Team building day shouldn’t be “another day” that one simply checks off the company’s event calendar. It’s an important day that’s set aside to bring everyone together.
No matter how big or small, a company’s most valuable asset is its employees. Some businesses get so caught up in customer satisfaction and profits that they forget about the building blocks of their company.
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Benefits of team building
Have you ever encountered those slightly awkward moments where you bump into a colleague in say, the pantry, and find yourself fumbling to make small talk?
In the confines of an office environment, there’s always going to be an air of formality – you can’t be too casual.
What about grabbing lunch together? You may be able to bond with your immediate team or department over a meal, but maybe not the rest of the office.
Getting a day where the focus is on socialising with everyone else in the company can help improve connections between employees. Companies invest in team building to help foster these relationships.
Whether you have 10 or 1,000 employees, communication and camaraderie is important in a company running smoothly.
Team building bridges the hierarchy gap
Everyone wants to be heard and feel like they have value. Team building activities provide leaders a chance to talk to their colleagues in a more laid back setting, free from the normal constraints of the office.
A team isn’t a team if people don’t feel like they belong, or their contributions aren’t being appreciated.
Team building encourages open communication
Team building activities involve games that require teamwork, communication, and open-mindedness. When people are placed in a situation where they need to communicate, they’ll start to know and understand each other better.
Team building improves mutual understanding
Having a day off with your colleagues is the perfect time to address past conflicts, doubts, or unhappiness.
A platform like this can get people to open up and talk without reserve, leading to a better understanding of one another.
Team building promotes healthy competition
Many people think of competition in the workplace as a toxic, cut-throat culture. However, having a healthy competitive spirit can motivate the team to outperform themselves and reach greater heights.
Having open communication and a good understanding of one another can snowball into a healthy competition between departments and individuals.
Why charter a yacht for team building in Singapore?
If you’re having trouble thinking of team building activities or what vendors to engage for your next corporate event, why not consider having it on a yacht?
Chartering yachts for corporate events is a unique affair if you’re looking at team-building activities in Singapore – it’s more novel than hosting a dinner and dance in a hotel ballroom.
Why charter a yacht? Well, beyond the fact that it makes for a very memorable experience…
It’s a fresh venue for corporate events
Variety is the spice of life. If you’ve been holding your event in the same venue for a few years, perhaps you’d like a change of pace.
Sun, sea and sand are hardly things you’d expect to find in a corporate event, but that’s exactly what you’ll get in a yacht charter. Not to mention, everyone will be talking about it in the days that follow.
It offers a different experience
The last thing you’ll want people to feel in a team building event is boredom and disinterest. Team building days should be fun and refreshing.
A change of environment works wonders, and the same goes for such events.
You get to dress down
Singapore’s climate is not the most welcoming for formal office wear. On a yacht charter, everyone can dress down in more comfortable clothes such as t-shirts and shorts.
When the dress code is this laid-back, the atmosphere follows suit – it’s hard to be overly formal when everyone is trooping around in flip-flops.
Everyone ends up feeling more relaxed, and the event becomes more lighthearted.
Enjoy the unique setting
Chalets and beachside picnics are great, but imagine enjoying a can of beer on a yacht, while being surrounded by the ocean and enjoying the city skyline.
That’s definitely going to be something your attendees remember.
You can cater to all types of activities
Having the event onboard a yacht opens up all types of activities. You can have a miniature karaoke session, take a leisurely float in the ocean, or go exploring pristine beaches, devoid of crowds.
At Yachtly, we cater to all kinds of preferences. Whether you prefer to eat and relax on the deck, or dive into the waters and go snorkeling, we have something for you.
It’s value-for-money
Holding a team building event onboard a yacht in Singapore gives you a lot of bang for your buck. In one venue, there are already several amenities and different types of activities available.
From taking pictures to eating to water sports, chartering a yacht gives you an all-in-one experience.
You’ll be able to make full use of your budget and at the same time cater to everyone’s needs.
What are some of the amenities available for a team building experience?
Every yacht has a different selection of amenities to cater to the varied tastes of your attendees. Not every yacht will have the same selection due to their specific models, so it’s always good to check what is offered before booking.
