Team events are an integral part of how we work. They complement our digital day-to-day work and give us the opportunity to meet in person.
Our team event this year took us to Europa-Park for three days. In addition to workshops on strategic topics, there was plenty of time for shared experiences and conversations away from the daily work routine.
Why team events are an essential part of what we do
The majority of our collaboration takes place digitally – and that works very well in our day-to-day work. Projects are carried out together, we hold meetings online, and we make decisions across locations.
However, there are topics that benefit from personal exchange:
More dynamism: Strategic discussions often develop a completely different energy when everyone sits at the same table.
Holistic perspective: Ideas can be further developed together and different perspectives can be brought together more easily.
Truly getting to know one another: At the same time, team events offer the opportunity to get to know colleagues outside the project day-to-day – especially for team members who so far only know each other from video conferences.
In-person meetings meaningfully complement our digital collaboration. They enable conversations that often don't get enough time during the workday and strengthen the foundation for trusting collaboration.
How we design our team events
For our team event this year we came together at Europapark from various parts of Germany. For some of us it was even the first in-person meeting – a great opportunity to get to know each other outside of digital collaboration.
At our team events, it's not just the program that takes center stage, but the combination of professional exchange and shared time. This lets us move important topics forward together while also strengthening team cohesion.
Personal interaction at the center
To kick off our team event, a joint workshop was on the agenda. We focused on our mission, our company values, as well as the goals and priorities for the coming months. The personal exchange helped us to further develop ideas, include different perspectives, and set shared priorities.
How we combine work and shared experiences
The next day we all went to Europa-Park. Between roller coasters, shared meals and plenty of fun, the focus was on shared experiences and spending time together.
In the evening we had our cooking challenge. In three pairs we prepared a menu together — from appetizer to dessert. After shopping together we did a lot of chopping, cooking and laughing. Before we ate, each team briefly presented their course and the idea behind it. In the end we agreed: all the dishes looked great and cooking together was a lot of fun.
The day concluded with another workshop. We addressed open topics, gathered new ideas and discussed our next plans.
Back to work with fresh inspiration
Before we set off for home, we spent the last morning together once more at Europa-Park. A lovely finish to wind down our time together and enjoy the final hours with one another before our paths led us back to different parts of Germany.
My personal conclusion
The three days went by far too quickly. What stands out for me are the many small moments in between — at meals, during the cooking challenge, or in the conversations in the evening. It was precisely these shared experiences that made the team event so special for me.
The day at Europa-Park also showed me how naturally we support each other as a team. Some roller coasters took a bit of courage, but together it was much easier to step out of our comfort zones. It's this mutual support that I'll take back into our everyday work.
I'm already looking forward to the next team event.
#Europapark#Team building#Team event#Workshops