Given the economic challenges currently faced by businesses, many firms have to deliver the same amount of work (or in some cases, more work) with fewer people. As such, you need your team to work well together. Running a team building event can help to cement the relationships among your staff. This can be a challenge, but the following tips will assist you in putting together an effective programme for your team:

Make a plan This is the most important part of any event process. Assemble a group of key people and develop a plan which will allow you to create a team building day which addresses the needs of your staff.

Allocate a budget Like most things in business, you need to decide on a budget for your event. Once you know what you want your team building event to accomplish, you need to decide on a location and outline the costs. These may include transport, catering or AV equipment hire. If your budget allows it, an off-site location for your event is usually preferable as this will eliminate distractions such as phone calls or unanswered emails.

Get the timing right Employees will always be more receptive to a team building programme that is held during work hours as it does not interfere with their personal time. Therefore, when you schedule your event, try to keep your employees' schedules and other obligations in mind. Staff may have holidays booked, especially during the summer months or during school holidays. It is usually best to schedule your event outside of traditional “holiday months”. You may also want to consider the current business calendar in order to avoid potential conflicts in your schedule.

Make it special Leave job titles at the door; instead, focus on making the event an enjoyable experience and an opportunity to bring your team closer together. This will allow for discussions and insights that can improve the culture of your firm. The true value of a team building programme is not in the enjoyment and engagement that your people experience. Instead, the benefits lie in providing your team with the tools and insights to make modifications to their daily interactions, priorities, and attitudes. Ultimately, such benefits will make your team more efficient.

This blog was contributed by Phil Tarbun who is the Managing Director of Tarbun & Company, Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors. He can be contacted by phone on 01524 413213 or by email on phil.tarbun@tarbunandcompany.co.uk Alternatively check out their feature on The Best of Lancaster http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/lancaster/business-guide/feature/tarbun--company