Why Good Team Building Doesn't Need to Be Expensive: Company Culture & Team Spirit
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In this episode
In this episode of Dialing Out, Dominka talks with Nina Debeljak, BDS at OB2B, about team building that doesn't have to be expensive. The occasion is the first pub quiz Nina is organizing in the office with two colleagues, instead of paying a quizmaster like the first time.
You'll hear how to prepare a quiz, why random groups mix office and home-office colleagues, what worked at OB2B from a cooking competition to a limo, and what matters when planning the date, budget and goal.
Read time: 13 minutes
We discuss
- Team building and company culture: how often?
- Why a pub quiz in the office
- Preparing a pub quiz team building
- Scoring, the ranking and a break in the pub
- Random groups instead of fixed teams
- High budget or low budget: quizmaster or DIY
- What a quiz trains and what it has to do with sales
- Prizes for first place or for everyone
- The cooking competition
- A limo, an office party and beer pong
- Trips away: national park, cooking or wine tasting
- Planning: date, place, budget, goal and trust
- Why people avoid team buildings
- How far ahead to plan
- Spontaneous ideas: beer pong, laser tag, a barbecue
- Why do team building at all
- Wrap-up: whoever comes, comes
Show Notes
Click a timestamp to start the video at that point.
0:52Team building and company culture: how often does OB2B do it?
Team building may not be directly about sales, but it is about company culture, says Dominka: it's a proven way to keep up the relationships between people in a company. OB2B once even held three team buildings a year; now it's two, "which, I think, is enough". In between, the team occasionally goes to the pub together as an in-between team building.
- Team building keeps up the relationships between people in a company.
- OB2B: three a year at one point, two a year now.
- Short pub outings in between as an in-between team building.
2:04Why a pub quiz in the office?
In a few weeks Nina is running the first self-organized pub quiz in the OB2B office, after work. The occasion: that week the whole team is in the office, including the colleagues who otherwise always work from home. The team had actually planned to go out for dinner, but some colleagues love pub quizzes. There had been a quiz once before, but it wasn't organized in-house; when Dominka brought it up, Nina asked: "Okay, do we do it on our own now?"
- The occasion: a week when the whole team is in the office.
- The alternative was a team dinner.
- There was a quiz before; this time the team organizes it itself.
3:32How do you prepare a pub quiz team building?
Nina is preparing the quiz with her colleagues Ivana and Martina, with whom she goes to a pub quiz almost every week. First they set the place, day and time, then came the questions: general knowledge, maybe some videos and "a bit about sales, of course, because it has to do with our job". A flyer with all the details is on the door, and the reactions were positive. The prizes are still open, "because everyone expects something". Four groups keep the effort on the night small.
- Place, day and time first, then the questions.
- General knowledge plus a few sales questions.
- Four groups and a flyer with all the details.
5:36Who does the scoring, and why have a break?
At a pub quiz Dominka went to twice, the groups corrected each other's sheets. At the quiz Nina goes to every week, she finds it more exciting when the host does the scoring and goes through the ranking from the last group to the first. Dominka looks at it from a business angle: in a pub, a break for the scoring is smarter, because "The pub wants to earn something too." Then another round of drinks goes out. For the office, Nina is planning two rounds or three shorter ones.
- Groups swap sheets, or the host does the scoring.
- A ranking from the last group to the first adds excitement.
- In a pub: a break for scoring, and another round.
6:53Fixed teams or random groups?
At the OB2B quiz, the groups are split at random: "nobody can plan their own group". Dominka's first thought was remote against office, room against room. Nina finds the random split more interesting: someone who always sits in the office might team up with someone working from home whom they don't get to talk to every day.
- Random groups instead of the usual fixed quiz teams.
- Dominka's first idea: remote against office.
- Office and home-office colleagues end up in one group.
7:47High budget or low budget: pay a quizmaster or do it yourself?
A self-organized quiz is low budget, says Dominka: the colleagues do it voluntarily and aren't paid for it. "It costs a bit of paper", Nina adds. The first OB2B quiz had a real quizmaster who "charged a fair amount for it": the high-budget option. Dominka's conclusion: "It's not always important to throw a lot of money at it for the team building to be good." Some expensive team buildings were good, maybe even top, but a karaoke night where only the food and drinks cost money also turned into "a really great evening".
- Do it yourself: the main cost is paper for printing.
- An external quizmaster is the high-budget option.
- Karaoke night: only the food and drinks cost money.
9:37What does a quiz train, and what does it have to do with sales?
A quiz tests team spirit and how well the organizers prepared, says Dominka, plus knowledge: "who's got brains". Nina adds hosting and self-presentation: it's easier for her because she runs a lot of meetings, and her colleagues know it from their weekly team briefings with clients. Then there's compromise: one person thinks one answer is right, another thinks something else, and the group has to agree on what to write down; then come arguing your case and discussion. "You might think, okay, pub quiz, what does that have to do with sales or with the company? Actually, a lot," says Nina. Dominka adds: wherever you are, you have to present yourself.
