How to arrange a successful kick-off

What makes a successful kick-off?

A good kick-off should bring colleagues together, create engagement and provide a clear direction for the period ahead. The programme should therefore strike a good balance between professional content, participation, breaks and social activities.

Here are some of the most important things to consider when planning the day.

Start with a clear purpose

Before putting the programme together, you should decide what you want to achieve.

Are you presenting a new strategy, marking the start of a new year or semester, bringing employees together after a period of change, or strengthening team spirit within the organisation?

A clear purpose makes it easier to choose the right content, activities and format. It also helps participants understand why they are there and what they should take away from the day.

Vary the sessions and formats

The professional programme could include presentations, panel discussions, interviews, workshops or short talks from different parts of the organisation.

Try to avoid scheduling too many long presentations in a row. A varied programme makes it easier to maintain participants’ attention and can bring more energy into the room.

It can also be useful to involve participants through questions, discussions or short tasks. The activities should be clearly connected to the purpose of the day, so that they feel like a natural part of the programme.

Allow time for breaks and conversations

Breaks are an important part of the day. Participants need time to recharge, talk to one another and reflect on what they have heard.

New ideas often emerge during informal conversations, and colleagues who do not usually work together have an opportunity to get to know each other better. Try not to fill every available minute of the programme.

Food and drinks can also help create natural opportunities for people to meet. A shared lunch or dinner gives participants time to talk in a different setting from the professional programme.

Finish with a social activity

A social conclusion can provide a natural transition from the professional programme to a more informal part of the day.

This could include dinner, entertainment, music, activities or light refreshments. The best option will depend on the organisation, the participants and the purpose of the kick-off.

The social programme should be inclusive and suitable for participants who may not want to attend a late or extensive evening event.

Let the programme guide your choice of venues

The venues should support the content and the different parts of the day.

A larger hall may be suitable for presentations and plenary sessions, while smaller rooms can be used for workshops and group work. Later in the day, participants can move to a venue that is better suited to dinner, mingling or social activities.

At Sentralen, for example, a kick-off can begin with a professional programme in a conference hall, continue with activities in smaller rooms and finish with food and socialising on the rooftop terrace or in another of our venues.

This allows each part of the day to have its own setting, while the entire event takes place under one roof.

See how you can host your kick-off at Sentralen.

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