5 Ways to Plan Company Events That Are Actually Fun

Some companies, because of tight resources or limited bandwidth, only host one team event a year: the annual holiday party. But in my view, building a thriving company culture without regular team events is tough. It’s essential to spend the time and the money to regularly bring your employees together in a relaxed setting. That way, they get to know each other better and develop deeper bonds. 

At Hint Water, we make sure to organize outings at least once a month. And they aren’t forced eye-roll-y corporate team-building events: these are activities that fill up in seconds. And participants talk about them for weeks after. People enjoy them because they’re fun, and also because they let us see each other in different ways. I love witnessing my colleagues excel at things that I never imagined, like the time we all learned Jack is a shockingly skilled bowler. 

Here are a few ways to ensure that your team-building activities feel fantastic and not obligatory. You’ll all be bonding before you know it.

1. Choose on-brand activities.

Sometimes, the easiest place to start is to remember what brought you all together in the first place: your business. At a wellness-focused brand like Hint, we jump at the chance to participate in healthy activities together, like going on hikes, taking cooking classes or trying that crazy new workout class. Also, I regularly look for opportunities to turn business activities into social outings, say, by inviting a group of employees to join me for a conference or networking event. (Related: How to Make Active Meetings Part of Your Workday)

2. …Or go with something totally unexpected. 

Is there a place you’ve heard one of your teammates mention they’ve always wanted to check out too but haven’t had the chance? Or something you’ve always wanted to do? This could be great fodder for a memorable team event. 

I love organizing activities that people are curious about, but haven’t tried yet. It gives them an extra incentive to show up instead of feeling like they have to make an appearance. For Halloween this year, our team took an Alcatraz Island night tour. This is a truly unique local experience that so many San Franciscans never end up doing—even though it’s just minutes away from our office. 

3. Keep some team events small. 

Don’t feel like every outing has to be something 100% of your team will want to do—or necessarily have to attend. It’s like that old saying: If you try to please everybody, you please nobody. I’ve actually found it to be better for bonding if a few events are more tailored, small-group affairs. It allows different people to shine and gives my employees the chance to bond more deeply with different departments. 

Take one of our team’s favorites: Benefit brow parties. Every other month, 15 colleagues and I take over the makeup and brow bar over appetizers, champagne, and free beauty service. Not only does the event fill up in about 30 seconds, but also it allows a smaller group of us to get to know each other in a more intimate setting. The fact that it’s only a dozen or so people makes it feel extra special. 

4. Repeat your greatest hits. 

Don’t feel like you have to reinvent the wheel every time. If your team really enjoyed a particular event, do it again! This allows you to provide more bonding opportunities without adding a ton of extra planning work to your plate.

As I mentioned above, we do Benefit parties every other month because they are so popular. We also have quarterly company bowling outings (a surprise hit), and once a month, I host 20 employees for breakfast (aka, “Coffee with Kara”) and an ask-me-anything session. So far, our team hasn’t gotten sick of these events. But I like to take the group’s pulse and switch it up when an activity starts to get stale.

5. Be spontaneous.  

One of my favorite team outings of all time was an impromptu hike of the Dipsea Trail on a random Thursday afternoon. The weather was beautiful that day, and we needed a collective stress buster, so we went for it. 

Of course, most events will need to be planned far in advance. But sometimes, a spur of the moment outing can give your team a creative jolt and help you form lasting memories. Monitor the company’s calendar for chances to give your employees a random afternoon off to do something fun together. 

 Tell me: What’s been your most successful team-building activity? Please share in the comments!

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Kara Goldin is the founder and CEO of San Francisco–based hint, a healthy lifestyle brand that produces the leading unsweetened flavored water and a scented sunscreen spray that’s oxybenzone and paraben-free. She is also the founder of The Kara Network (TKN), an online resource for aspiring and thriving business-minded people. Listen to her podcast,Unstoppable, where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs, and disruptors across various industries and keep up with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.