- It tests team spirit, preparation, hosting and knowledge.
- Colleagues know self-presentation from team briefings with clients.
- Compromise: the group has to agree on one answer.
11:42Prizes: only for first place or for everyone?
Prizes can be symbolic or something really great, says Dominka, and asks: with only four teams, does everyone get a prize? Nina is planning a bigger prize for first place and consolation prizes for everyone else. Otherwise there would be prizes for the top three, and "then the fourth group gets nothing, and that's really not okay". Dominka mentions the alternative of rewarding only first place. Nina: "Yes, that's also an option"; at the cooking competition, too, there was only a first place.
- Prizes can be symbolic or something really great.
- Nina's plan: a main prize for first place, consolation prizes for the rest.
- Alternative: only first place wins, as at the cooking competition.
12:48A cooking competition as team building: how did it go?
At the cooking competition, people were mixed with colleagues they hadn't done much with before; each team presented its dish, and a few people tasted and gave points. Dominka doesn't like cooking ("in ten minutes it's all eaten up"), but found the team building "a real success": with Nicole, who was new at the company back then, she baked her first ever cake, an Italian orange and chocolate cake. Nina's team won, which makes it "maybe my favourite team building" for her. Nina's friends are amazed, because "nobody does that". Dominka says it herself: "Not low budget"; with a bigger budget you can afford it, Nina adds.
- Mixed teams, a presentation, points from a jury.
- Dominka baked her first cake, Nina's team won.
- Not a low-budget format, but "a real success" according to Dominka.
16:51Party team buildings: a limo, an office party and beer pong
Simple parties were "a real success" too, says Dominka. A few years ago she hired a limo through a guy she knew from before, and it picked up colleagues at different points around the city; beforehand nobody believed her ("You and your stuff again"). "It was just super simple, but it was a lot of fun." The office also hosted a party with food, drinks, music and beer pong; the cups are still there, but nobody has played since 2022. Nina is adding beer pong to the plan for the quiz night.
- A limo pick-up around the city: simple, but nobody saw it coming.
- An office party with food, music and beer pong.
- Beer pong goes into the plan for the quiz.
18:13Trips away: a national park, cooking or wine tasting?
Dominka likes going away, for a day or overnight. In the national park, each person prepared a small topic and practised presenting it, followed by food and board games. Last year the choice was wine tasting or cooking in pairs; Dominka picked cooking because she goes to wine tastings "probably every week, or so it feels". Nina thinks the cooking group "picked the better activity", because the others just walked around; Dominka found both hosts very likeable. Her conclusion: "cooking is actually a good group activity", and staying overnight leaves time for conversations late into the night that everyday life has no time for.
- National park: each person practised a short presentation.
- A choice of cooking in pairs or wine tasting.
- Staying overnight makes time for talks late into the night.
21:28How do you plan a team building? Date, place, budget, goal
The first step, says Dominka, is to set the time, date and place and then ask: "Hey guys, can you make it?" With the budget, you should "always really be careful". Nina adds a goal: "What's the goal of this team building? Why are we doing it?" For the quiz it's team spirit, and after the first quiz everyone kept asking when there'd be another one. Whoever organizes it deserves trust rather than too many questions from outside, says Dominka: "Hey, everyone sit back, it'll be fine." Her short version: "the most important thing is that you plan it well, budget-wise above all".
- Time, date and place first, then ask the team.
- Keep an eye on the budget and set a goal.
- Trust the organizers instead of asking constantly.
24:23Why do employees avoid team buildings, and how can it be different?
Many of Nina's acquaintances don't feel like going to their company's team buildings: too stressful, not interesting, not a fit with the company culture, so they look for a reason not to come. At OB2B everyone likes going, and Nina's acquaintances are envious, because "every time it's really something new". That's why Dominka doesn't want to repeat what has already been done, like just sitting around, eating and letting music play: "You also want to give people a bit of an experience." Examples from the episode: a raclette evening, a hotel with treehouses by a lake and, most recently, accommodation that was "a bit farm-style".
- Too stressful, boring, a poor fit: why people stay away.
- Every team building should offer something new.
- Give people an experience, not just sitting around.
26:37How far ahead should you plan a team building?
A quiz in the office needs little lead time, but trips with an overnight stay need planning "a few months in advance", says Nina. Last year OB2B booked six months ahead, and still not everyone stayed overnight: Nina and Anamarija both had family weddings. That's why, according to Dominka, OB2B no longer plans six months ahead, because it can still happen that someone can't make that day.
- A quiz in the office: little lead time needed.
- Overnight trips: plan a few months in advance.
- Even six months' notice doesn't bring everyone together.
