Integration party in the era of a pandemic - still a good idea?

Integration event in the era of a pandemic? Although businesses run at their own pace, not everyone can enjoy everyday informal interactions, such as a quick morning conversation over a coffee machine. Employees miss the company, desk and work-life balance! It is worth meeting them. Why is it worth it? In times of a pandemic, nothing connects like a team-building event. You do not expect what your company can gain from such an event!

The key to success in the conditions of constant change is adaptation and turning your business strategy to the "new norm". Also in the field of employee management, who now more than ever need a sense of belonging to the company and the team. Organizing external company events may be inconvenient these days, but who said that only away meetings bring effect? Mutual trust, positive relationships and the need to understand corporate goals are essential for employees to properly perform their tasks. This can be safely provided to them also in the event of a pandemic. After all, the integration event can take place at the company's headquarters.

Integration event - definition

The integration event is used to build proper relations between employees or team members. Of course, it is an addition, but as practice shows, for many companies it can be a significantly helpful instrument uniting colleagues. It unites people, helps to relieve unnecessary tensions or mitigate conflicts, and significantly strengthens ties between employees.

An integration event is a meeting aimed at creating a sense of community among employees, the unity of the entire company, loyalty to the employer and pride in working in a specific company. As the name suggests, its task is to integrate a team of people - make them get to know each other, build positive relationships, create at least a minimum level of trust and openness towards each other. It is also an excellent way to relieve unnecessary tension while a company is facing a crisis or making significant organizational or structural changes. An integration event boosts morale and raises the energy level of the crew in the face of a difficult change.

Integration event - why is it so important in building an effective team?

Integration events are one of the tools for building strong teams. Why are teams formed? Firstly, to ensure a synergy effect, i.e. make individual employees, with their skills and predispositions, have a positive impact on the work of other people. Secondly, to improve communication between them and between the team and the management division. And thirdly - to strengthen motivation to work. People working in teams are more satisfied with their work and solve problems more easily.

In order to fulfill its role, a team-building event should have a clearly defined goal. Without it, it will become a regular after-work meeting. The integration event is to help achieve a specific result - integrate the team, teach them to cooperate, reveal their latent potential, increase loyalty or increase efficiency. Therefore, it is important that one of its elements is appropriate coaching exercises or games with the participation of specialists.

When planning an integration event, you should be aware that a good team consists of various types of people: bosses and subordinates, people focused on carrying out tasks and maintaining good interpersonal relations. All integration games should therefore be designed so that everyone can find something for themselves in them.

Integration event in the sanitary regime - can it be successful?

Many people, including employers and employees, are now concerned about organizing corporate events. Does this mean that there is no entertainment whatsoever? There is a way. On a daily basis, the company is associated with a place where you work. However, a small facelift is enough to turn it into a banquet hall, obstacle course or testing ground for one evening. While maintaining all the requirements of the sanitary regime, your employees can still have a great time. Do you want to be sure that everything will be carried out in accordance with the applicable epidemiological safety rules? Hire professionals. They will take care not only of all established procedures, but above all, of an unforgettable experience.

How to safely organize a company event?

A comprehensive range of services in organizing events allows you to concentrate all activities in one hand. So bet on an experienced partner, such as the Korona Karkonoszy Manorwhich has been organizing events for the most demanding companies for many years. “We know how to organize it so that the integration event will be remembered by the participants for a long time. Proof?

Organization of corporate events

Over 4,500 written references. Incentive events, company anniversaries, company Christmas Eve parties, integration events, company seminars, thematic events. These are just some of our suggestions "- lists Agnieszka Łuczywo, specialist from the Korona Karkonoszy Manor and adds -" Every company is looked after by an Event Manager who matches the best offer to the client's expectations and makes sure that everything is buttoned up to the last button. We implement even the craziest ideas, and all events are tailor-made. "

Integration Party in the company headquarters

The main goal of integration activities for companies is to bring together employee teams. It is extremely important especially for companies that are divided into smaller departments - e.g. administration, marketing, accounting etc. "A simple and, at the same time, original way to strengthening relationships, improving team communication and in general, the increase in employee morale is to organize a trip around your own company or production plant. " It may turn out that thanks to this, employees of some departments get to know personally, e.g. the chief accountant. They will find out what exactly is done and what is the name of a company employee that is passed by every day in the corridor. It may turn out to be better as an added bonus internal communication.

