Remote Teambuilding à la HRlab: Our Team Event in Essen

Arriving from All Directions

We kicked things off on Wednesday in a smaller setup. The Sales, Marketing, and Consulting teams arrived earlier in the day to use the time for our bi-monthly meeting. After intensive hours working on our HRlab roadmaps and product features, it was time for the relaxed part of the evening – and right on cue, the rest of the team trickled in from all over.

At 7:00 PM, we headed over together to L’Osteria at Kennedyplatz. Over giant pizzas and in great spirits, we could finally chat and arrive in peace – without a single screen between us.

Our Team Event in Essen: Coal, Currywurst & Traditional Bowling

Thursday: Off to the Mine!

Thursday started after breakfast with an absolute must-do in the "Pott" (Ruhr area): If you visit Essen, you have to understand the region's industrial roots. Our destination was the UNESCO World Heritage Site Zeche Zollverein (Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex).

Our 60-minute guided tour started at 11:00 AM. Since our team is international, it was clear: this had to be in English, too. To make sure everyone really took something away from it and could chat along the way, we split into two parallel groups.

The appetite we worked up led us straight to Bistro Schacht XII on the mine grounds. Uncomplicated food-truck style meals on the go were just right, as our team covers every diet from vegan to omnivore: alongside classic currywurst with fries, there were flammkuchen, pizza, and fresh vegan and vegetarian options.

Then it was time to take a breath and unwind at our own pace, with a few hours of free time before we would all gather again in the evening. After a short break back at the hotel, some of us took the opportunity to make a quick trip to Lake Baldeney near Essen-Werden. A stroll by the water and an ice cream on the go cleared our heads wonderfully.

Around 7:00 PM, we all came together again for the evening at a traditional local inn – which featured its own bowling alley (Kegelbahn). After dinner, a large roll-up door was simply opened to expand the room and reveal the alley. We competed in two teams across various games. While our throws got better and better as the night went on, unfortunately, no one managed to score a strike ("Alle Neune"). Since the alley was quite cozy for our group of nearly 30 people and not everyone felt like bowling, some simply relaxed, watched, and chatted. While my way home that night was conveniently short, the rest of the team caught the bus and train back to the hotel in the city center.

Friday: Artful Inspiration to Wrap Up & Heading Home

Friday morning meant: Breakfast, packing suitcases, and check-out. But before everyone boarded their trains or flights, we had one more dose of culture scheduled for 10:30 AM – a visit to the Museum Folkwang. Here, too, we enjoyed an excellent tour in two groups (German and English) – a great visual contrast to the industrial charm of the coal mine the day before!

Afterward, it was time to take a breath and say goodbye. At Essen Central Station, our paths parted once more: Back to Berlin and across Germany. What remains is a strengthened team spirit and lots of anticipation for next time!

My Takeaway: Joint Preparation and Mutual Consideration are Key

Sure, an event for around 27 people is a completely different logistical challenge than going on a city trip with eight people. But even as we continue to grow in the future, our days in Essen made it clear what worked particularly well for us during planning:

• Consider the group size: We quickly realized that not every restaurant can accommodate so many people at once. Even finding a traditional bowling alley with enough space for a group of this size was no easy task! And for the guided tours, splitting into two smaller groups was ideal to keep things personal and get everyone talking.

• Dose the local connection without pressure: Hosting team events in a team member's hometown adds a wonderful personal touch. However, it's important that no one feels pressured to play full-time "tour guide" or stand in the spotlight. A mix of local insider tips and free time for everyone is essential.

• Organize together: Just because the event took place in my hometown didn't mean I had to organize everything on my own. The HRlab team actively stepped in behind the scenes. Sharing the load takes a massive amount of stress out of the process.

• Schedule breaks & downtime: In-person days like these are wonderful for remote teams, but they are also intense! Having enough free time in between to catch your breath whenever you feel like it was crucial. Just as important is letting everyone set their own pace – whether that means going to sleep early, bowling late into the night, or having a nightcap at the hotel bar.