The perk of booking with Yachtly is that we provide additional services. While some amenities are available onboard, please note that there are limited quantities. If you need extras, such as additional floats or water toys, let us know and we’ll do what we can!
In addition, we can also team you up with facilitators for your corporate event if you need help planning events and activities.
Bear in mind that if you want to engage facilitators, there will be additional costs, and it will also affect your headcount.
The more facilitators you engage, the less event attendees you can have, since each yacht is only able to accommodate a set maximum of people on board.
If you prefer to organise and facilitate your own activities on board, you can consider activities such as card games, charades, and even scavenger hunts.
Karaoke
There is something to be said about the bonding power of karaoke. It’s hard not to feel connected to someone, especially after you’ve discovered you both love singing the same songs together.
Most yacht charters come along with a karaoke sound system onboard. You and your colleagues can have the time of your life jamming to old school songs, or simply singing gibberish into the microphones when you collectively realise you don’t remember the lyrics.
Fishing
While fishing is often regarded as boring and time-consuming, if you’re fishing together with your colleagues, the boredom factor is noticeably reduced. Besides, there’s nothing quite like catching your own fish for dinner.
Most yachts offer a few fishing rods. If you think you’ll need more of them, feel free to request them from us.
Banana boat
It’s a banana inflatable boat that can fit up to 4 people. You couldn’t ask for more, really. Feel the splash of water with your colleagues as you get towed by a jet-ski!
Kayaking
Kayaking is an old school camp activity that inculcates team spirit. Whether you’re paddling in pairs or in groups of 5, everyone has to be in sync and communicate as you row.
To spice things up a little, you could even hold a mini racing competition.
Snorkelling
Outdoor team building activities in Singapore don’t always have to be done in big groups.
Snorkelling can be enjoyed alone or with your colleagues. Gather a few colleagues and explore the underwater environment together. Remember to take lots of pictures too!
Flying fish
Flying fish is a water sport where passengers can… well, ‘fly’.
Perfect for adrenaline seekers, the float is towed by a speed boat. Similar to how one would fly a kite, once there’s enough momentum from the speed boat, the float will rise and ‘fly’.
Jet Skiing
Jet-skiing and thrill-seekers are a match made in heaven. You can team people up into groups of 2 or 3 to have a mini jet ski race.
Inflatable floats
And lastly, for the laid-back, their idea of a perfect activity is grabbing a drink and relaxing on an inflatable boat.
Get your tan on or play some card games with your colleagues on it. Just make sure not to drop the cards into the sea!
What else can I do onboard during the team building?
Here are some other things you may like to consider apart from renting water toys.
Barbeque
We can’t forget food, can we? A delicious meal presents the perfect opportunity to bond with each other.
Not only do we offer barbeque services, but the yacht’s crew will also help grill your food as you sit back and relax.
You and your colleagues can skip the hassle of setting up the fire and perspiring from fanning the flames.
Take the chance to sit around, unwind, and socialise.
Photo/Videographers
When you’re having the time of your life, you’ll want to keep those memories to look back on.
So, why not hire a photographer who will take photos of everyone having fun?
We can hook you up with professional photographers and videographers who will capture every fun-filled moment – you can then share it on your company social media and be the envy of everyone around.
Card games
Got a card game or board game you think your colleagues will enjoy? Bring it on board!
There’s more than enough space on the yacht for you and your colleagues to sit around to play some games.
Cards Against Humanity
If you don’t already know, the aim of this game is to play your cards and be the funniest you can with the options you have.
One player will ask a question from a black card, and everyone else answers with their funniest white card. And as its website states, the game “is as despicable and awkward as you and your friends”.
What better way to learn more about your colleagues through some laughter and embarrassment?
But really, this game is just for laughs. Don’t take any of your colleagues’ answers too seriously.
We’re Not Really Strangers (WNRS)
While WNRS is less like a game, it’s an activity that empowers meaningful connections with your peers.
The game box consists of question cards, all of which probes the player to answer truthfully.
For example, a card may ask “Think of someone you admire. Why did you choose this person?” or “What is your first impression of me?”.
Sharings like these allow for colleagues to understand one another better, and thus tightening bonds in the workplace.
If you still have no idea what to plan for your team building event, don’t worry. We’re able to hire professional facilitators to plan and execute the activities onboard.
