Most Canadians can recall a teambuilding event that missed the mark. Perhaps the organizers failed to provide basic nourishment for each of their employees. Maybe the chosen activity precluded some attendees from joining in the fun. Or perhaps the day relied too heavily on outdated diversions like “trust falls” and “share circles.”
Teambuilding events can go one of two ways. They can be well-meaning but ultimately exclusive affairs, hampered by the event manager’s inability to accommodate the needs and desires of attendees. Or they can be everything they are supposed to be: welcoming, inclusive and fun, cultivating a palpable sense of communal spirit.
If you manage a Canadian team or business, you want to shoot for the latter. Here’s how to build inclusivity and accommodation into your next team building event – to ensure everyone leaves happy, united, recognized and respected.
Respect People’s Food Restrictions and Philosophies
Food is the cornerstone of building community. It represents an opportunity for disparate groups and individuals to come together and share something universal – the joy of eating. To serve food that some people can’t eat, therefore, constitutes a significant missed opportunity.
To realize the maximum potential of a teambuilding meal, consider vegan comfort food, which ticks all of the boxes. It’s nourishing, nostalgic, and – importantly – appeals to vegans and non-vegans alike. Vegan restaurants often make arrangements for other dietary restrictions, too, like gluten intolerance, nut allergies and low sodium diets.
If you plan on eating in the office, find a vegan restaurant in Toronto that offers catering. At the link, you’ll find a great example of a vegan restaurant, Parka Food Co., that balances playful flavours with dietary accommodation and sustainability.
Prioritize Accessibility and Enablement
Respecting the different abilities of your employees is a basic requirement of inclusivity. It shows that you understand your team members, and are working hard to create an equitable environment in which everyone can flourish.
Before planning a teambuilding event, make accessibility and enablement a priority. Ensure that your chosen venue meets basic accessibility requirements, and that your chosen activity enables everyone to partake. You can also consider appointing/employing an event accessibility consultant for large team building events.
Invite Input Before You Plan
One of the best ways to build inclusivity into your team building event is to do away with the “top-down” mentality of event planning. Invite input from your team on what an ideal team building day looks like. Encourage them to speak up about what they value in an organization (i.e., anti-racism, trans inclusivity, allyship, environmental sustainability, etc.) and do your best to work their values into your team building event.
Send an Agenda and Itinerary in Advance
It’s understandable to want the element of surprise in your team building event – to whisk your employees away to a thrilling event on the other side of town. But consider how that might impact your introverts. Sending an event agenda/itinerary is a small, conciliatory gesture that can make a big difference for introverted team members, some of whom may already be a little nervous about the event. It can allow them to mentally prepare for the team building event, and even practice their contributions.
At the end of the day, team building should be about fostering community. Using your capacity as a planner/manager to ensure everyone feels included will go a long way toward seeing that community thrive and prosper. Consider a vegan restaurant in Toronto, employee suggestions, an accessibility consultant and event agenda.