27:12Spontaneous team building ideas: beer pong, laser tag, a barbecue
Spontaneous options, says Nina, include a whole beer pong competition or playing pool together; Dominka loves doing "something you're not good at". At the Amazinga adrenaline park the team played laser tag, and there was go-karting too: "things where you don't have to organize much", just a date with the venue. The laser tag was organized quickly because finding a good date was hard. Nina: a date never suits every single person, so you have to compromise. "What matters is that most people come." A barbecue or a picnic always works if the weather plays along.
- A beer pong competition or pool: doable at short notice.
- Laser tag and go-karting only need a date.
- A date never suits everyone: what matters is that most people come.
28:59Why do team building at all?
Dominka lists the reasons: team spirit, a chance to prove yourself as an organizer, and taking time for colleagues you rarely see or don't know well. It's the organizers' job to bring people together on purpose, such as someone who works remotely and someone who's always in the office. "A team building doesn't have to be expensive. It can be creative," she says, because then people are much keener to come. Her idea for years: going up in a hot-air balloon together, especially for colleagues who are afraid of heights, even if it's "not cheap".
- Team spirit and time for colleagues you rarely see.
- Organizers bring remote and office people together.
- Not expensive, but creative: something new makes people want to come.
30:36Wrap-up: whoever comes, comes, and nobody does it alone
Team buildings should be fun, bring the team together and don't have to be expensive, Nina sums up. If someone can't make it, you don't cancel everything, but "whoever comes, comes", says Dominka. Nina doesn't usually organize the team buildings but had the idea for the quiz, and it's good when someone else comes up with an idea now and then. Dominka: "Don't worry, nobody has to do it alone." And if a team building goes wrong: keep going, do it better next time or let someone else organize it.
- Fun, togetherness, not expensive: Nina's summary.
- Don't cancel if someone's missing: whoever comes, comes.
- If it flops: keep going and do it better next time.
Key takeaways
- Good team building doesn't have to be expensive: a self-organized pub quiz in the office mainly costs paper, while an external quizmaster is the high-budget option.
- Random groups instead of fixed teams bring together office and home-office colleagues who don't otherwise talk every day.
- A quiz trains self-presentation, compromise and arguing your case, because the group has to agree on one answer.
- With only a few teams, every group gets a prize: a bigger one for first place and consolation prizes for the others, so no group goes home empty-handed.
- A cooking competition with mixed teams, a presentation and a jury was a success at OB2B, but according to Dominka it isn't a low-budget format.
- Planning starts with the time, date and place; then keep an eye on the budget and set a goal: why are we doing this?
- Whoever organizes a team building needs the team's trust rather than too many questions from outside.
- People avoid team buildings that are stressful, uninteresting or a poor fit with the company culture; that's why OB2B does something new every time.
- Even six months' notice doesn't bring everyone together; a date never suits everyone, what matters is that most people come.
- If a team building goes wrong, keep going: do it better next time or let someone else organize it, because nobody has to do it alone.
Pull quotes
"It's not always important to throw a lot of money at it for the team building to be good."
"You might think, okay, pub quiz, what does that have to do with sales or with the company? Actually, a lot."
"What's the goal of this team building? Why are we doing it?"
Guest
Nina Debeljak — BDS, OB2B
Dominka Babić — COO, OB2B (Host)
FAQ
How do you organize a team building on a low budget?
For example with a self-organized pub quiz in the office: at OB2B, three colleagues prepare it voluntarily, and the main cost is paper for printing. Other low-cost ideas from the episode are a karaoke night where only the food and drinks cost money, an office party with beer pong, and a barbecue or a picnic.
How do you prepare a pub quiz as a team building?
Set the place, day and time first, then the questions: at OB2B that's general knowledge, maybe videos and a few sales questions. Add a flyer with all the details, prizes and the groups; four groups keep the scoring manageable. In a pub, a break for scoring pays off because another round gets ordered.
What does a pub quiz have to do with sales?
"Actually, a lot," says Nina Debeljak, BDS at OB2B: in a quiz you practise self-presentation, compromise, arguing your case and discussion, because the group has to agree on one answer. Dominka adds that wherever you are, you have to present yourself.
Should team building use fixed teams or random groups?
Random groups, says Nina: that way someone who always sits in the office teams up with someone working from home whom they don't talk to every day. Dominka sees it as the organizers' job to bring together people who otherwise have little contact.
How far ahead should you plan an overnight team building?
A few months, says Nina. OB2B once booked six months ahead, and still not everyone could stay overnight because of family weddings. That's why the team no longer plans that far ahead; a date never suits everyone, and if someone can't come, it's "whoever comes, comes".
Why don't employees like going to team buildings?
Nina's acquaintances name the reasons: too stressful, not interesting, not a fit with the company culture. At OB2B everyone likes going because there's something new every time; Dominka wants to "give people a bit of an experience" instead of just sitting around.
