

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5 Things To Beat The Midday Slump

The midday slump has affected us all at some point in time in our working lives. You’re powering along with your work then next thing it hits you like a ton of bricks. The eyes feel like there is lead weights hanging from them and you can feel your concentration slipping away from you. So, beat the afternoon drowsiness with these 5 things to beat the midday slump.

1. Get Your Snack On

If you feel your focus slipping and a little bit on the drowsy side. You may well be hungry. For a lot us our emotional state is high dependent on whether or not we’re hangry or not. So, avoid this happening at work. Grab a snack and restore those energy levels and be a far happier and more alert person.

2. Sniff A Lemon

Yes, your read that correctly. There has been plenty of research into this type of aromatherapy. A good sniff of a crisp and invigorating scent gives us a nice mental stimulation and a welcome mood boost. So, slice a lemon in half and take in a big whiff. It’s a brilliant way to beat the midday slump and get your head back in the game for one of BigPotatoes’ team building activities.

3. Turn Up The Tunes

Many of us listen to some music while working. But often we don’t pay too much attention to the power it can have over us. If you’re feeling yourself dragging through the day, kick the tunes up a gear. Put on a real upbeat song that you know you’ll be powerless against the rhythm. Should the beat take over and you start dancing. That’s not a bad thing as getting the blood moving in the body with wake you right up.

4. Power Nap

I won’t lie. I’m the king of the power nap. I swear by them and I have the incredible ability to sleep anywhere and through anything.  A 20 minute nap, is not just enjoyable, but will boost your creativity, productivity and alertness. If you snore best to find a private spot is our only advice. But, we’re pretty sure you won’t need one when you’re on one of our team building activities.

5. Walking or A Walking Meeting

Getting outside and enjoying the fresh air is always good for the body & soul. However, this fresh air is also an brilliant way to invigorate yourself should you be feeling the midday slump. It’s proven to help with mental health, productivity and creativity in the workplace.

You can take it a step further (pun intended) and have a walking meeting. It’s something different that is sure to break the monitomy of the boring meetings in the office or boardroom.

Bonus Tip

6. Coffee

If all else fails then start drinking a load of coffee. Or as I and many would call it ‘mandatory life fuel’. We all know it’s power and when you need that pick up coffee is always there.

So there you have it, 5 things to beat the midday slump. Hopefully these will come in handy wherever you’re working to be as productive as possible. Or to be nail that meeting on why you and your team should be heading on a BigPotatoes.ie team building event.

Finally, if your interested in a team building activity or package for your team or group. Contact info@bigpotatoes.ie for more details!

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