The Well Newsletter #30

Hello and welcome to The Well, Planwell’s weekly newsletter, read by event marketing professionals around the world. Planwell is an event marketing agency trusted by dozens of small-team marketers from the best B2B brands. Learn more at Planwellco.com.

Plan an unforgettable SKO

Sales kickoff season is right around the corner! If you’re planning for January or February, here are five key areas to focus on for a balanced, impactful SKO that your team will actually look forward to:

1️⃣ Location & accessibility: Pick a venue in a walkable area with plenty of spots for quick coffee runs, small-group huddles, and fresh air breaks. Proximity to fun dining and activities also makes after-hours connections more organic.

2️⃣ Agenda & event structure: Make the agenda interactive! Mix keynotes with hands-on learning, like role plays and pitch-off competitions. A structure that balances listening with doing keeps the energy high and lets the team practice new strategies on the spot. 

3️⃣ Strengths assessment: Start the kickoff by diving into a team strengths assessment—whether it’s StrengthsFinder or another tool. Knowing each teammate’s strengths can enhance collaboration, tailor roles, and improve how teams tackle challenges. Plus, it adds a deeper level of understanding and appreciation for each team member’s unique skills.

4️⃣ Fun & bonding: The best kickoffs make room for fun! Plan group dinners, a game night, or team challenges that allow everyone to unwind. These moments of bonding set the tone for a collaborative and motivated year ahead. 

5️⃣ Real-time company feedback: Use the kickoff as an opportunity to gather valuable feedback on company culture, goals, and team needs. Quick polls after key sessions or an “open mic” moment at the end give employees a chance to share their thoughts while everything’s top of mind. This real-time feedback can shape your priorities and foster a stronger sense of team alignment.

With these five essentials, you’ll create a kickoff that not only energizes your team but also strengthens connections and sets everyone up for a successful year. Happy planning! 🚀

Venue Recs: Nashville

Planning a field marketing event in Nashville? Check out these venues:

• Country Music Hall of Fame: Country Music Hall of Fame offers a uniquely immersive experience, combining rich musical heritage with state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring an unforgettable event in the heart of Nashville.
• Liquor Lab Nashville: Liquor Lab Nashville provides an interactive and engaging environment for your event, where attendees can enjoy hands-on cocktail-making experiences, perfect for networking and team-building in a stylish, modern space.
• Rustler Hat Co: Rustler Hat Co. provides a distinctive and authentic Nashville experience, where attendees can engage in personalized hat-making workshops and take home a unique piece of Nashville craftsmanship, perfect for memorable and interactive field marketing events.
• Husk Nashville: Husk Nashville, located in a historic mansion, offers a refined yet approachable setting for your event, featuring Southern-inspired cuisine crafted from the freshest local ingredients, making it a memorable experience for all attendees.
• Butcher & Bee Nashville: Known for its innovative and seasonal dishes, Butcher & Bee Nashville provides a trendy and vibrant venue that’s perfect for creating a dynamic and memorable field marketing event.

Building team spirit (and marshmallow towers): The Spaghetti Challenge for Your next SKO

For an engaging and memorable sales kickoff, consider incorporating a fun team-building activity like the Spaghetti Tower Challenge. It’s a great way to reinforce teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills—all while keeping the mood light and fun.

In this challenge, divide your team into small groups, and give each group 20 sticks of uncooked spaghetti, a yard of tape, a yard of string, and a single marshmallow. Their task? Build the tallest freestanding tower possible, with the marshmallow on top, in just 15 minutes. What makes this activity so effective is the mix of creativity and strategy it demands. Groups need to work together quickly, brainstorm potential designs, and adapt as they go—all great skills for a sales team preparing for the year ahead.

The best part? After the challenge, you can hold a quick debrief to discuss what worked well and what didn’t, tying it back to sales strategies and goal-setting. It’s an interactive, hands-on way to foster team collaboration and set the tone for a successful kickoff.

Event Marketing Resources:

• An upcoming event for Marketers: B2B Marketing Exchange
• A unique bag to gift teammates for SKO: Quilted Puff Tote
• 6 ice breakers to add to your virtual sales kickoff event

Leave the planning to Planwell

We know how time-consuming it is to thoughtfully plan and execute corporate events, especially with limited bandwidth, a rigorous calendar, and no new headcount on the horizon.

That’s why Planwell exists. Our team specializes in planning three types of B2B events: Trade Shows, Field Marketing Events, and Conferences & Summits. Learn morehere.