strengthening employee engagement now for 2023
blog: One size all doesn’t solve all
We often get asked what can be done to help foster staff engagement levels in a business and whether our team building sessions can stem the flow of staff departures. This article sheds some light on the answer to retaining talent.
The short answer is that our team building events alone are unlikely to discourage staff from leaving a company, but they will serve to foster a sense of purpose and meaning within a business, help unite a team behind a common goal and foster a culture for shared caring for others.
Our sessions will also serve to unite a group and deliver a sense of belonging, which is often a key missing ingredient and forms the basis of the all-important emotional attachment to a team, but they should not be the only tool a leader should use in their tool kit….
“The fall in staff morale is a real cause for concern, in particular in the numbers of staff who are considering leaving the workforce which has risen to just under a third (31%) since last year.” – Matthew Taylor
This quote may be unsurprising to you considering it was said by the Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation in response to the published results from their NHS staff survey, I would suggest that there are many close parallels to any member of the workforce and not just limited to people working in the field of medicine.
After the year that most people have all had, following two years of uncertainty, isolation, insecurity and upheaval, this is a time for settling your people, strengthening the bonds and celebrating getting to the end of the year.
As we truly emerge from the COVID pandemic era and have finally come to grips by and large with how to live in a post COVID world, it is time to renew the connections with our people and put a full stop on 2022.
Team building is but one such way of doing this and certainly it is not the silver bullet. The way in which leaders lead their people and managers manage their team is the real key to success. In the face of disruption, open communications and trust are vital antidotes to fear and uncertainty.
The murky world of staff disengagement
According to Gary Culverhouse in his article back in January that I will lean on heavily in this article along with statistics he included from Gallup, more than 40% of the global workforce were considering leaving their employers in the past year. The prospect of what has been called ‘The Great Resignation’ is indeed a frightening prospect considering the impact, cost and setbacks staff turnover bring.
As Gary highlighted, the key strategic step to preventing staff departures is building employee engagement as this is central to workforce productivity levels, stability and overall company performance.
The reverse of this Gary highlighted was that in the US for example, low employee engagement before the pandemic cost $US 500 billion a year! He reported that the equivalent figure for employee disengagement in Australia was $2 billion per annum and that absenteeism costs Australian employers in excess of $35 billion each year.
If this was not reason alone to foster staff engagement consider that:
- highly engaged workforces can increase a company’s profitability by 21%
- highly engaged teams sell 20% more.
- More than 80% of customers are retained by engaged workforces
- Highly engaged organisations have 41% lower absenteeism
- Disengaged workers have 49% more accidents
- Reversing the trend
So what are the solutions to stem the rising levels of staff churn?
- Managers account for 70% of engagement variance. Strong leadership is the key. Leading by example, inspiring respect and trust, truly listening to your people, giving a damn about them and doing what you can to address their needs and concerns.
- Internal comms motivate 85% of employees to become more engaged. Building connections through communications, sharing of information and simply keeping people in the light rather than the dark, are tenets to building engagement levels.
- Recognition is a prime motivator for 37% of employees. Who wouldn’t be a little motivated at least for being recognised, be that a promotion or a simple thank you. Any form of appreciation warms the heart and feeds the soul and yet managers and leaders are often bad at this and forget to “catch people doing things right.” I was told that the ratio for praise to feedback should be 4:1, so I should find ways to acknowledge and congratulate others four times more than giving criticism (of any kind).
- Company culture is a key factor for 46% of job seekers. As per the statistic reported by TeamStage in their ‘2022 Company Culture Statistics: Leadership and Engagement’ Report blog I believe that there is a fourth pillar around company culture and the sense of meaning and purpose that a company fosters in the workplace. And, in my opinion, what is true for job seekers will translate directly to existing employees.