"Showing employees what the company looks like from the inside, what individual departments are responsible for and people who cease to be anonymous, influences greater understanding and often closer relationships. Employees feel more comfortable and understand better that they play to one goal. It can also be a great opportunity to present the strengths of all employees, as well as to exchange ideas, the implementation of which will facilitate and improve the company's operation.

Corporate event - a scenario worth considering

Company party. Surprise them at the entrance. Think about creating custom face masks - with a company logo or monogram. Guests will be able to take them home to commemorate this original day. You can also place custom mini hand sanitizer bottles on each seat. If there is a plan to dance, create several smaller dance floors to keep people apart while still letting them enjoy the music.

Integration event

Integration Party it also has its must have. Invariably, the key success factor of any event is food. Katarzyna Bemsz, head of the Sales and Customer Service Department at Dwór Korona Karkonoszy knows about it - "We serve catering at the company's premises with all safety rules in the era of a pandemic. Our chefs offer 350 delicious dishes to choose from. These are both hot dishes and creative cold snacks, prepared from seasonal vegetables and fruits, often surprising with an original combination of flavors. Delicious dishes are also waiting for people on vegan or vegetarian diets. "

Do you already know why a team-building event in the age of a pandemic is a good idea? Take advantage of the help of experts and plan a unique company event. Remember that it doesn't get any better than satisfied employeeswho only have great things to say about their workplace. A corporate event is also an important element in building the company's image. Contact us - we will create a coherent strategy for your company.

Integration event in 2022

Coming out of a pandemic and adjusting to normal life once everyone is vaccinated is an ongoing process. The current COVID situation is still highly uncertain. Risk levels vary greatly depending on the location and rate of infection in different areas.

Even so, the human need for personal contact with others remains the same. Getting back to normal, getting to know people and building the foundations for new relationships looks different for everyone.

Individual preferences should be taken into account when planning your personal team-building activities during COVID. That's why we've compiled the 5 safest live team building activities available to everyone. When planning your 2022 event, take a look at the ideas below to find inspiration for safe and fun activities. Something to help employees bond. Everyone will find something for themselves, regardless of their preferences!

Take your team's taste buds on a culinary adventure

There is no better way to experience delicious food and unite your team than with a culinary workshop. In times of a pandemic, their scenario can be adapted to largely take place outdoors. This option is one of the safest live team building activities during COVID. It is an integration event that still makes the day pass by having fun together and becomes unforgettable.

Culinary workshops for companies

A team that can cook together will be great at performing other tasks that require joining forces. Culinary workshops conducted under the watchful eye of a recognized chef will make even reluctant people want to try their hand under the watchful eye of a master.

If, for various reasons, an integration event must take place in the city where the company's headquarters is located, we have another offer - a banquet in nearby restaurants. Be sure to choose those that offer real gems. Choose the theme you like. It can be pizza, beer, the so-called street food, or world cuisines. There are so many options that everyone will find something for themselves.

Get to know your team in a stalking game

Stalking is a fantastic way to meet your teammates. And one of the safest live team building activities during COVID, thanks largely to the outdoor nature of these activities.

The coolest thing about completing a hike is that the effect depends on teamwork. Working together allows you to be successful. It's also a great way to get to know both your new city and each other. This is what an integration event is all about! In hikes, team members follow intriguing and difficult clues. Thus, they solve puzzles and go on a trip at the same time. It's the perfect way to gain memories and trust your teammates.

An integration event in an extreme style

Throwing an ax or shooting a bow are certainly not activities for the faint of heart. At the same time, it is probably impossible to forget them! They require focus and concentration of each team. They are also a great opportunity for team breaking the ice. They can help members of your group feel comfortable and at ease in their company.

