Well, how long is a piece of string?

If you need to build sandcastles you go to a beach, if you need to go sailing you go to sea, and if your team decides that mountain climbing is the perfect event for them then it’s off into the country and find a mountain range.

Horses for courses: So then why would we think it strange that the team would select Dublin as a destination for team building? It is the capital city of the country and has the greatest and most diverse range of activities than anywhere else in the country! When it comes to team building and group bonding that we are all on different pages at the beginning. It takes time, effort, leadership and coaxing to sometimes get a consensus. Nothing wrong with that really and it does show democracy at work. Someone always needs to put their hand up and take the initiative. It’s what happens. Others prefer to be led than and that’s fine too. The whole point about leadership get-a ways and team building events is it opens up opportunities for those who neither are, nor regarded as natural leaders.

It also brings out qualities that may not be apparent in an office environment. It gives all participants a chance to see what other members can bring to the party. Just because a team member it red hot at computing doesn’t mean that they are dumb when it comes to outdoor pursuits or outdoor team leadership. There’s many a gem hidden under a corporate rock and a spell away from the work environment can often help to unearth such gems. So let’s bring it on.

Back to Dublin and the reasons for selecting it as a corporate event outing destination for the team.

The variety of activities, places of interest, art galleries, hotels, pubs, restaurants are as long as they are interesting.

Whatever we find in other places in Ireland, we can find the whole bundle of them in Dublin. Dublin is not just the capital of Ireland now, it’s a vibrant European city and pretty much like New York, it’s a city that never sleeps. The only drawback is probably the extent of the activities. There will surely be some disagreement within the group as to what is a priority. This takes the team back to the reality of democracy and consensus. THE main attractions are the art galleries and the museums, the range of bridges spanning the river liffey. The enormity of the phoenix park, which houses the Zoo and the Aras, home of the President of Ireland is not fully appreciated.

It totals over 1700 acres and is bigger than Central park in New York and Hyde Park in London. There are lots of other main stream activities to keep the team happy.

Another reason for selecting Dublin as a destination for the team is its access.

The main railway hub in Ireland is at Heuston Station and it services the south, the south east and the west of Ireland. A second station at Connolly serves the north east and Belfast. Dublin airport is now one of the busiest in Europe and has connections to multiple destinations in not just Europe but worldwide. Ferries sail in and out of Dublin Port every day to the UK and continental Europe. So it your group or team are planning a spell in Dublin and moving on as a part of that team building exercise all travelling options are open. Finally, Dublin as we have stated is not just the capital of Ireland, a European city, but is a multicultural location that can compete with the best in the world at anytime.

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Team building and team bonding isn’t just for footballers or rugby players or those involved in team sports. It is also about creating a healthy and harmonious atmosphere within the confines of the workplace. A happy staff, or team, leads to better productivity and a friendlier environment. The knock-on effects from that happy environment are indeed multiple. Apart from productivity, staff or team retention in today’s market is critical. Demand for highly productive, well educated team members is at an all time high. Therefore, making the work place a happy place will be the first brick in the wall.

Team building and breaks away from the desks are paramount for a successful work place environment. We have discussed a myriad of options that involve both the ladies and the gents in the company getting together for team building. Sometimes, it’s ladies only and sometimes the concentration is on the men.

Today we are discussing an option for the male team member, that’s usually regarded as the preserve of the ladies. That option is a Spa and a pamper afternoon.

First of all, the spa is not just for ladies!

And, while the lads from the office might think of it as girly, forget it! Drop the caveman attitude and get the male team along to a Dublin spa for some real body treatment.

The fear for some blokes is that it’s all about fluffy dressing gowns slices of cucumber on the eye lids and delicate perfumes. Wrong again! The body and mind needs relaxing whether it’s male or female. The Idea is that on entering a spa the man will immediately experience the feeling of calm. The Therapists will focus on the stress points so that the body’s well being is assured and that the mind is free to drift to a higher altitude. The highly trained staff will guide your team through each step of your relaxing journey.

It’s amazing how relaxed, revitalized and rejuvenated you will feel after the treatment.

Depending on where exactly you take your male team, a variety of treatments are available, each with its own unique selling point.

Indian head massages are popular with most establishments. They involve a relaxing face, neck, shoulder and head massage. The treatment is steeped in Indian tradition and with their skill set, the masseuse will work on the head and scalp to ease out all the tensions above the shoulder areas.

Men with sinus problems and tired eyes will also experience a major improvement. Other treatments for instance involve a pine and eucalyptus enriched moor mud back treatment followed by a back massage. Or why not try a Hot stone back massage and or maybe a hot stone leg and foot massage.

The hot stone heat penetrates the deep muscle tissue and eliminates the need for an excruciating deep muscle massage that makes the cure worse than the disease.