What should you do if a team building goes wrong?
Keep going, says Dominka: that's exactly when you get the chance to do it better next time or let someone else organize it. What matters is sticking together, and nobody has to organize it alone.
Transcript4,840 words · approx. 22 min readShowHide
Translated from German. The episode was recorded in German.
0:52Team building and company culture: how often does OB2B do it?
0:52Dominka: A warm welcome, Nina, to the new episode of Dialing Out, the OB2B Podcast. Dear viewers, listeners and everyone else.
1:02Nina: Thanks again for the invitation.
1:04Dominka: You're welcome. I'm always happy to have you here. Today we've chosen a topic that maybe isn't necessarily connected to sales, but definitely to company culture: how you establish yourself well as a company within your own circle, or rather how you can maintain the interpersonal relationships in the company. And one of the proven methods is team building. Organizing a team building, exactly.
1:46Nina: Very popular with us.
1:47Dominka: Very popular with us. We even did it three times a year at one point. Now we've reduced it to twice a year, which, I think, is enough. And maybe every now and then a little trip to the pub together, as an in-between team building.
2:04Why a pub quiz in the office?
2:04Dominka: And now we're soon planning something again, well, not completely new, but something we haven't done under our own arrangement yet. Would you like to tell us a bit more about it?
2:15Nina: Yes, well, actually we've had this once before, but, as you said, we didn't organize it on our own. In a few weeks we're organizing our first pub quiz. We're doing it here in the office, because we have some colleagues who actually always work from home, and that week we're all in the office, the whole team, and we're using the opportunity to organize something. We actually wanted to go out to eat, there were a few ideas, but we have a few colleagues here who like going to pub quizzes, and that's why the idea actually came from my side that we do something like this. You inspired me. I think you mentioned it first, because we were talking about our first attempt, or rather about our first quiz that we did together, and then I asked: Okay, do we do it on our own now? And then we planned the whole thing, how we're going to do it now after our working day in a few weeks here in the office. We've planned a few teams and also a few prizes, and I think it's going to be really interesting, because we've actually never done it like this before.
3:32How do you prepare a pub quiz team building?
3:32Dominka: How are the preparations going so far? What have you done so far? Did you make a flyer? Maybe you can tell people a bit: How do I do a team building, a quiz team building for my team? What do I need to get done?
3:47Nina: It's also something new for me, but I'm not alone in the preparation. With me are my colleagues Ivana and Martina, who I also go to a pub quiz with almost every week. That's why we've gathered some experience there. First we planned the place, day and time together.
4:08Dominka: Okay. Yes, that's important.
4:10Nina: Important. Well, the office wasn't that difficult for us. Then we thought: Okay, when do we have time to plan the whole quiz? The questions: I think they won't just be typical questions, maybe also a few videos and maybe something that isn't so typical. I think it'll be a general quiz, general knowledge, but maybe also a bit about sales, of course, because it has to do with our job. And then we made a flyer with all the info and shared it with our colleagues. I think the reactions were quite positive, and many didn't expect it, especially the ones who weren't in the office yesterday when we made the flyer. The flyer is now on our door.
5:06Dominka: I missed it.
5:07Nina: Yes, and now it goes on. We still have to plan the prizes. That's really important, because everyone expects something. The team here maybe isn't that big. We've planned four groups, which actually doesn't mean much effort for us on the day either, checking all the lists and questions. And yes, we still have to plan the questions.
5:36Who does the scoring, and why have a break?
5:36Dominka: At a pub quiz I've now been to twice, the groups corrected each other's sheets.
5:46Nina: I was at one like that too. It's actually nice, but where we go now … I maybe find it better when the moderator does it. Then he also does the list, and then it somehow gets more exciting when he goes from the last group to the first group. I think there's a bit more to it.
6:05Dominka: Yes, with us they collected the lists and then he put it into a sort of ranking. But let me get into the business side now: I think it's much smarter, if it's a pub quiz and you're in the pub. The pub wants to earn something too. So you take a break for the scoring. It's always like that. The waiters go round, and another round goes out.
6:27Nina: We always order something in the break, or we wait for the break to order something. If there are several rounds … For example, here we're maybe planning two rounds, I think that'll be enough, or three shorter rounds. Where we go every week, there are three rounds. There are a few bigger breaks, especially the last one, and we always drink something extra. Yes, that's why it makes complete sense.
6:53Fixed teams or random groups?
6:53Nina: And actually, what maybe won't be so typical at our quiz: Usually you always have your own group that you go to the quiz with. We're doing it completely at random now, and nobody can plan their own group.
7:08Dominka: You'll split it up. I was already wondering about that.
7:11Nina: Yes. We'll maybe do it that way so it's more interesting and people can't immediately form groups …
7:20Dominka: At first I thought, maybe we do it like this: remote against office. So office against office, room against the other rooms. But whatever you decide, that's of course what we'll go with.
