There is something powerful about learning via sports metaphors because our brains are wired to make connections. Metaphors engage and help us understand concepts quickly. The world of sports is ripe with stories that exemplify leadership and teamwork. Dabo Swinney provides an excellent example of a coach who demonstrates leadership skills relevant to a leader in any field. In case …
Imagine this scenario: You are working with a senior leader who has been very “successful” in their role, meeting their goals, and objectives. This leader is driven to make a difference, really cares about their team, the business, and the customer, but something is off. Their team or peers are really struggling to work with him, and this misalignment is …
GUEST BLOGGER: Karla Brandau, Founder of Discretionary Effort Leadership, CEO of Workplace Power Institute On Monday morning, Dana, a team lead, was very excited about the week and what she hoped the team could finish. She walked through the office doors and hurried over to her team’s section of the floor. She noticed only one person working at a desk. …
Looking for an interesting outside adventure to do with your team? Try this Scavenger Hunt designed by Kathleen Kerr, the Director of Organizational Development & Training with MEMIC (Maine Employers Mutual Insurance Company). This will be ideal if your team is meeting for several days and you want to re-energize them outside. It will also be a great standalone activity …
On one of my first official team building gigs, I almost blew it. I designed an agenda to address the leaders needs but chose NOT to share it with the leader ahead of time. For some reason, I wanted the leader to experience the process fresh with the team. At the time, it seemed like a great idea. When the …
In what areas is your team excelling or struggling? This age-old question is constantly in the minds of leaders as well as team consultants who support them. Because the dynamics of a team are complex, it is useful to have a simple framework to evaluate the team. Without a framework, we might miss an important element or focus too much …
Sports teams have had mascots for a long time. A mascot in baseball was used as early as 1880 and intended to be a lucky charm for the team. Mascots are highly valued and often represent qualities a team aspires to develop. For more interesting facts and tips about mascots, check out this article. Creating a mascot for your business …
What I Wish I’d Known Are you thinking about hanging up your corporate hat and going out on your own? I’m often asked for advice from people who want to start their own private practice as a team consultant, facilitator or coach. So, I’m sharing with you my thoughts about what you’ll need in order to be successful as an …
Most teams want to feel connected with their colleagues. One way to build relationships is to facilitate a short icebreaker at the beginning of team meetings or even in the middle of a longer meeting. All you need is an interesting (and safe) question to learn new things about each other. Questions can be thought-provoking, reflective, creative, or funny. Choose …
Planting seeds is an excellent metaphor for many team activities. Seeds can represent opportunities, growth, change, and development. Rather than just talk about the metaphor, why not let your team experience planting real seeds. You will provide them with a sensory experience that will create a strong memory and reinforce the key theme you want to impart. As a bonus, …