The male members of your team will experience a life changing moment when they are whisked off for a Spa and pamper afternoon.

Once the body is successfully sorted, the mind in a peaceful orbit. A pleasant feeling of well being will hang on the body like a well cut suit. It can be regarded as a job well done and an initiative that was worth pursuing. The spa will no longer just be for the ladies in the team but also for the macho males that had never had the experience before.

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Summer is creeping in over the horizon! The first swallows are whizzing excitedly about overhead making their shrill sounds and announcing the beginning of the season.

Time to start thinking about the office day out and a bonding and team building event! There are loads of activities that will light the fires under the weariest of office members and get them thinking about the summer day out. Inclusive activities are always top of the team leaders lists. These range from kite surfing, canoeing, and power boating, to hill walking, spa treatments and fine dining.

Let us look at a completely different idea for the team event away this year. Consider a trip to the Gaeltach! In particular, the beautiful area of Dingle and the dingle peninsula. Get lucky with the weather and it is a most stunning experience. The team leaders and organisers will need to plan carefully for this trip. This is because,  your teams starting point will have huge bearing on travel arrangements. For instance, if your team is coming from an area on the west or south coast hiring a mini bus would be ideal.

As in any team building exercise, planning should be split up among team members as this promotes a spirit of inclusiveness and makes team members feel important. If the team is travelling from a destination farther north like Dublin or Belfast, taking the train to killarney and a coach from there to Dingle would be practical. Killarney to Dingle is a little over an hour’s drive.

The first reason that the team day out should be to Dingle has just got to be the stunning scenery.

All team members will be gob smacked as it has been described as the first place that God made. The view opens up to reveal the stunning beach at Inch on the narrow road in from Castlemaine . It is facing south west and in line with the prevailing winds. Therefore, the surf is constantly crashing in on the golden sand making it a paradise for swimmers and surfers. After a photo stop and a coffee and scone, the team then head off into the beautiful, colourful fishing town of dingle to begin their next experience.

The second reason we have chosen the area is the buzz in this marine Gaeltach town.

Beautiful little shops selling artisan products, glorious pubs where the locals converse in Irish and at the same time enjoy the craic and Irish music. Restaurants are plentiful and the quality and range of menus will satisfy the most discerning of diners. Of course the team could take a boat trip out the harbor for an encounter with the famous Dingle dolphin called Fungi

Third on our list is a trip around the Dingle peninsula.

Here the team will see the beautiful beaches at Ventry and the historical bee hive huts. They will see the Blasket islands off shore, including “The Sleeping Giant” and of course the stunning Slea head where the film “Ryan’s daughter” was shot some years ago.

The fourth buzz point is the mountain back drop dotted with stone walls and sheep.

Ruined stone cottages from the famine times are a testimony to the tragedy of our history. And, a reminder of the families that were decimated and those that emigrated. Should the budget stretch to two days, there are plenty of Hotels and guest houses in the area.

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Sea kayaking as a team building exercise for hotel staff has a lot of benefits. One of the most important industries that we have in Ireland is the tourist and hospitality business. This has lead to more hotels. Why? The increase in demand for accommodation for both local and foreign visitors. 

It’s great to be in demand! But, gone are the days when any old standard was good enough as you could cover a multitude with the coat of Irish charm. Gone are the days of pigs in the parlour and chickens on the table. Visitors want proper standards in hotels. Those standards are maintained by the hotel staff. The team behind the team at the front desk; hotel staff more than staffs in any other business have to be so diverse and operate as different teams at different points of the establishment; those different teams also have to work in harmony.

That is why team building and team leadership is critical to the success of the business. The hotel teams are all working under enormous time pressures so team breaks to rejuvenate is very important. It will be appreciated and will contribute to better work relationships in the business.

Bigpotatoes suggests that the hotel workers team should get up close and personal with nature; get outdoors and do some river or sea Kayaking!

The First Reason :

The first reason for taking the team kayaking is to get everyone outdoors and into the fresh air. Kayaking is not the first activity that would spring to mind for most team organisers but it is brilliant. The Irish times said of their trip that it was one of the most magical experiences that you could have anywhere in the world. So at bigpotatoes we would as usual advise the team leaders to involve all the team in the putting together of the trip. The south coast of Ireland is our main focus and we will highlight some of the options and the thrills.

The Second Reason :

The second reason is the absolutely beauty of the scenery as the team takes to the kayaks and head off. There are starting points at lots of different locations, but we will concentrate and recommend a few for hotel teams.

