Planning a team-building event may look simple since the guests are all co-workers. However, just because everyone knows each other doesn’t mean they should be given a mediocre experience. Since team-building is the time when employees get together, get to know each other, and appreciate everyone’s efforts for the success of the company.
So, aside from the venue, food, accommodations, and transportation, another essential thing that you should invest in is the event host. Usually, when you hire corporate event planners, they can introduce you to their partner host, but you can also look for others who fit the energy of the event.
In this article, we’ll discuss some tips on how you can find the best event host for your team-building.
1. They should have Relevant Experience
You can find a lot of great event hosts, but it’s best if you can consider their experience in hosting corporate team buildings. Besides, event hosts also specialise in different events. You can find those who are experienced in weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries. However, in your case, you should look for someone who has enough experience in hosting team-building activities. Usually, their hosting skills are professional yet engaging.
Once they’ve understood the concept, it’s easier for them to handle the transitions and maintain professionalism throughout the event.
2. Prioritise Energy and Charisma
Although professionalism is important in corporate events, you also need someone who can uplift the mood of the entire venue. You can ask for videos of their past team-building hosting and gauge how the host handles regular corporate event team-building.
Usually, it’s the energy and charisma of the host that captures the attention of the guests. Although a strong voice can also catch people’s attention, sometimes, they can’t maintain the energy and enthusiasm they give from the beginning of the event until the end.
3. Check Communication Skills
Aside from their natural charisma, a good team-building host also has great communication skills. It can be because of their experience and the seminar or training they’ve attended.
During the actual event, they should be able to rely on essential messages, explain the game rules, encourage everyone to participate, and exchange appropriate banter with everyone. Since there’s a variety of people in the audience, the event host should be able to adjust if the older generation can’t understand some terms used by the present generation.
4. Ability to Adapt and Think Quickly
Not every team-building goes as planned, but it doesn’t mean the whole event should be affected. When you hire a reliable and experienced event host, they usually can adapt easily and think quickly in case something unexpected happens.
For instance, there can be a delay in the programme due to technical difficulties, which happens most of the time. However, a good event host can keep the event going even without the tools. Since they’ve experienced it before, it’s also possible that they can help with fixing the technical difficulties because they’re usually savvy.
5. Make Sure They Understand Your Goals
The goal of the team-building event should be clear, and the event host should be aware of it. Although the main goal of team-building is often to create a better working environment and appreciate the hard work of the employees, there may be other, more specific goals that the host should be aware of, so that they can help make them possible.
In addition, by knowing the objectives and goals of the event, they can tailor their language and tone of voice when hosting. For instance, if you don’t want the team building to become too formal, you can ask them to crack some jokes and help the participants to be comfortable with participating in the games.
6. Look for References or Reviews
Aside from the resume and sample works, you should also ask for references, and don’t forget to read online reviews. Meanwhile, if you’re interviewing the host recommended by corporate event planners, it’s easier to access references and review since you’ll just have to ask the planners about the past clients of the emcee they’re recommending. From there, you can just cross-check with the companies and know how the host handles their events.
7. Discuss the Programme in Detail
During the interview or before deciding, you should discuss the flow of the event and ask them what they think about it. You can have a detailed conversation about what the host usually does in these types of situations, and they can provide a preview of how they usually perform. Don’t forget to ask questions related to the event, so that you won’t have any misunderstandings when the event day comes.
Final Thoughts
Hiring the right event host for your corporate team-building event is crucial in setting the tone of the event and the mood of the participants. By considering the tips listed in this article, you can easily find the right event host who can contribute to the success of the event.