One such platform to cultivate a healthy culture like this is in the way companies engage and support charities and offer individual and corporate volunteering opportunities for their staff to make a difference in the lives of others less fortunate than themselves. This sense of a higher and shared purpose, in my opinion, can provide a blanket of warmth, solidarity and connection to a team. This won’t make up for the failure of any company ion not addressing the top three solutions/areas, but it can go a long way to making up for them and when these three are in place, it can take team cohesion, unity and loyalty to a whole new level.
Now What?
We won’t know for sure until next year whether ‘The Great Resignation’ turned out to be as bad as many anticipated, but whether everyone’s fears materialise or not, the principle of focusing on building staff engagement levels holds true and should be adopted by leaders as good practice and the standard in business.
In any case, as Gary highlighted in his article, none of the solutions to building staff engagement and retaining employees are quick fixes and take continual commitment from leaders and their management teams to foster connections, listen and adapt solutions, but like all great road trips, you need to start somewhere and just start driving!
And special thanks to Gary Culverhouse for his 25/1/2022 blog on ‘Employee Engagement 2022: the statistics you should know’.
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Innovative Team Building Activities That Serve A Dual Purpose
At Team Building with Purpose, we tailor our workshops to suit your group's unique team building needs, whether that means championing your company values or referencing specific challenges your team are facing, we are ready and eager to accommodate your needs.
Our team building programs don’t just help you become closer as a working unit. Our clients can be assured that our activities will also serve a dual purpose of building greater empathy within your team and understanding of complex social issues, supporting some of the most important and life-saving charities across Australia. Whenever we host team-building events, 50% of the profits we take from all clients will be given to our partner charities, at least $500 plus GST for every event, so you can rest easy knowing your time, effort, and financial support is going to a good cause.
Here are three of our most innovative team building activities that serve a dual purpose.
Habitat For Humanity ‘Tomorrow Builders’
Our ‘Tomorrow Builders’ event is focused on creating a world where everyone can have a safe and decent space to live. In this thought-provoking session, your crew will have an opportunity to appreciate just how important each member is to each other and to learn how an extraordinary organisation like Habitat For Humanity functions, drawing parallels between building homes and high performing teams. You’ll also have an opportunity to take on the “Escape to Humanity Challenge”, working through real life dilemmas that people in poor financial situations face.
‘Tomorrow Builders’ event is run in partnership with Habitat For Humanity, a charity founded in September 1976 by Linda and Millard Fuller, after being inspired by a visit to Koinonia Farm, Georgia in 1965. At Koinonia, Jordan and Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centred on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses. Habitat for Humanity remains dedicated to ensuring everyone can have a safe and decent place to live, no matter their location or financial status.
By participating in this event, your organisation will help financially support a vital charity, and you and your crew will gain greater understanding of just how important it is to have a roof over your head, and discover greater insights into how intensely the housing crisis is affecting Australia and the Asia Pacific area.
Inspire Your Team!Get in touch with us today to inspire your team to greater heights!
Beddown ‘Dream Builders’
Our ‘Dream Builders’ team session is focused on supporting Australians living in rough conditions on the street or experiencing homelessness. During this team building session, your group will explore conditions of homelessness and just how quickly someone can fall into it, and gain an intricate understanding of how volunteers and charities are helping to address the crisis, and how your group can learn from them.
This event is delivered in partnership with Beddown. Beddown was founded in 2018 by Norm McGillivray. The organisation's explicit intention is to use the ‘Good Night’ initiative to provide overnight accommodation to those who are experiencing homelessness by activating or revamping underutilised spaces like car parks, empty backpacker accommodation, and vacant hotel rooms.
By participating in Dream Builders, not only will 50% of the net profit from your session go towards Beddown, but your group will also be helping those currently experiencing homelessness by building ‘Welcome Kits’ for homeless guests that Beddown regularly hosts, providing an opportunity to make a financial difference to Beddown and emotionally support people experiencing homelessness.
Raise Foundation ‘Mighty Mentors’
The ‘Mighty Mentors’ session is a charity event focused on supporting at-risk teenagers and high school students facing personal and mental health challenges. During a Mighty Mentors session, your group will learn the great value of mentoring, and discover new and practical ways to function better as a team.
