Adding Team Building Value to Your Next Staff Conference

More and more organizations are looking at ways to incorporate fun and social team building activities into their staff conference programs.

A great recent example and showcase of how this can be done effectively was with a long-time client of ours in Epic Pharmacy.

Here are some insights from this example into combining a staff conference, social function and fun team building event into a two-day program.

As context, Epic is one of Australia’s largest pharmacy service providers to the hospital, oncology and aged care sector, and this year has become part of the Icon Group, one of Australia’s largest cancer care providers with businesses including Icon Cancer Care, Radiation Oncology Centres (ROC) and Slade Health.

A few weeks ago, Icon invited staff from its various businesses around Australia to celebrate 2015 at a Christmas party with a difference in Brisbane, entitled ‘Brisbane to our CORE’.

Our role was as a partner in the organization and delivery of this two-day program.

Firstly, our Conferences & Events department worked closely with Icon in the professional conference organization for its staff delegates on the Saturday afternoon. The delegates were fresh for what you could call the more traditional component of a conference program.

Secondly, we presented an amazing Christmas party experience for over 500 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on the Saturday night. The delegates were excited and ready for a social networking experience after the conference component during the day.

Thirdly, our Team Building department then gave Icon another memorable and rewarding experience on the Sunday. Staff from Icon were split into teams and participated in what was named the ‘Charity Scramble,’ which provided everyone with a fun glimpse of Brisbane as a destination in a charity-focused team building program.

The delegates responded positively to a fun, adventure-based activity, particularly as it gave them an opportunity to explore the city and contribute to a very worthwhile cause.

The teams in the ‘Charity Scramble’ built 20 wooden toys which were presented to 20 kids and their families from Camp Quality at the end of the program, providing a truly memorable and rewarding experience for all involved.

For the client, Icon, the two-day program provided an experience beyond their expectations and the feedback from staff across its various business units was overwhelming.

In her regular blog, Cathie Reid, Managing Partner of Epic Pharmacy Group, commented…

“The theme for the weekend was ‘Brisbane to our Core’, recognising that the Icon, ROC and Epic businesses all commenced their operations in South East Queensland, and we had a lot of fun sharing the best of Brisbane with our team mates from other locations around the state and country.”

In conclusion, Ms. Reid shared her team’s final experience of the weekend—the opportunity to build and give toys to children from Camp Quality…

“The joy on the children’s faces was absolutely beautiful to see, and lots of tears were shed as people saw a weekend which had been filled with so much Christmas cheer expand to an even greater level.

“With all of the business units having a purpose-related value committing to the delivery of exceptional cancer care, being able to incorporate support for an organisation that is all about creating a better life for kids living with cancer, was the perfect way to conclude.”

There is often no better way to provide tips and advice to others then by showcasing a case or example which others can learn from.

The ‘Brisbane to our Core’ event was a great showcase of how you can stage a staff conference and feature other team building elements such as an evening function and fun activity focused on corporate social responsibility.

Author: Evie Coles is a freelance business writer and she writes for many business blogs. She writes this article on the practical experience of Corporate Challenge Events a leader in the delivery of incentive programs, corporate events and team building activities in Australia and New Zealand. Find her on Facebook and Google+.