Michelle and Chris look back and talk about this interesting year, sharing learnings, discoveries, podcasting and possibilities. Who could have ever imagined..... We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.com chris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERE Submit a comment or team building related question HERE Michelle Cummings - Training-Wheels.com Sign Up for Michelle's weekly Newsletter HERE Dr. Chris Cavert - OnTeamBuilding.com & FUNdoing.com Si...
Dec 30, 2020•24 min
Michelle & Chris continue (from Episode #30 about virtual engagement) with more ideas on how to increase engagement during processing with team building groups - this time they focus on engagement with face-to-face groups. Some of the keys: getting participants "warmed-up" to talking and "those who talk more first, talk more." We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.com chris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERE Submit a comment or team buildi...
Dec 23, 2020•16 min
Michelle and Chris talk about strategies and tools for increasing participant engagement in processing sessions during virtual team building programs. Some key points: What are the expectations you are setting around engagement - for yourself and your group? And, does your group understand your expectations. Are you using a variety of methods to process experiences? What processing tools are you using inside and outside of ZOOM? We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.com chris@ont...
Dec 15, 2020•21 min
In Episode #26, Michelle and Chris talked about the three kinds of programs they choose to offer their clients - Team Bonding, Team Building and Team Development. In this episode Michelle and Chris share the types of activities they consider for each kind of program. During a needs assessment we (team builders) like to uncover our client's goals and objectives for a program - this helps us offer the right experience for them. Then, once we have the kind of program in mind, we can break down the ...
Dec 01, 2020•21 min
Paul Cummings from Strategic Adventures joins Michelle and Chris to talk about marketing adventure programs and how we can leverage our facilitation skills in our marketing efforts. Paul shares his experience with needs assessments, promoting the value we bring to our programs, the importance of video messages and delivering on promises. We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.com chris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERE Submit a comment or team...
Nov 17, 2020•22 min
Michelle and Chris talk about some of the important aspects of needs assessments. There is a lot to think about and include in your information gathering. You want to make sure you are able to understand your clients needs so you can put together the best possible program to meet their expectations. We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.com chris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERE Submit a comment or team building related question HERE Michell...
Nov 10, 2020•20 min
In this episode you'll find out how Michelle and Chris describe the three different types of 'team' programs they offer to potential clients. When we are clear about the programs we offer, we are more intentional about our outcomes and are better able to meet the needs and expectations of our participants. We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.com chris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERE Submit a comment or team building related question HERE ...
Nov 03, 2020•20 min
Michelle and Chris start a conversation about team building with younger groups. Chris shares that it's more about 'cooperative' activities and introducing younger populations to concepts like being kind and safe and being willing to share and help others when needed (as promoted by MacPhee Bower in her book, Adventure Play) . Michelle likes to offer younger groups the opportunity to explore feelings and identify ways the whole group can be successful as opposed to only some success. You'll also...
Oct 27, 2020•15 min
Michelle and Chris share ideas about keeping your programming fresh. It all starts with mindset. Even if you are 'locked in' to certain programming sequences (doing the same activities), you can get into a mindset of excitement and energy. Because, as we know, we never know what can happen! With a mindset of freshness, you can also revive old activities and make them new again, go browse around your favorite 'prop' stores or get together (in person or on ZOOM) to share ideas that will spark the ...
Oct 20, 2020•18 min
Michelle and Chris share a few of their favorite, super-versatile, portable team building elements. Different from team building activities that can be done with or without props and where players keep their feet on the ground, elements are built structures that add to the complexity (and interest) of the task. Often times challenge course elements (low elements) will also require the participants to leave the ground within a manageable spotting distance. So, how do you take some of these low el...
Oct 13, 2020•17 min
Michelle and Chris discuss their considerations about how long to stay with ice-breakers and name games, problem-solving activities and processing sessions. With time, we find out how to watch our groups for changes in energy, signaling the need for something different. It could be staying with the activity but simply adding something to it to re-energize the group. It could be time for a check-in to find out where the group is at and what they need. It could also mean moving on to another activ...