‘Might Mentors’ is delivered in partnership with Raise Foundation. Raise Foundation is an organisation dedicated to improving young Australians’ mental health and providing them with mentorship to handle life's challenges. Many young Australians are struggling with anxiety, depression, bullying, or worse, and are not seeking help. Raise seeks to provide the most alone and vulnerable of our youth with durable, healthy practices they can keep with them for the rest of their life.
In addition to over 50% of our profits for your session going to The Raise Foundation, your team will also be creating ‘Jitter Kits’ of craft materials to help young people engage with their mentors in the program, providing a way for your team to directly and financially support a healthier future generation.
Inspiring Conferences
"It was a wonderful experience to be a part of and I hope to participate in more of these activities in the future."Terry, LifeHealthcare
The challenge facing many conference organisers is how to keep the energy levels of large groups of people up during multi-day company conferences. The real trick is to find ways to inspire and energise attendees, so that they remember the highlights rather than feeling weighed down by the usual presentations laden with stats, facts and data.
This is where competitive team events come in. Healthy competition creates a great energy, but there are still logistical problems to overcome with the large numbers of people involved. If you’re not careful, it can feel a little like herding cats.
Doing something for others is another great way of producing memorable, feel-good moments in conferences, but very few charities have the scope, skills and bandwidth to manage conferences and can rarely accommodate large groups. Plus, few companies want their people leaving the conference facility, so the pressure is on to take the charity to the conference – which is rarely possible.
“Thank you for such a powerful and eye-opening experience.”Andrew, QBE
This is where our sessions meet the challenge. Our programs have been developed in partnership with our charity partners and are delivered anywhere in Australia by our experienced facilitators who run our sessions as a way of giving back to the charity.
Each session is highly interactive and takes the conference delegates into the world of the charity and gives them a behind-the-scenes sneak-peek into how they do what they do.
Besides gaining some great insights that can be put to use back at work, colleagues get the space, time and opportunity to get to know their peers on a deeper and more personal level. The group bonds through a series of fun and meaningful team challenges that raise the tempo in the room, such as creating special food or toy hampers, care packs or the such like, which go straight to the charity after the event to be distributed to the people they support. Plus, our model scales up easily from small teams of 8-9 people to large conferences of hundreds of delegates.
“What I liked most was making impact for others less fortunate and doing it with a team of my colleagues who I hadn’t met before in person.”James Comer, Head of HR ANZ, Cisco
So, if you’re planning an end of year conference or large team activity, take a look the programs we have on offer or give us a call to find out what’s possible.
5 Steps to Developing United Teams
Team development is an ongoing challenge as the team dynamics shift over time in response to external pressures, internal changes and the natural turnover of key people. There are however, five key elements that you can keep an eye on to get a general sense of how your team are doing.
That is thanks to Patrick Lencioni’s simple model in his book “Five Dysfunctions of a Team”. He asserts that the five main problems teams face are: absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results.
Simply put:
Lack of Trust - without a strong basis of trust within a team, people keep to themselves and therefore don’t speak up.
Fear of Conflict - If we don’t feel safe to speak up, we miss out on healthy conflict and debate which limits our ability to find solutions to problems, to address what’s really going on and even to innovate beyond what’s right in front of us.
Lack of Commitment - if we don’t debate in a blame free, constructive manner, we don’t feel part of the decisions that are being made which leads to a lack of commitment.
Avoidance of Accountability - if we’re not committed, we lack accountability to ourselves and others.
Inattention to Results - if we’re not accountable, we’re not achieving, which shows up clearly in a lack of team results where we’re all seemingly busy, but not kicking goals.
