There are many ways to make staff events more engaging and, ultimately, more effective. Add a twist, say experts, but keep it simple.

People often try to do too much when it comes to innovative staff events, says Kendra Court, president of Gatherings Event Planning in Toronto. To keep your project on track, she says, first identify the reason you’re holding the function. “If you don’t really know why you’re throwing this event,” Court says, “you can really run into difficulties.”

If your goal is simply to build staff morale and energize your events and meetings, try some of these creative ideas:

> Add a little magic
Magic isn’t just for children’s birthday parties anymore. A magician can add colour to your next staff meeting, says Court, whose company has arranged for a magician to serve as guest speaker a firm’s regular company meetings. The magician reads the dry business material, inserting magic tricks throughout, to ensure everyone is paying attention and make the meeting fun and engaging for employees.

> Unconventional Dining
Revitalize a traditional function like a dinner party by trying venues that offer unusual experiences. For example, Court suggests, consider a unique restaurant such as O.Noir (a franchise with locations in Montreal and Toronto), where participants eat in the dark and the servers are all legally blind, which can put an interesting spin on a traditional team-building event.

> For a change …
If you always use the same venue, try a new location to make the next staff event interesting. You don’t have to leave town, finding a new place to hold the event can give an annual meeting or party a good change of pace, says Jennifer Britton, president of Potentials Realized, a coaching and training firm in Toronto. Try a themed restaurant or one with an inspiring view.

> Stretch it out
Incorporate physical activity into your next in-house staff meeting to re-engage team members. Instead of a usual coffee break, for example, invite a yoga instructor to lead the team in a 10-minute “company stretch.” Says Court: “It’s really important to engage the audience and get them active.”

> Keep it relevant
In the end, make sure the event strikes a chord with employees. When planning your next event, Britton says, think about creating something that is meaningful and relevant.

IE