Last Friday night, our recently formed Social Club hosted Book Hero's second Board Game Night here at HQ. Alastair did an amazing job on the BBQ, serving up delicious burgers, while Roopa and Shirl made sure there was no shortage of drinks and snacks.
The first Board Game Night was so memorable that a second one felt inevitable. This time around was especially fun because it was the first since our newest Hero, Duncan, joined the team. It turns out Duncan is a keen gamer and is already very comfortable giving his manager, Cam, a hard time. It didn't take long for the rest of the Burns family - and indeed most of the team - to join in.
Board games quickly break down the natural barriers that exist in a workplace and between teams. During a normal workday, it's easy to only interact with the people you work most closely with. Around a board game table, those usual groups disappear. New teams form, people work together, compete against each other, and form new friendships with colleagues they might not otherwise get to know particularly well.
Board games also reveal completely different sides of people. Someone who is normally quiet or reserved suddenly becomes fiercely competitive (hello Amy!). Someone else reveals an unexpected talent for strategy, negotiation, bluffing, or problem-solving. It's also a leveller, a chance for people to be a little vulnerable, try something new, and show off some hidden talents that have nothing to do with their current role.
Most importantly though, it's a chance to laugh together! No looming deadlines. No orders to ship. No emails to reply to. Just good people enjoying each other's company. Lizzy, Tim and Alex all commented to me afterward how special it is to work with people you genuinely enjoy spending time with.
If you're looking for a team-building activity, I'd highly recommend giving board games a try. They're inexpensive, easy to organise, work for groups of all sizes, and unlike something passive such as going to a movie, they encourage people to genuinely interact. Whether you choose cooperative games or fiercely competitive ones, the banter, teamwork, and shared experiences happen naturally.
As our team continues to grow, and Book Hero gets more complex, creating opportunities for us to get to know each other as people becomes increasingly important. The friendships, trust, and shared memories built during nights like these inevitably make their way back into the workplace too. I love seeing how special Book Hero has become to our customers, and nights like Friday remind me that the people I get to spend my days with here at HQ are the reason it's become so special to me as well.
We'll definitely be hosting another team board game night again soon.