One that would suit the team would be a full day trip of Baltimore and Carbery’s hundred isles. The team, in double kayaks will paddle off into some astoundingly beautiful and remote coves, caves and islands. They will glide gracefully and silently along observing the marine wildlife, the occasional dolphin, gulls and herons. There will be schools of mackerel and raw nature at sea level. Why is this beneficial? Well, this will relax the hotel team as they will feel in a different world. And, opportunities will be presented to the team to stop for lunch and refreshments. The team will return to the mainland later. All Kayak trips are supervised by trained operators who have a deep understanding of the waters and also the dangers.

The Third Reason :

There are several other kayak trips on the coast. Our third reason is the trip in Lough Hyne. Lough Hyne is Northern Europe’s only inland saltwater lake. This is a beautiful team building trip but is tide dependant. The trip begins in the Lough and makes its way to the open sea through a short channel called “the narrows”. Once in the open sea the team will have an opportunity to explore caves and islands before returning on the tide.

The Fourth Reason :

The fourth reason is doing a river trip under the bridges of the river Lee. Cork is sometimes referred to as the Venice of the north. View the city and learn the history from the views on the river.

So, sea kayaking as a team building exercise for hotel staff has many merits indeed! Show this list to your boss or your team and they will be reaching for their paddles. Enjoy this refreshing experience and breath new life into the bonds that exist within your team.

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Start 2019 off with a bang! Shake off those dusty christmas cobwebs and get active. Everyone is back to work, not too reluctantly let’s hope! Christmas break was a great time to rest and catch up with loved ones. Give your team something to look forward to! Arrange some exciting new adventures for your team!

Sports Day!

What better way to kick off 2019 then with a good old fashioned Sports Day! Many people like to start off January on the right foot. They do ‘dry January’ and really get off on a health kick. Therefore, a sports day will appeal to a lot of your team. People want to work off those second and third helpings of turkey! Or simply get the circulation going after a lot of sitting around. Grab some potato sacks and skipping ropes and head to a near by park. Or, why not organise a trip to an Adventure Centre!?

Is it any ones last year?

Figure out if any staff member is heading on maternity leave or retiring this year. Make the year extra special for them. They will be taking time off to enter into the new phase of their life soon. Some may have been with the company for many years! Take time to plan the ultimate retirement party. Pool funds to get them a smashing going away present! Or that trendy crib that your expecting co-worker has their eye on. Events like this bring your team closer and appreciate the time they spend with one another.

New Years Resolutions

Ask your team to write a list of 5 new years resolutions. They can be simple like, ‘switch to decaf!’ or more ambitious like, ‘get a promotion’. Get them all to put there new year resolutions in an envelope and drop them all into a box. Give them back before the end of the year so that they can see what they have achieved! (Or maybe squeeze in the things they forgot!) This team bonding activity is great for building a sense of accomplishment. Your team can choose to share them with one another or keep them privately! Leaving people set their own goals creates a sense of independence.

Looking for more ideas to help your team feel active and refreshed? Check out our list of Outdoor Activities!

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Stimulate Creativity in the Workplace

Creativity is a fundamental element to any project. Get those creative juices flowing! Your team will come up with creative solutions to problems with ease. Try something creative and do not be afraid to experiment! Try out these activities. Stimulate creativity in the workplace! Check out these excellent creative team building activities. 

Style Class

Try out a Style Class! Learning how to co-ordinate an outfit is beneficial for many reasons. You learn to look the part. It can give you confidence. It can give you that little bit of edge! Ground your wardrobe with a few classic pieces that never go out of style. Find the right look for you! Mix it up with some trends. Pick the ones you like and rock them for a season or two. This is a great team building activity! Style is personal. Your team will love sharing tips.

Pottery Making

Making pottery is a relaxing way to stimulate creativity. Using your sense of touch activates your brain in a unique way. Pottery Making improves focus. It promotes exploration and reduces stress. Thus, allowing the mind to relax and expand. This sense of focus can be applied to other areas in life. It’s social! When a group relaxes they can chat about anything. Your team will enjoy talking to one another while making some pottery. It is a team bonding activity that will always go down well. Pottery Making is beneficial for the body and the mind! See the results.

Paint a Nude

Life Drawing increases focus and patience. It can be an excellent team bonding exercise. Painting a nude as a group would stimulate loads of creativity! Experiment! Start off with pencil and charcoal and move on to paints. Maybe bring different types of paper and make a collage! Perhaps a member of your team would like to try take a few photographs instead. Try it all out! Have anyone in your office who is very comfortable in their own skin!? Maybe someone will volunteer to model! (Although maybe hiring a model might be a bit less awkward!)

So try out these fun activities! Stimulate Creativity in your workplace and see the positive results! Looking for something more adventurous?! Look at our extreme sport activities!

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Qualities of a Strong Team

There are many qualities that make a team strong. Encourage your team to embody these qualities. Suggest activities that inspire support, openness and individual development. These team building activities will bring out the best in your team. Above all, a strong team is a happy and productive one!

