The ROPES Course at Butler School
We work with a couple of different team building providers in the area, and one thing we have noticed is the overwhelming popularity of ROPES Course programs among both youth and adults. Many teams seem to equate ‘team building’ with ropes challenge course programming, and there is definitely a great opportunity for teams to bond and build teamwork while engaging in a low and high ropes course event. The ROPES Course is only one tool... [Read More...]
Teams Benefit from Slowing Economy
A Slow Economy is Time for Business Process Improvement You’re probably thinking “How could anyone benefit from a slowing economy?” Well, this statement certainly needs clarification. Not every team will benefit from economic hardship. In fact, many teams will shrink (labor statistics are a blatant example of this sad reality) and many benefits will be cut. Managers and business owners are ‘tightening their belts.’ For... [Read More...]
Ten Characteristics of Authentic Leaders
Ten Characteristics of Authentic Leadership All of us have dealt with leaders, both effective and ineffective. Sadly, many of the people in charge are the latter. What are the skills and qualities that separate a good leader from a bad one? First of all, it is important to create a working definition for leadership. Leadership is a set of skills and qualities that helps to motivate individuals and groups toward a common goal. Leadership can come... [Read More...]
Making the Case for Team Building
Mouse Trap Trust Exercise Over the years I have had the good fortune of working with groups from a wide variety of fields and populations – from youth camps, schools and Scouts to NGO’s, small businesses and government agencies. The individuals who contact me to secure a team building program usually have a general idea of team building and often have a general goal of getting to know each other, enhancing interpersonal communication... [Read More...]
Teamwork vs Teamplay
Planning for an Effective Team Building Event When planning for a team building event, it is extremely important to know what your goals are. Is the program meant to be a stand-alone team energizer, or does your group have serious goals and critical outcomes? Is the goal teamwork or teamplay? Yesterday I ran a short team building event for 90 members of a local sorority. The event was part of their yearly kick-off, and the group had a great... [Read More...]
The NEXTeams Process
Foundational Trust Improves Team Performance I have a personal mission – something that I think everyone should take the time to define – and a large part of this mission is “to become a great facilitator for positive change.” In this quest for excellence, I have had to look outside of my own limited experience, and seek out the expertise of others. By learning what I can from other experts, I transform my own knowledge base into... [Read More...]