Oct 06, 2020•20 min
In this episode, Michelle & Chris sit down with Angela Sebaly - Michelle's business partner in Personify Leadership . She shares with us her journey through traditional training and development into the experiential applications of training. We also find out about Angela's and Michelle's Personified Leadership training program - how it grew as a face-to-face experience and how it's evolved into including the virtual training course. We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.com c...
Sep 29, 2020•33 min
Michelle and Chris share six additional team building activities you can lead while safely distancing participants. This is a primer for Chris' workshop on Sept. 28th 2020, covering a wide range of safely distancing activities. If you are reading this before the 28th, find details HERE If you are reading this after the 28th, find the complete assets package HERE We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.com chris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERE...
Sep 22, 2020•20 min
In this episode, Deb and David share their recent experiences team building face-to-face while safely distancing with participants. They tell us about coordinating with stakeholders, the preparations they made, the activities that worked for them (and the ones that didn't work) and some of their biggest learnings. They are out there proving that we can bring people together again face-to-face by carefully preparing for programs and working together, as a facilitation team, to manage the potentia...
Sep 15, 2020•27 min
Michelle & Chris share some advice about putting a price tag on virtual team building programs. Pricing virtual programs does not have to be much different than face-to-face programs. Two major considerations: Contact hours and 'development' fees. Advice: If six hours of face-to-face programming is $400 for a group of 12, contract three two-hour sessions for $400 (since the consensus is, two hours is a good timeline for an online session. Advice: If you have to spend more than an hour develo...
Sep 08, 2020•24 min
Just prior to this episode, Michelle had the opportunity to lead an activity training for 18 participants - teaching them how to lead some of the activities in her Table Top Team kit. As a way to contribute some data about programming while safely distancing, she shares with us what she thought about prior to leading the training, some of the activities she led and some of the procedures she followed during the training. Available links to the resources shared will be provided in the Show Notes ...
Sep 01, 2020•20 min
In this episode, Michelle and Chris share five activities teachers (and team builders) can do to start building strong community connections in classrooms, and online, while safely distancing. Creating a safe environment to learn and grow is important. " Without relatedness, no work can get done ." " The more we know about each other, the less likely we are to hurt one another. " These are two quotes shared during the episode that highlight the fact that communities (classrooms and teams) of peo...
Aug 25, 2020•19 min
As a follow-up to the last episode, where Michelle shared her writing process, Chris shares his writing path, the folder method and productive writing tips. He never intended to be a 'writer' - his adventures simply started with providing handouts and resources for workshop participants 'back in the day' (the, go-to-the-print-shop-and-make-the-books-yourself-pubishing method). He never sought a publisher, one approached him. He collaborated on all but one of his 16 books and he supports neo-publ...
Aug 18, 2020•20 min
In this episode of the 'Ask' podcast, Michelle shares her writing process. She has written both non-fiction ( A Teachable Moment and more...) and fiction (her novel, The Reel Sisters ). In both genres Michelle tells us how she goes from the idea to a book in hand following a similar path. Michelle talks about the power of collaborating with other authors and going solo. (Spoiler - she loves collaborating with others.) Then, whether collaborating or going it alone, there is the 'writers retreat' ...
Aug 11, 2020•17 min
Michelle & Chris talk with Dr. Amy Climer about how to create meaningful experiences online. Amy has been delivering online experiences long before the rest of us were 'forced' into the virtual space. After receiving a flood of requests for help in the online space, Amy created a course, ' Leading Engaging Virtual Meetings ' (including Trainings and Webinars) to help with the growing demand. In this episode, we learn about the three keys to creating an engaging online experience, some tools ...
Aug 04, 2020•21 min
In Part 2 of this three-part series about What's Working for Team Builders Online, Michelle specifically shares Five Tips for Delivering Virtual Keynotes or Playnotes and a few of her go-to activities. Chris also shares some of his successes online and his favorite activity that can be led with any size group at the same time - no breakout rooms required. Virtual team building programs work. Plan with outcomes in mine, remember the basics, know the software and keep participants active. In Part ...
