For most companies in the Philippines, February signals the beginning of the planning and preparations for company summer outing and team building activities. Much like finding the right applicants that will fit the organization, a teambuilding facilitator must also have fitting qualities. 

Here are five tips to finding a team building facilitator that is right for your organization:

1. FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN MAKE IT FUN

Keep in mind two things: First, what may be fun for one person may be boring for another. Second, props and facilities make up only about 30% of the fun factor.

Check that your facilitator is an engaging, intuitive host that can liven mechanics up so games seem fresh and challenging for any age, generation, or personality trait. This way, if for any reason something goes wrong with the facilities, or there's a sudden downpour,and you end up in a wide patch of basement parking, you're stil sure every single one in the group is going to have insane, unconventional fun.     

2. SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS YOUR OBJECTIVES 

Of course, the number one objective for team building activities is to be a fun, getting-to-know-others-better kind of event. But this doesn't mean it can't also include a couple of takeaway lessons for employees to apply in the workplace. After all, you are paying out a sizeable sum to the facilitator. Might as well grab the added value.

Takeaway lessons are concepts we can learn from. Observe your workplace. Do you notice that employees need an opportunity to exercise initiative? Or perhaps many in the department want their team leaders to assert leadership more? A good facilitator should be able to build these objectives right into the fun and games -- easily! 

3. SOMEONE WHO "FEELS JUST RIGHT"

Third-party providers are armed with their own specially-trained forces for sales and marketing and they can blow you away with exciting ideas. Get to know the facilitators they represent. Listen to your gut. Ask lots of questions. Require stories to support the proposal. Have a whole panel sit with you at the table to ask a third round of questions. You'll want a facilitator that you can imagine building a a long-term working relationship with. You'll want one who will feel like a trusted partner, which will come in as a strong advantage on team building day, because almost always, there's a need for adjustments, changes, and responses to participants' reactions to the program. 

4. SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE PROGRAM DESIGN

Most third-party providers begin with a standard proposal to get things rolling. Once you've given them your objectives and preferences (eg. "Please don't put any wet activities in." or "Ten of us have heart conditions, so simmer down on the athletics."), see to it that the facilitator sends you a detailed proposal with a program design tailor-fit to the points you emphasized. Give feedback. Wait for a revision. This back and forth -- which should be good to go by the third document -- is an exercise in ensuring that the budget, activities, and event flow are based on your group's size, aims, and traits. This way, event day starts on familiar ground, connection is established, and adjustments (minor or otherwise) will be close to home. 

5. SOMEONE WHO WILL TELL YOU THE TRUTH 

Lastly, and most importantly, your facilitator should have the integrity to tell you what is doable and what is not.  There is no way that six to eight hours of team building activities will make a tension-torn team a harmonious, high-fiving unit by day's end. Given your objectives, your facilitator must be able to inform you what realistic output can be expected and what seeds of self-awareness and team effectiveness can be planted for continuous nurturing throughout the next months.