7:33Nina: Yes, I think it'll be more interesting this way, because I can imagine that maybe someone who always sits here in the office works together with someone from home office who they maybe don't get the chance to talk to every day. And that's why I think it'll be really nice.
7:47High budget or low budget: pay a quizmaster or do it yourself?
7:47Dominka: Okay. Planning a quiz is actually low budget, budget-wise, you could say. You're not being paid to do a quiz for us now. It's your free will and your idea, and that's really kind and sweet of you, and hats off (chapeau) for that already.
8:05Nina: It costs a bit of paper, because we'll be printing a lot of things, but otherwise, I think, yes.
8:10Dominka: Then it's definitely a low-budget idea for people. Back then, when we did it for the first time, we actually invited a real quizmaster, and he didn't charge a ton, but he certainly charged a fair amount for it.
8:25Nina: He does have more experience with it.
8:27Dominka: Yes, okay, that's his job. That's also something, that you can do it that way too. But that's the high-budget variant. The low-budget variant is doing it yourself. And that's maybe also something that's important when you plan a team building: It's not always important to throw a lot of money at it for the team building to be good. I'd say at our company there were team buildings that cost quite a bit. They were good, maybe even top. But there were also the ones where we really only spent a bit on food and drink. We had karaoke. It turned into a really great evening. You don't always have to spend a lot of money to have a good evening with your colleagues.
9:13Nina: That's actually true. And it's like a little team building for us, on the side. We're simply using the chance that we're all in the office that day to talk with colleagues a bit after work, maybe not just on calls and in meetings. And I think it'll be great for everyone.
9:37What does a quiz train, and what does it have to do with sales?
9:37Dominka: So team spirit will definitely be tested there. Your preparation will be tested, how you pull it off, how it looks. Of course it'll also be graded in a way, where people say: Okay, well done, or: They could have done better.
9:50Nina: Moderation, how we moderate it. Yes, so that will be interesting too. Self-presentation: It'll maybe be a bit easier for me, since I lead a lot of meetings. But the colleagues of course have experience too, because they have their team briefings with our clients every week. I don't think there'll be any problems, but it's maybe a good chance to see how other colleagues present themselves. I think that'll be cool.
10:30Dominka: Knowledge too. We're testing knowledge. Now we'll see who's got brains.
10:39Nina: Compromise, I think that's also really important. In the job, but also in everyday life. I see the example with us at the quiz: One person has an idea that the answer is right, I say something else, okay, and then we have to make a compromise about what we write down. I always find that good too. Then argumentation: why that's the right answer. Discussion comes with it too. A lot of things you can …
11:10Dominka: A lot of things get practised through something like this.
11:12Nina: You might think, okay, pub quiz, what does that have to do with sales or with the company? Actually, a lot.
11:21Dominka: I think everything in life has something to do with sales. Sales keeps coming up.
11:26Nina: That's also a thing, yes.
11:27Dominka: No matter where you are, you have to present yourself somehow, and self-presentation is actually what you use to try to win people over.
11:37Nina: Team spirit is really number one here now.
11:40Dominka: This time, yes.
11:42Prizes: only for first place or for everyone?
11:42Dominka: On top of that: There are prizes, of course. Prizes can be symbolic, prizes can also be something really great for the first team. But if there are only a few teams, for example four, does everyone get a prize then? Is that fair, or is there still only one prize? What should you do there?
12:05Nina: I think the group that takes first place gets a bigger prize. But the others, how do you say it, a consolation prize?
12:15Dominka: Yes, a consolation prize, exactly.
12:16Nina: Yes, I think that would be …
Dominka: Really? Okay, good.
12:19Nina: Everyone. Because otherwise it's always the first three places, but then we said: Okay, then the fourth group gets nothing, and that's really not okay.
12:28Dominka: Yes. Or you do it like this: only the first prize.
12:35Nina: Only first place wins something. Yes, that's also an option. We've had other team buildings where we did something similar, and I think there was only first place there, at the cooking competition.
12:48A cooking competition as team building: how did it go?
12:48Dominka: The cooking competition, that was a good team building.
12:50Nina: That was very good, very good.
12:51Dominka: I'm not someone who likes cooking very much. I'm not bad, I really have to say: The five times in my life I've cooked something, I actually did it well. But for me it was first of all like: Okay, I think it's cool that we're doing this, even though I don't like doing it at all. I really can't be bothered to stand at the stove and mix something together for two hours, and in ten minutes it's all eaten up. That frustrates me a bit. And I probably don't enjoy the process much, because I do it myself when I cook alone. Maybe it's not that much fun then either. I had a whole lot of fun.
13:35Nina: Yes, that was … Maybe that was my favourite team building. Well, I like cooking.
Dominka: You cook too.
