Team Building Treasure Hunts.5 Things Not To Leave Until The Last Minute.

By Tim Carter (Owner of Black Cat Treasure Hunts)

More often than not the person co-ordinating the schedule for the team building event or office awayday has far more pressing concerns than in which pub the brilliant treasure hunt you have booked is going to finish. I understand that and can decide for you. I also understand there is a deadline on the financial report and final numbers are needed `yesterday` for the hotel reservation. I will be there on the day of your treasure hunt to make everything go seamlessly and to give all your colleagues the impression that you were all over every bit of this time away. I will not give the game away that you resembled the duck which is serene and calm on the surface but paddling like crazy underneath!
I would not be doing my job properly though if I didn`t point out a few essentials that I would strongly recommend you decide upon in advance rather than waiting to until just before you introduce me to everyone.
Here are five key things to consider:
1. What is the purpose (or purposes) of your team building event/time away?
It could be as a thank you or congratulations to the team for a job well done. At the other end of the scale there could be some real difficulties in communication within the team and you are looking for a gentle way to bring this back on course. It could be a wonderful idea to find out more about your colleagues.
Maybe it`s an annual event combining discussion and presentations on how well the company is progressing with more lighthearted activities to provide balance and relaxation. Could it be you are down for a more formal conference and then looking for a team-oriented activity that keeps on message and brand.
Whatever the purpose is, it warrants its own discussion at the planning stage. Make it clear how you would like the treasure hunt to fit in to your plans.
2. What are you calling the time away?
Related to number 1. in a way in that you should consider and manage expectations. It sounds trivial when you mention this to start with, but is this a team building event, a conference, an awayday(week), a celebration, an incentive or the `annual event`? Closely aligned to this decision is to ensure you keep everyone aligned as to what to expect. Please (and this might just be a personal thing ha ha!) call the treasure hunt..a treasure hunt. A couple of times it has been kept as a secret and I feel that doesn`t really help. I prefer to build excitement.
3. Are you going to be hands on or hands off?
Either way I am happy, but like I referred to choosing a suitable place to finish at for the treasure hunt..don`t change your style at the last second. If you want the treasure hunt totally personalised with lots of information and photos relating to the participants...I can do that. If you want a special murder/mystery theme that incorporates the leadership team...I can do that too. If you`ve got enough on your plate and want me to decide everything...then that is absolutely fine as well. Don`t turn round as the last team sets off and say..."You know what, I think it would be best to finish back at the hotel after all!"
4. Choose or decide the teams in advance.
This is actually quite an important one. Do you want to purposefully mix up departments or people working on/off site? On the flip side is this going to be a full-on competitive event between departments. Is this just a bit of fun and you are going to draw team members names from a hat? Decide whether the composition of the teams is important or not. Well before Covid struck I had companies telling me that a Black Cat treasure hunt was a great way for people to get to know each other better than they had ever done in any previous event.
If you leave this to me or decide yourselves at the last moment then you are potentially opening yourself up to several types of criticism. It also saves a bit of time on the day too!
5. Points make prizes but how good will the prizes be?
I tend to make fun of the prizes (treasure) before the treasure hunt has even started but I do promise there will be prizes for all teams. Some companies are happy to go along with that style. Other companies will add a little something for the winners (bottles of wine or a trophy etc). On occasions you get a more generous company going `all-in` on prizes at a separate dinner event later on maybe. I prefer not to know about that side of things. What I do like is for clear direction/agreement on what will happen about prizes (people always ask!). On one occasion I was told by the liaison/organiser that I should not provide prizes. (so I didn`t buy any). Last question before the teams set off..."What`s the prize for winning?"  I had to cover quickly and said.. "For company honour and adding your success to a CV."  Although peolple laughed and took my response in the way it was intended,I was also glad that some kind soul bought some fun prizes (during the event) and saved an awkward situation!

Ready for action? Want to discuss a team building event with me? Great...contact me (Tim) on info@blackcattreasurehunts.co.uk  or call (01323)655346. Want to check if I have made all this good stuff up then check out my testimonials and Google reviews. Maybe you want to know what to expect at a Brighton teambuilding treasure hunt then check this previous blog.