Signs Your Team Needs A Summer Social (And What To Do About It)

Every team has those moments. The ones where you look around the office - or the Slack channel - and think "we need to do something." But with everything else on your plate, it's easy to push it down the list until summer is over and the moment has passed.

So here are six signs your team needs a summer social. Be honest.

1. Your Last Team Social Was... You Can't Actually Remember

If you're struggling to recall the last time your whole team did something together outside of a meeting, that's a sign. Teams that don't socialise together don't gel together - and the longer the gap, the harder it gets to close.

A summer social doesn't have to be elaborate. It just has to happen. And happen properly.

2. Someone Asked "Do We Have To?" When the Last One Was Announced

This one stings a little. But if your team's reaction to a social event is reluctance rather than excitement, that's not a team problem - that's an event problem.

The right summer social changes that. An active, inclusive event built around your team gets a completely different reaction to "we've booked a table at the pub again." People look forward to something they've actually never done before.

3. Half the Team Don't Know What the Other Half Actually Do

In a world of remote working, hybrid schedules and back-to-back meetings, it's entirely possible for two people to work at the same company for a year and barely exchange a word. That's not good for culture, collaboration or retention.

A well-designed summer social - one with team challenges, competitive elements and shared experiences - fixes this faster than any team away day or all-hands meeting ever could.

4. Your Slack Has More Channels Than Actual Conversations

If the loudest channel in your Slack is the one where someone posts a meme every Friday, your team communication needs work. And the best way to improve how people communicate at work is to get them communicating outside of it first.

Real conversations, shared experiences and a bit of friendly competition do more for team communication than any workshop or training session.

5. The Words "Team Building" Were Met With a Visible Groan

We get it. Team building has a reputation problem. Years of trust falls, awkward icebreakers and events nobody wanted to be at have made people understandably sceptical.

But the groan isn't about team building - it's about bad team building. The Greatest Race, a city-wide scavenger hunt or a brilliantly hosted game show event gets a completely different reaction. Because when it's done right, people don't even realise they're doing team building. They're just having a brilliant time.

6. You're Reading This Post

If you've made it this far, something resonated. Maybe it was one sign, maybe it was all six. Either way - your team needs a summer social and you know it.

The good news? Summer is here, the weather is brilliant and we've got brilliant ways to make it one your team actually looks forward to.

What to Do About It

One brief to us and we handle everything - from the idea to the day itself. Active, inclusive summer events built around your team, your city and your culture. The Greatest Race, our Scavenger Hunt, branded summer parties and outdoor socials - all fully managed, all completely bespoke.

No pub garden required. Just fresh air, friendly competition and a team that comes back on Monday genuinely having connected with each other.

Ready to Sort Your Summer Social?

Get in touch today and we'll come back to you within two hours with ideas built around your team and your city.

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