13:40Nina: Yes, I like cooking, and I like this process, and for me that was really …
13:44Dominka: But when I cook something at home, it bothers me when someone interferes. But actually it does help when you have a bit of help in the kitchen.
13:52Nina: Yes, it's like that, with the cleaning up.
13:55Dominka: Exactly, especially when it's something bigger. When I do make something, I actually make something for several people, not for me and one other person. No need for that.
14:07Nina: But this team building really was something different. Whenever I tell people, my friends, that we did something like this, they're always like: Okay, you can do that in Zagreb? I mean, nobody does that. That was really something special, I think.
14:22Dominka: I think so too. I think that was a real success. That was a really great team building. People really went all out. I was with Nicole, she had only just joined the company back then, she was in our team. There were four of us in the team, but the two of us made the cake. I've never baked a cake in my life. It was a kind of Italian orange chocolate cake. It was fantastic. I was so proud. It looked like it came from a bakery, a patisserie.
14:57Nina: Have you made it again at home?
14:59Dominka: No. Oh God. No, I haven't, I really haven't. I'm not aiming to either. But it was really … well, it's really a good idea. Not low budget, but …
15:14Nina: True, but with a bigger budget you can afford it. And later we ate, I think, what we had cooked, tried everything. That was quite nice, and later there were drinks and games.
15:30Dominka: Exactly, we played pool, we played darts, pub-style again. I thought that was really great too. But back to the topic, or rather to the type of team building: going cooking together as a company. The team spirit there was, I think, totally on point, and we mixed too. We got mixed up with people we maybe hadn't done much with before.
16:03Nina: And it was competitive.
Dominka: Competitive.
16:08Nina: And we also had to do a presentation of what we had cooked, I think, if I remember correctly. Then we also had a few people who tasted it, and they gave marks, gave points.
16:23Dominka: I was really annoyed that we didn't win.
16:25Nina: My team won. That's why, for me, it was maybe my favourite team building.
16:31Dominka: Yes, okay. I was really bugged that our cake wasn't number one. Everything else was really all delicious. And you learn something for life too, if you want. If you want, you can make it again at home. Good.
16:51Party team buildings: a limo, an office party and beer pong
16:51Dominka: Then there are also simple let's-have-a-party team buildings.
16:54Nina: Yes, we've had those too.
16:56Dominka: Those were a real success too. A few years ago we once had … you weren't there, unfortunately.
17:01Nina: Ah, I've heard stories.
17:02Dominka: I thought that was really great, because nobody expected it. We rented a limo. I rented it because I knew the guy from before who has a limo. And then I said: Yes, a limo is picking you up. And they were all like: Yeah. You and your stuff again. And then the limo drove through the city with us and really picked people up at different points. It was just super simple, but it was a lot of fun.
17:34Nina: Yes, I've heard a lot of stories that it was really fun.
17:39Dominka: We threw a party at the company, just food, drinks, music and beer pong. We still have the beer pong cups here. We could maybe do it again after our quiz. It was always huge fun, and I think we haven't played it since 2022.
17:59Nina: And it has something to do with the pub. So it fits the theme.
18:03Dominka: Exactly. It's also just a very simple thing. Beer pong, let's go.
18:09Nina: Cool. Okay. We'll add that to the plan.
18:13Trips away: a national park, cooking or wine tasting?
18:13Dominka: Exactly. What I also like is when we go away for a day. That was always really nice too.
18:21Nina: Yes, going out into nature a bit. We also had different activities there. We were once in a national park here in Croatia.
18:30Dominka: I really liked that too.
18:32Nina: Yes, we had small topics that we were supposed to prepare. Each person had something different, and that's how we actually practised presenting too. I liked that. Later there was food and drink, and we played different board games. Then last year we were also nearby, so not that far away, and there we also had interesting activities.
18:59Dominka: Exactly. We cooked again. We had wine tasting, and we had cooking. And I was at the cooking again.
19:04Nina: You were at the cooking again. Maybe you like cooking.
19:06Dominka: Yes, I like … Well, not really, but I like it … I go to a wine tasting probably every week, or so it feels. And then I thought: Then I'll go do some cooking and try it out, because I probably wouldn't do it otherwise. I have to say, I had a whole lot of fun.
19:27Nina: Yes, we were in pairs, I think.
Dominka: Yes, in pairs, exactly.
19:31Nina: And wine tasting … I think we picked the better activity, because at the wine tasting they just walked around the whole time.
19:44Dominka: Yes, but the guy was really funny.
19:46Nina: Yes, he was very likeable.
19:48Dominka: But the lady who guided us was super likeable too. And the good thing about the cooking was: We were drinking sparkling wine the whole time.
19:55Nina: Exactly. And we were actually at the wine tasting for a short while too, while we were waiting.
20:00Dominka: Exactly. For the dough to rise.
20:04Nina: And later we ate it again.
