Office tournaments are an excellent way to improve morale, build team relationships and add some fun to the workplace. And whether you are playing a ping pong battle, a Mario Kart race, a trivia match, or even a fantasy football league, hosting a work tournament can create friendship and bring some healthy competition to the day-to-day.
But where do you start when you are hosting one the first time? The creativity, organization and the right tools are needed to plan a successful office tournament. The following are some of the key guidelines to guide you to organize your first in-house office tournament that everyone in the office will be discussing over months.
1. Select the appropriate kind of Tournament
Fixing on the type of tournament to be conducted is the first step. You would like to choose something that would fit into your office atmosphere and interests of your colleagues. A few of the popular ones are:
- Video game competitions (e.g. Super Smash Bros, FIFA, Rocket League).
- Board games or card games
- Trivia contests
- Ping pong/foosball tournaments.
Bracket competition over anything – snacks, TV shows, and so on. March Madness-style bracket tournaments.
The trick is to select something which is inclusive and approachable. In case you do not know what your fellow workers like, you can give them a brief poll to aid you in your partnering.
2. Know Your Audience
All the people at the workplace will not be interested in engaging in a video game tournament or a marathon board game competition. Take into account the preferences and time of your colleagues. Ensure that the tournament is patterned such that all people, such as introverts, extroverts, gamers, and trivia lovers, feel welcome to participate in the fun.
Another thing to consider is the skill required. When there is a high learning curve about the game or activity, then a quick guide would be ideal or even a brief tutorial session before starting the tournament.
3. Think through the Logistics
Once the decision is made about the activity, nail the logistics:
- Venue: Will this be done in a conference room, break area or virtually?
- Schedule: This should be a period when it does not interfere with working hours. Friday afternoons or lunch breaks usually work well.
- Equipment: Check that you have all required equipment and it is operating properly (TVs, game consoles, markers, game boards and so on).
Rules: Make the rules simple, fair and clear. Put them on where everybody is able to see.
A proper plan will lead to the smooth running of things and minimization of confusion during the day of the tournament.
4. Bracket Maker Use Structure
Probably, one of the most difficult parts of hosting a tournament is a management of matchups and tracking of progress. This is where a Bracket Maker
comes in handy.
- A computer bracket manufacturer enables you to:
- Make single or double-elimination brackets.
- Live track monitoring and tracking.
- Randomize matchups fairly
- Provide participants with share results.
Not only will time be saved but also your tournament will have a professional and organized touch when using a bracket maker. Numerous bracket builders are free and customizable, and you can add team names, logos and game times. And it also gives the participants something interesting to watch.
5. Keep It Inclusive
Competition is enjoyable, but the purpose of an office tournament must be to encourage co-worker spirit, not segregation. Ensure you get everyone motivated to participate, even those people who may not be competitive as their nature.
You can do this by:
- Forming teams rather than individual players in order to encourage collaboration.
- Facing a comforter bracket or wildcard rounds.
- Adding fun rounds (e.g. trivia or guessing) to the eliminated players.
And consider giving out such modest prizes or awards, not only to winners, but also to such classifications as the Best Team Spirit or the most innovative Strategy.
6. Market the Event internally
The greatest well thought tournament may fail because no one knows about it. Ensure advance excitement is created by:
- Sending calendar invitations and email reminders.
- Producing an online poster or an announcement in Slack.
- Providing trailers or samples of the activity.
- Finding the department champions to promote participation.
You may even think of doing a count down to tournament day or placing a leader board in a shared place to create anticipation.
7. Promote healthy Competition
Even though it is all right to be competitive, remember to promote good sportsmanship and good environment. It is okay to be lighthearted with the trash talk, but ensure that they are respectful. Think about having someone be an emcee or host whose role is to maintain the energy and to dispel tension.
Keep in mind that it is not about fame, but fun. An easy mood means that the individuals will be returning to latter events.
8. Serve Snacks (Where State Allows)
Snacks and beverages go a long way to provide a party mood. When your tournament happens during or after lunch, it is worth planning pizza or coffee or other easy snacks. On a tight budget, it only takes a few bags of popcorn or a bowl of candy to make it feel more festive.
9. Feeback on the Post Tournament
As soon as your tournament is over, spend a few minutes to request the participants to provide feedback to you. What did they enjoy most? How would you have done it differently? Take a brief survey or gather informal complaints.
The experiences gained on your first event will guide you on improving the next one and it will also create a culture of fun and involving office tournaments.
10. Not only the Winners but everyone Celebrate the Winners
Be sure to reward the winners (perhaps with a small trophy, gift cards or a celebratory shoutout at the following team meeting). You can also take the time to thank everyone and to note some of the enjoyable moments. Another thing that is always nice is to share photos, funny quotes or highlights in a recap email or newsletter to continue the good vibes.
Final Thoughts
The first one at the workplace a custom office tournament can seem like a huge job, but with some planning, with the necessary tools such as a Bracket Maker, and by prioritizing fun, it can be one of the most entertaining team building activities at your workstation. It is not just a game but an opportunity to bond with your colleagues, laugh and refresh with them. Go at it, then–put that bracket together, and get the troops mobilized, and start the games!
