How to Choose a Corporate Team-Building Activity in the Bay Area

Organizing an event for any corporate team-building event in the Bay Area can be daunting with so many opportunities to throw. Your team could deliver a creative workshop, cooking class, outdoor activity, escape room, private dining experience, or all types of custom. The best activity can be anything from a group meeting, your budget, time, schedule and location and what type of event you would like to have.

Start With Your Group Size. Consider how many people will be coming before deciding on an activity. Team-building activities work well for 10–20 individuals but become more difficult to organize from 50, 75, or 100 guests. For big corporate groups, it is generally best to select a session or event that can be easily scaled, broken into chunks, or brought right to your office or venue.

Consider Your Team Personality. Not every team loves the same event. Competition and movement are for some of us, whereas for others that’s a bit more casual and creative. Hands-on, do-it-yourself activities work if your team has a variety of personalities (although people can be more and more comfortable participating in that on their own terms) because it's a much more natural way for all to shine. We can work on that, following directions, talking with our co-workers and just having fun working through whatever we’re doing without feeling like we have to do it.

Select between Outdoor Activities and Indoor Activities. The Bay Area has beautiful outdoor venues, but weather, transportation, parking and timing can complicate planning to create outdoor events. Indoor activities are typically easier on corporate groups, as they tend to be more predictable. They are also better suited to when the event needs to be timed during the workday, inside an office or an intimate space for the parties to take place. Look up for the Hours of the event. You may need one hour for some, two or three hours for others. In organizing a corporate event, consider the entire timeline not how to schedule the event. You might need to make certain you put down the deck ahead of time, set up, get in guests, make introductions, clean up or get out of sessions if your group is large.

Try Set Up and Clean Up. For office events, ask what the vendor sends, and what your team is in need of to make preparations. Some questions to ask: Do they bring all materials? Do they require tables and chairs? How long do they need for that? What is the procedure for cleaning in the afternoons? Are they up to the task of working with your office or building needs? This is particularly significant for big corporate groups for some reason; small logistical considerations can impact the entire occasion.

Consider Budget per Person. The cost of team-building activities in the Bay Area can be very expensive depending on the activity type, location, group size and personalization. Before selecting a vendor, it can help by understanding your budget per person, which may account for travel, setup, materials, taxes and service fees. Teams with smaller budgets can opt for drop-off kits or shorter workshop formats rather than complete class hosting.

Pick an Activity for the Newbies. An optimal corporate team-building activity needs to be easy for everyone to participate in, no matter whether a company has any prior experience. Activities for the beginner also help the guests feel more relaxed and organize the event better for the organizer. Creative workshops, food experiences, lessons with a little bit of time to ask questions that are also guided, but you can’t get lost after the fact, and the atmosphere is comfortable at all times.

Find something for guests to take home. Activities where guests turn something into a physical presence can make the event feel a little more memorable. Be it a decorated dessert, candle, flower arrangement, painting, pottery piece or another handmade item. In an example, Olesia Cake Studio, corporate guests decorate their own cakes, cupcakes, or cookies and then take them home at the end of the class. The type of activity works so nicely for teams wanting something fresh, social and new to the game.

Final Thoughts. The best corporate team-building activity in the Bay Area that works for your team’s size, time frame, budget and comfort level. Before comparing options, try to find activities that are easy to follow, organized, beginner-friendly and flexible enough for your group. No one is a team-building event to be complex for. There just needs to be a comfortable way for people to connect, participate and spend time together other than at work.