20:06Dominka: I like that too. So cooking is actually a good group activity. I also think it's good when you stay overnight somewhere together. Then you also get the chance to talk to lots of people, not always just very briefly.
Nina: Or long into the night.
20:21Dominka: Exactly. We went to bed really late. We were also out by the pool all night and so on, and really told stories that you actually don't have time for in everyday life. That was really fun, I have to say. But that's the advantage when you go somewhere further away. But it can't be like that every time either.
20:45Nina: Yes, and I think since I've been at the company, we've never done it in the office. That's why I'm maybe looking forward to staying here a bit too.
20:54Dominka: Exactly, but we did once have something in the summer. But that wasn't that long either, we were there maybe until the evening. But that was really important too.
21:05Nina: Yes, that's true. And now we're staying in the office a bit. We're already thinking about how to set up the whole thing here with all the tables and chairs. And I think it'll be fun, especially for us, since we really go to a quiz every week and have never organized one, for such a big group. And I'm looking forward to the experience. Something new.
21:28How do you plan a team building? Date, place, budget, goal
21:28Dominka: You know what's maybe really, really important for people who are planning a team building now and have maybe heard a few ideas: a house party, a quiz, travelling, a wine tasting, going cooking. Or just going to the pub and having fun, for all I care, that can work too. But if someone organizes it, then, you already said it at the start: set the time, set the date, set the place. That's the first step. And then first of all say: Hey guys, can you make it? With the budget, well, always really be careful there.
22:07Nina: Yes, be careful, really be careful. And then maybe also set a goal. What's the goal of this team building? Why are we doing it? Maybe it suits us now to just go to the pub and have a drink. But why a pub quiz now, and why does it make sense for us, and what does it actually bring us later? And for us it makes sense, because we already had a quiz, and everyone enjoyed it, and everyone asked again: When are we doing something like that? And we also simply wanted to surprise our colleagues with an activity like this. And the goal is, you already said it, team spirit. Just trying things out and spending time together.
22:47Dominka: And keeping the whole thing relaxed somehow. And what I always find important too: If someone organizes it, then there's a reason why that person is organizing it, and then you trust that person too: Okay, you're doing it now. And then I think it's good when there aren't too many questions from outside. Although every now and then there are people we allowed to organize it, but we could have left that. But what's important is that there's always a trustworthy person involved in the organization. And then really: Hey, everyone sit back, it'll be fine. So don't worry. We've got it under control. If it turns out crap, then it's crap.
23:36Nina: That's how it is. But I already said yesterday, we already have everything in the calendar, when we plan and organize what. I think it'll be good.
23:45Dominka: I know it'll be good with you organizing it. You're doing all the work. Okay, I'll help you with the catering, I'm happy to do that, and I'll get someone else to join me. And what's important, I think, well, the most important thing is that you plan it well, budget-wise above all, and organizationally let people know: Hey, it's then and then. Please just sit back, we're doing this, we've got it under control.
24:23Why do employees avoid team buildings, and how can it be different?
24:23Nina: And of course we want everyone to have fun in the end and for it not to get too stressful. I very often talk to acquaintances who don't feel like going to their team buildings, because it always gets, I don't know, too stressful, isn't interesting, doesn't fit the company culture. They don't feel like it, and everyone looks for a reason why they shouldn't come. And I'm always like: Oh no, we all like going, we like doing team buildings. And then I tell them what we did, and they're so jealous, because we always have something completely different. So every time it's really something new.
25:03Dominka: Yes, well, I think that's important too. It was also often the topic somehow: Ugh, we just want to sit around, hang out, eat and drink and let some music play. We had that last time.
25:20Nina: We did that.
25:22Dominka: We don't have to do it like that anymore. Next time I'd like to do something that's somehow different. Because that's actually the point: You also want to give people a bit of an experience. It's all well and good, we can also do that in the pub. But last time in the pub we had a kind of game, that was something completely different too. Then we had …
25:44Nina: The quiz.
Dominka: Then we had something else …
25:50Nina: We made raclette.
Dominka: But that was the quiz.
25:54Nina: But you could also do that on your own.
Dominka: Make a bit of raclette again.
26:00Nina: That's also an activity for several people, for groups. What did we do in between, between the quiz and … Ah, we were in the national park.
26:12Dominka: Exactly. I thought the hotel where we stayed was really beautiful, treehouse-style and by the lake. That was really beautiful. That's really something too. And where we stayed this time was something different as well, a bit farm-style.
26:37How far ahead should you plan a team building?
26:37Nina: I also think it's very important to plan everything in time. Well, for the pub quiz we don't need that much, but for things like this, where you sleep somewhere, you really have to plan a few months in advance.
26:48Dominka: Yes, last year we booked six months in advance, and still not everyone stayed overnight.
26:52Nina: True. I couldn't stay overnight.