This way, you can just focus on getting ready for d-day and leave the rest to us!
Tips for a successful team building event
Regardless of where you’re holding the event, the goal of team building is to foster stronger bonds. The list of activities we’ve suggested is ideal to create an intimate team building day.
Here are some bonus tips to organise a team building event.
Set goals for your corporate team building
The goals depend on the situation of the company. It could be as simple as knowing everyone’s name or fostering communication and teamwork throughout the event.
If your company is facing many challenges, it’ll be ideal to resolve them as soon as possible.
Some of these challenges may include inter-departmental conflicts, misunderstandings, or low productivity rate.
While it’s easy to assume your colleagues are unreasonable or inefficient, take the time out to sort things out with them.
Arrange the work schedule
When the entire company takes leave for a day, it’s important to reschedule meetings, deadlines and whatnot.
Giving your colleagues enough time to make arrangements is important. You wouldn’t want your colleagues feeling stressed out during a relaxing event.
Novelty is key
Because that’s what gets everyone excited.
Skip playing traditional games from your secondary camp days or reusing a venue for the third consecutive year.
Everyone loves something fun and different, and that’s one key reason why you should charter a yacht this time.
Plan a programme
At Yachtly, we offer several facilities, services, and planned itineraries.
Especially for big companies, it’s advised to plan a programme that caters to everyone.
This includes knowing how many water sport toys to rent, additional services to request, and the overall timeline of the cruise.
Picking the right yacht for your team building experience
Finding an ideal yacht is no different from finding your desired event venue.
Yachts are usually customised to meet the needs and preferences of their owners. This means that every yacht comes in different designs, serve different purposes, with different sets of rules to observe.
Each yacht has its own set of features. Certain yachts can accommodate more people on board, making them great for larger companies that plan to have a bigger event.
Others are more trimmed down and sleeker in profile, which makes them ideal for long-distance cruising.
You’ll need to factor in several things:
Budget
Before anything else, you need to figure out how much budget you have or how much you’re willing to spend.
Number of people
Depending on the size of the yacht, the amount of people you can bring on board is limited. Certain yachts may also be unsuitable for specific demographics.
For instance, pregnant women and the elderly may want to refrain from chartering superyachts, while children may require extra safety and supervision.
Activities
For instance, if you’re planning on an event with colleagues who love watersports, you may want to consider renting extra water toys.
On Yachtly, you can get either monohull (single-hull) or catamaran (twin-hull) yachts.
Catamaran
A catamaran yacht consists of two hulls joined by a frame. These are some of the key characteristics of catamaran yachts:
- One of the most stable yacht types, suitable for the young and elderly
- More spacious living quarters
- Less susceptible to wave action, which makes it easier to walk around when the yacht is moving
- Those who are prone to seasickness will fare better on catamarans
Monohull
Monohull yachts, as their name implies, are yachts with a single hull. Here are some of the key attributes of monohull yachts:
- Highly manoeuvrable
- Sails through water effortlessly
- Good for those who are adventurous
Yachts recommended for your team building event
Here are some popular yachts that we recommend, depending on your intended group size.
| Boat | Lagoon 620, JYOHANA | The Clipper Heritage, No Name One |
| Fits up to | 37 guests | 18 guests |
| Length | 62 ft | 45 ft |
| Good for | Corporate events, solemnisation, birthday parties | Family gatherings, graduation trips |
Larger events
For large gatherings, we recommend the Lagoon 620, JYOHANA, which can accommodate up to 37 guests. At 62 ft, this is one of the largest yachts we offer.
Its open-plan saloon, alfresco dining options and a stupendous amount of outdoor space make it ideal for any corporate events.
The Lagoon 620 is also fully air-conditioned, and sun pads and a bimini top (a type of shelter for the yacht) are also available at the upper level.
Smaller events
For smaller events, The Clipper Heritage, No Name One can accommodate up to 18 guests at a time, which makes it perfect for more intimate outdoor team building activities. There are amenities such as kayaks, snorkels, fishing rods and water trampolines.
If you need more information regarding renting a yacht, you can check out our FAQ here. Feel free to contact us for event planning as well.
Planning to charter a yacht for your team building day? Here’s what you need to know!
