Home/Blog/How to Organize a Team Building Event for Finance Teams
Team building
How to plan a team-building event for a finance team, with goal-setting, activity ideas from financial scenarios to escape rooms, and budgeting for the day.
Finance teams work under pressure, with complex data and critical decisions, and that's a recipe for stress and burnout. They also have to work closely to analyze data, make decisions, and manage risk. This post covers how to set goals for an event that helps with both, which activities suit finance people, and how to budget for it.
Run a survey or a focus group before you plan anything. Find out whether the team is struggling with communication, conflict, or leadership. If it's communication, plan around active listening. If it's conflict, choose exercises built on collaboration and conflict resolution.
The event should reflect the company's mission and culture. If the company values creativity and innovation, include brainstorming and problem-solving. Consider the industry and the team's specific role, too.
Track participant feedback, changes in team dynamics, and productivity. Share the results with the team and with management. That's the case for funding the next one.
Icebreakers matter most for teams that are still getting to know each other. Try speed networking or Two Truths and a Lie, where each person shares 3 statements, 2 true and 1 false, and the others guess the lie. It rewards active listening and critical thinking.
An escape room locks the team in a room with a series of puzzles to solve before time runs out. A murder mystery works the same muscles.
In a group painting, each person handles a specific part, and the piece only works if everyone does. A cooking competition splits the team into groups to prepare a meal together, and it doubles as a break from the numbers.
For teams that work under pressure, try an obstacle course, where the group navigates physical challenges together, or a hike.
Cover venue rental, catering, materials, and any facilitators or instructors. Decide whether this is a one-time event or a recurring one, since that changes the budget. Set aside a contingency fund for anything unexpected.
Pick a venue sized for your headcount and suited to your activities, and check location and accessibility. Plan catering around dietary restrictions and make sure there's enough food to last the day: buffet-style meals, boxed lunches, or snack stations all work.
Budget for materials each activity needs. A painting activity needs paint, canvases, and brushes. Make sure you have enough facilitators to guide people, either hired professionals or team members with experience running team-building activities.