At the outset, there is a short safety briefing and exercise lessons for two and one hand in the case of ax throwing. Once your team is comfortable, the tournament will begin and the most accurate ax shooter will be the winner! Perhaps it will be someone who has not had the opportunity to prove himself on a daily basis. These kinds of activities are likely to be unlike anything employees have ever had a chance to experience. The exciting atmosphere that accompanies the call will allow your team to experience a whole new experience.

Expedition as part of the Escape Room challenge

Escape rooms have become very popular lately - and for good reason. These are undoubtedly one of the most fun and unique team building activities. An integration event with this type of attractions is another opportunity to test your teamwork skills.

During COVID-19, escape rooms operate according to strict sanitary regime protocols. You can easily plan many escape room challenges. This activity will allow your team to split into smaller groups and thus get to know each other better on a more individual level by solving different challenges together.

The beauty of these types of puzzles is that they bring out the unique problem-solving skills and talents that each team member possesses. It's about the synergy effect. Whether it's words, math or anagrams, everyone has a chance to contribute to the fun. The exciting atmosphere combined with the fact that you never quite know what to expect helps unite the teams and ensures an unforgettable day.

Integration party - quotes

“Give people freedom of action and they will surprise you with their ingenuity,” said Peter Drucker. Although the integration event serves the company to achieve specific goals, such as increasing employee loyalty, it is characterized by a large dose of spontaneity. An integration event should allow participants to act freely and build relationships. Only then will employees be satisfied with it. Our goals, as business owners or team leaders, should be secondary.

"Teamwork is the fuel that enables ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results," said Dale Carnegie. An integration event allows employees to recharge their batteries. A moment of breath from daily duties strengthens creativity. It also allows you to look at everything from a distance. Above all, it is an opportunity to get rid of prejudices about people we know only from observation.

Company party

“Teamwork starts with building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for inviolability, ”observes Patrick Lencioni. An integration event is one of the ways to go beyond the comfort zone. Integration games allow you to test yourself in unusual conditions and can be a pretty good lesson about yourself. The most important thing is to make everyone feel safe during these exercises. Only such an attitude guarantees the strengthening of trust between the participants.

"People working together as one group can accomplish things that no one else could dream of achieving," emphasized Franklin Delano Roosevelt. An integration event unites people, makes them feel part of a larger whole that they are proud of and want to contribute to. This energy is shared with the team long after the meeting and often results in original ideas implemented in the course of daily work.

"Effective change is not what you do to people, but what you do with them," emphasized Dr. Ken Blanchard. An integration event causes a change in interpersonal relations. Our task is to do everything to ensure that the direction of these changes works to the benefit of the team. An integration event is also an ideal way for all employees, regardless of their level in the structure, to feel like equal. This results in the removal of unnecessary blockages in the employee-boss relationship, which in turn leads to more open and honest cooperation.

Integration event during a pandemic - ready ideas

Integration events nowadays have acquired special importance. Locked up in our own homes, we lost the opportunity to build relationships in the breaks between the implementation of subsequent tasks. Fortunately, there are ways to integrate a distributed team using digital links:

• virtual coffee break - that is, organizing a 15-minute break every day and meeting the whole group on a chat or other communicator, during which only topics not directly related to the duties performed, will be discussed,
• get up and find - this game that forces us to get up from the chair and take our thoughts away from the tables and text sheets, is that at a certain time one of the people sends the rest of the command such as "get up and find something green", after which the participants have to go hunting and show or send a photo of the found treasure,
• tell a story - the fun is in the fact that each person adds one sentence to the predecessor's sentence, thus creating an original story,
• say something about yourself - it's about making everyone say something about themselves that the others do not even guess about, e.g. an extraordinary hobby, interesting adventures, original fields of study, etc.

An original idea for a team-building event during a pandemic is to organize, for example, online culinary workshops for everyone. During such classes, everyone at home will be able to learn to prepare a dish under the supervision of the chef.

See how to organize a party – event configurator