26:54Dominka: Yes, you know, if it doesn't work … That's why we also said we won't do it six months in advance anymore, because it can still happen that someone then says: Hey, I can't make that day, because, I don't know, there was a wedding at yours and at Anamarija's too, for example. You can't cancel on family.
27:12Spontaneous team building ideas: beer pong, laser tag, a barbecue
27:12Nina: If you want to do something spontaneous, there really are things like … I think you could even do a whole competition with beer pong, just beer pong.
27:22Dominka: Exactly, I think so too. I'm always totally up for that. I love things like that. Just doing something you're not good at.
27:29Nina: Yes, and you mentioned playing pool. Gladly, playing pool together, because I don't do it that often.
Dominka: Me neither. But I think it's really a lot of fun.
27:38Nina: We once had, that was maybe something interesting too, we were at this adrenaline … what do you call it …
27:44Dominka: Amazinga. Exactly. Played laser tag. I thought laser tag was fantastic. Then we did go-karting. Those are things where you don't have to organize much. You just have to find a date when they can have us. But I thought it was great.
28:05Nina: Laser tag, well, I thought it was …
28:07Dominka: Yes, I thought it was quite good too. We then had to organize it somehow quickly and spontaneously after all, because we also had a bit of trouble finding a good date. But it was quite good.
28:18Nina: That's also, I think, really important: finding a date. At the end of the day you also have to keep in mind that it never suits every single person. And then at the end of the day you have to make a compromise. What matters is that most people come.
28:35Dominka: Yes, that's true. But it also depends on where you live right now. In a small town you maybe can't so quickly …
28:44Nina: But you can always go for a barbecue. I think you did that once too. A picnic or something.
28:51Dominka: We did that once too. You can always do that.
Nina: Nice weather.
Dominka: If the nice weather plays along.
28:59Why do team building at all?
28:59Dominka: So, why do team building at all and not avoid it? Team spirit, definitely. You can prove yourself organizationally. You can also simply show that you take the time to talk a bit with someone else you maybe don't see that often or don't know well. Then it's also the organizers' job to say: Hey, we're putting these two together now. Those are important things, where I've always tried: Okay, when we organize something now and there are people there, one is remote and one is always in the office, and they actually have no contact at all, then we bring them together somehow. That's the goal of the whole thing, that they have to do something together.
29:42Nina: That we then also get to know each other a bit better.
29:45Dominka: Exactly. A team building doesn't have to be expensive. It can be creative, above all because people then feel much more like coming and seeing: Hey, that's something completely new, something we haven't done yet. For years I've had an idea, and I once asked about it too, that we all go hot-air ballooning.
30:05Nina: You can do that nearby here too.
30:08Dominka: And then I have people who are afraid of heights. But precisely because you're afraid of heights: Isn't it something where you say: Yes, okay, I'll give it a try, I have the chance now? It's also not cheap, you know?
30:25Nina: Definitely not.
30:27Dominka: I'd love to do it sometime. We'll see. Another idea for the audience. Good, Nina.
30:36Wrap-up: whoever comes, comes, and nobody does it alone
30:36Nina: To wrap up: team buildings should be fun, bring the team together. And what else did we say? Doesn't have to be expensive.
30:45Dominka: Doesn't have to be expensive. And if someone can't come, don't immediately cancel everything and find something new, but: Hey, whoever comes, comes.
30:53Nina: And I think it's also important, maybe from our example now: I'm not the one who usually organizes the team buildings, but I had the idea. And I think it's also good when every now and then someone else comes along with a nice idea.
31:06Dominka: Yes, why not? I'm totally in. And I think it has happened a few times that someone else had an idea and came along: Hey, let's do it. With support from others in the organization. Don't worry, nobody has to do it alone.
31:24Dominka: Good. That's it. A nice topic, I think. Guys, don't give up on team buildings, even if they've gone down the pan (German idiom: gone wrong). That can happen too. Keep going anyway. You have to keep the spirit up, especially when it's gone wrong. Then you also have the chance to say next time: Hey, now I'll do it better, or now someone else does it. But we have to stick together and try to make sure the team has a bit of fun too.
31:53Nina: It's also part of everyday life.
31:56Dominka: Exactly. Good, that's it. That was, I think, the 44th, no, 43rd, 42nd episode, whatever, we'll see later in the edit. See you. I'm curious. We'll definitely report about the team building and the quiz on LinkedIn. You can find us and add us there.
32:22Nina: I post too.
Dominka: Nina posts diligently. I've gotten really lazy lately. I'll come back to it at some point. Comment, subscribe, save the episode, for all I care.
32:38Nina: Suggestions for team buildings, please.
Dominka: Thanks. Suggestions for team buildings, please, too, and have fun with your team. There can be days when you just can't have fun because things get hard. Exactly. Nina, thank you so much.
32:56Nina: Thank you. See you on 24 March. Bye.
Dominka: Bye.
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