Support and trust

A strong team is built on trust. People help each other by listening, evaluating and offering ideas. Therefore, Encouraging experimentation and giving support is key to progression. Give your team the chance to build trust in one another. Suggest Archery Tag! Your team will learn to support one another learning a new skill. (And trust they won’t be used for target practice!)

Openness

People can express themselves openly and honestly. Working through difficult situations constructively is important. Looking for a way to encourage this? Take them Paint balling! Form teams and open fire! A great way to get the blood pumping. This team bonding activity increases reaction speed. As a result your team will learn to trust their instincts!

Individual development

Developing new skills is a way to stay excited. You learn new ways to think! In other words, It keeps everything fresh. This can be stimulated in a variety of ways. Developing your team on an individual bases is a great team building exercise! Of course, Surfing is a great skill to learn! Many people have not tried it before! Your team is made up of individuals. Give them all a chance to learn something new! 

What else makes a great working team? Find out here!

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The Benefits of Extreme Sport as a Team Building Activity

Team Building Activities Extreme sports are increasingly in popularity for a number of reasons. More and more people become interested every year! Adrenaline is increased. They’re great for your physical health, when properly trained. The positive mental effects are noticeable. The benefits of Extreme Sport as a Team Building Activity are endless.

1. Staying Centred

Extreme sports can be dangerous. Fear and panic can inhibit your performance. This could potentially lead to making a dangerous error in judgement. People who practice extreme sports safely change the way their mind works. They learn to stay calm during stressful scenarios.

Extreme sports can make decision making a less stressful activity. Staying centred and calm is the key to a healthy work life too. This aspect of Extreme Sport makes it really beneficial as a team building activity!

2. Stretching

It is important to stretch before a physical activity. It warms the muscles and makes it easy to move. Stretching before an activity like Paint Ball is recommended! Lunging to escape Paint Ball pellets can put strain on any part of your body. Stretching is necessary to prepare properly for extreme sports. The idea of warming up can be applied to the work place. Preparing for a difficult task by practising an easier, but similar, task is a good way to build confidence. It is a way to identify issues with performing the task early on. Mental and physical preparation makes the world of difference!

3. Developing Fear Management skills

Those who participate in Extreme Sports have the ability to convert their fear into a positive experience. Everyone feels a bit afraid the first time they base jump. Or some feel fear hopping behind the wheel of a Dirt Buggy. Seeing themselves making it out in one piece is hugely beneficial! Doing these activities in a safe way will help reduce a persons fear response.

But doing these things and seeing that you safely make it to the other side will help you reduce your fear response. This is a fantastic bonus to these team building activities. Your team will learn to be brave and to trust themselves! Brave enough to take on a more advanced role in the office. (Or brave enough to chance the socks and sandals combo to the company BBQ!)

4. Using Different Muscles

Simple every day tasks use the same muscles. Exercise, especially the Extreme Sport variety, uses muscles we normally wouldn’t use. You might be surprised at how your arms feel after giving Archery Tag a go! Sore at first, but gradually stronger! Using muscles that you don’t normally need to use is great for your physical health. So, if your work is office based Extreme Sports are an excellent way to get the energy back into your bones! Team Building Activities that promote physical health can be the most enjoyable. Get your team moving in places they forgot existed!

5. Networking!

People love to socialise. Getting to know one another outside of the workplace can be really rewarding. When brought into a new environment, people love to chat to each other. They want to share their experiences. Chatting to others in between taking turns Zorbing will be nearly as fun as the actual activity! Socialising and trying new things increase brain function and happiness! You are more likely to get into a giant plastic ball and roll down a hill with a pal, right? That is bonding! Extreme Sports are such an effective Team Building Activity in this regard. Networks can be made between people that aren’t in each others immediate team.

Get out there! Get your team into some Extreme Sports!

Looking for something a little bit more relaxed? Check out our Spa and Pamper Activities!

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BigPotatoes Bites – Math Fact!

We’re a little sports mad in BigPotatoes.ie. We can’t help busting out stats on football, rugby or any sport for that matter. We think it could be down to our love of random facts and enjoying work nights out or team building events. So, we thought we’d throw in a numbers fact for a little change and give you this BigPotatoes Bites – Math Fact!

Numbers are used in almost everything we do daily. Driving, talking, money or just stat giving in a row about who the greatest player of all time is.

But did you know this random fact. If you were to multiply 111,111,111 by 111,111,111 that it is equal to 12,345,678,987,654,321!!

We suggest you give this to your team at beginning of your next meeting or team building event and see how quickly it takes them to work it out. No calculators but you can let them know it’s a trick question!

Finally, if you’re looking to organise a work night out. Make sure and drop us a line on info@bigpotatoes.ie now! 

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