Jul 28, 2020•25 min
We've had several questions lately asking us about what's working online for team builders. In Part 1 of a three part series to address this question, we invited our good friend John Losey to help us with some answers. John has been a vital part of our online team building learning experiences and has helped dozens of other online team builders learn and grow. John tells us about starting with a positive and realistic mindset - "The skills that make us good face-to-face team builders do not nece...
Jul 21, 2020•23 min
In this episode, Michelle and Chris discuss their past and current experiences with using blindfolds. When using blindfolds (within a common mental model), we can awaken other senses, we learn to rely on and trust others to take care of us and we share common experiences. Not using blindfolds (e.g., during 'trust-building' activities) gives us instant choice and holds us accountable for what we need - we can try to be without sight, but we can change our minds in an instant. (And, what predicate...
Jul 13, 2020•14 min
In this episode, Michelle and Chris discuss their experiences with physically distancing during a team building activity training with local (Colorado) team builders. " It wasn't as easy as we thought it would be! " was the overall consensus. Michelle and Chris share their preparations for the training, some activities that can be set up before participants arrive and a variety of activities that can be done (after setting up distancing norms) while physically distancing. The biggest take-away f...
Jul 06, 2020•20 min
In this episode, Michelle and Chris share another processing model (a follow-up from last weeks episode) that is easy to learn and leads to effective transfer of learning. Chris, specifically shares how he uses it to build empathy for behaviors that surface during group work. This model also encourages the use of 'closed-ended' questions and 'why' questions as a way of leading-to-learning. (These types of question are okay to ask! How you ask them is the key.) The current resource discussed in t...
Jun 29, 2020•18 min
In this episode, Michelle and Chris share some thoughts about using the, What? So What? Now What? processing model. Find out about: Where the model originated (a Historical overview) How they were first introduced to the model Some tools that work well with the model, and One way the model has evolved We hope you join us! Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERE Submit a comment or team building related question HERE Michelle Cummings - Training-Wheels.com Sign Up for Michelle's week...
Jun 22, 2020•20 min
Pairing up participants is one of the primary skills of a team builder. In this episode, Michelle and Chris share some of their favorite pairing practices: Handshakes (check out THESE VIDEOS ) Back-to-Back Using Playing Cards & Distributing the Cards Using ' Rhyming Words ' Puzzle Hog Call Cards , the FUN Stretch Compound Words (& Building Trust) Dominos (& Onimod) Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERE Submit a comment or team building related question HERE Michelle Cu...
Jun 15, 2020•16 min
In this episode, Michelle and Chris give advice on how to enhance your facilitation skills with additional professional development. Learn About: Finding a Mentor or Coach 'Play Days' with other Facilitators Conferences that are more specialized in facilitation Books to help grow your skills Blogs that focus on facilitation CEU's and higher education degrees Online courses Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERE Submit a comment or team building related question HERE Michelle Cummin...
Jun 08, 2020•19 min
In this episode, Michelle and Chris explain how to lead five different community connection activities that can take less than five-minutes to play. Perfect for helping your team know each other a little better and a great way to get the brains warmed up for the meeting ahead. Learn About: The Ice Breaker Question Exchange Name Letter Opener Spot It & Ubuntu Cards Image Card Stories Conversation Starter Buttons Great ways to practice 'connection before content' - when we know more about each...
Jun 01, 2020•15 min
In this episode, we're learning from Michelle about her recent experiences creating, training and leading team building activities virtually. She admits her slow adoption (i.e., resistance) to team building online and then shares how she eventually embraced the challenge and "...now, dare I say, I'm energized by it and actually enjoying it." Her journey (over less than two months) rolled out in stages - 1) how do we 'tweak' activities we know for the virtual world, 2) once we learn the tech, how...
May 19, 2020•20 min
