Teamwork or winning: choose rules that suit your aim
The format of a team activity helps shape how colleagues work together. Points and a final ranking can create energy, while a shared task may lead to different conversations. First decide which behaviours you want to try out during the activity. These questions help you discuss the rules and prepare a programme for a team day in Diest.
State what the group should be able to practise
Write down what participants should do together during the task. This might mean sharing information, dividing tasks or explaining things calmly. “Good teamwork” becomes more specific when you name the behaviours you would like to see. Do not use the activity as a hidden assessment of individual staff members.
Also ask participants what they feel comfortable with. Some colleagues enjoy a competition; others find it easier to take part without a ranking. Give people room to express a practical preference. This lets you discuss in advance which format suits the group, without predicting the outcome of the activity.
Make it clear what earns points
If you choose a game with points, ask whether the system mainly rewards speed, accuracy or teamwork. Those three priorities can lead to different choices. A team focused on speed, for example, divides its attention differently from one that needs to formulate a sound answer together.
Do not change the rules of an external activity yourself. Ask the provider which formats and variations are available and what instructions the group receives. Visit Diest brings together local team-building options; its overview is a starting point for contacting the organiser, not a hotel package.
Describe a task without a winner just as carefully
A task still needs a clear ending even without a ranking. For your own exercise, you could agree that each team prepares a proposal with one choice, one risk and one follow-up question. The shared result is then visible without ranking teams from best to worst.
Explain who will lead the task and how people can take on a different role. If there is a presentation, also state how much speaking time each group has. If you would like to use a room for this, discuss the activity, materials and layout with the venue in advance; available meeting space does not automatically mean permission for every way of working.
Discuss the experience through questions about the approach
Afterwards, ask which agreement helped and where teams needed to adjust. Focus the review on the process: how was information shared, and who noticed that a task was unclear? Allow participants to see the same task differently.
If you would like to combine the activity with a meeting or hotel stay, create a programme with separate confirmations for each element. Prins Van Oranje assesses your request for a room, catering and accommodation. Agree on the availability and conditions of an external activity separately with its organiser.
Your practical checklist
- The desired teamwork behaviours have been identified.
- The scoring system or shared result is clear.
- The provider has confirmed any variations to the rules.
- The review asks about the approach, not individual scores.
Put your plans into action
Discuss your room or stay for the team dayAvailability, the full price and arrangements are confirmed before you agree. A request does not reserve a hotel room or function room.