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Team building
How to plan a team-building event for a product team, with goal-setting, activities matched to people's interests, accessibility, and logistics.
Product development depends on collaboration and communication across a diverse group, and that's hardest when people rarely interact or work remotely. This post covers how to set goals for a product team event, pick activities people will actually show up for, make it accessible, and handle logistics and facilitation.
Identify the areas you want to improve before you choose anything: communication, problem-solving, or conflict resolution. If communication is the gap, plan role-playing or group discussions. Clear goals also give you a way to measure whether the event worked.
If the company values creativity, include brainstorming sessions or art workshops. Activities that echo company values reinforce them back at work.
Look at what your team members actually like doing. If someone's an avid rock climber, consider indoor rock climbing. If several people are into cooking, plan a cooking class or competition.
Pair the social side with skill-building. An escape room or a scavenger hunt builds problem-solving and critical thinking. A session on public speaking or presentations lets people practice and get feedback from colleagues in a supportive setting.
Look for anything that would keep someone from participating, and plan accommodations. For team members with mobility impairments, choose a wheelchair-accessible activity. For team members with hearing impairments, provide sign language interpreters or captioning for presentations and activities.
Choose a venue everyone can get to, with space for your activities, including outdoor space if you need it. Pick a date that works with people's schedules and doesn't collide with their work.
Include the venue, activities, and any equipment or supplies, and keep it within the company's budget. Check that equipment and supplies are available and in good condition, so nothing stalls on the day.
Send a detailed itinerary with every activity and its expected duration. Include instructions and any equipment people need to bring, and answer questions before the day.