At Team Building with Purpose, we’re big Lencioni fans and always keep his work in mind while working with and developing teams. We’ve turned the dysfunctions on their head and in our sessions are looking to foster the “5 Superpowers of a United Team”. In every half day event, our job is to increase:
Trust – we quickly build trust with the team to create an environment conducive to people feeling safe to be vulnerable enough to share personal stories about sensitive topics such as domestic and family violence, homelessness, period poverty and so on. This helps team members start to look at each other like fellow human beings, not just colleagues.
Healthy Conflict - we encourage healthy debate and differences of opinion about issues in a non-judgemental, supportive way. Through this process, team members learn to give up needing to be “right” and appreciate that diversity in thinking styles is what makes a great team.
Commitment – through storytelling and personal reflection, we stir up an emotional connection to our charity partners and a commitment to want to help overcome social issues. This connection to a higher purpose unites teams towards a common goal.
Accountability – we ask what individuals, teams and organisations can commit to doing outside of our event that will have a positive effect on society, improving the lives of others day-to-day. These personal and public commitments change thinking and behaviours on a micro level which have a much bigger ripple effect long-term.
Results – we produce tangible goods for our charity partners, give them 50% of our net profit and provide a launch pad to fantastic corporate partnership opportunities. Participants of our sessions know that their efforts have made a difference to their team, the charity and to people in need.
Team Motivation through Celebration
“The more you praise and celebrate life; the more there is in life to celebrate” - Oprah Winfrey
With Easter quite literally on the horizon, the end of the financial year for many is only just over three months away and that time will pass before we know it.
For most, the last few months have been a flurry of activity, tasks, meetings and deadlines since we all returned from our Christmas break.
We are hearing from our many corporate clients that their workforces are already tired, despite only being a few months into the new calendar year. Plus, in many organisations teams didn’t have the chance to hold pre-Christmas get-togethers for a variety of reasons, so for some it feels like ages since they have got together with their colleagues outside of project work and day-to-day tasks.
Team welfare relies on interspersing work with breaks, events and get-togethers to take stock of your progress, stop and breath and catch your breath and importantly celebrate the small and big wins.
If your team is one of those that has been slogging away from one project or deadline to the next then perhaps your own people are at risk of mental fatigue and in need of some motivation.
As the financial year winds down, what better way to take stock of what has been achieved and make time to celebrate your successes to lift the morale and spirit of your people.
Our team building sessions will do more than that as they all involve learning about and helping a charity, which has the added benefit of providing a deeper and shared sense of purpose for your people; a great way to recharge everyone’s social, mental and emotional batteries.
Not only will your team be inspired by what they learn and do in our team building sessions, but they will have the space and time to connect on a deeper and more meaningful level with their colleagues and build the team energy levels and momentum so that you kick off the new financial year and second half of 2024 with the type of kick start that will send your team propelling with purpose.
Plus, as our sessions involve activities that benefit our charity partners and 50% of the net profit from each session, which we guarantee will be at least $500 + GST, your people will have the sense of making a real difference to those in need in our community; a further point of motivation and inspiration.
And with fourteen different team building events on offer, be that in-person, hybrid or online that we can run at your office or anywhere of your choice, you will be spoilt for choice of ways to motivate your people.
“If you can learn to motivate yourself, you can always tap into an abundance of energy that will drive you to the success you dream of.” - Rachael Bermingham
How will you celebrate your team’s hard work?
By now, following the Christmas and school holidays, no doubt you and your team will have well and truly cleared the cobwebs and hit the ground running. Can you believe it’s the end of February already?
Before we know it, we’ll be talking about the end of financial year, taking time to hopefully celebrate a great six months and the goals we’ve achieved.
Celebrating success is particularly important after the frenetic year end that many people experienced last year. And for those companies or departments that simply didn’t have the time or budget to enjoy end of year team event before Christmas, then there is an even greater need to reward your team at the same time as strengthening and deepening personal bonds.
In our experience, one powerful way to do this is to focus your team on a common interest that has greater significance than themselves. This serves to excite and mobilise them and effectively ignite the team engine.
Our sessions deliver just such a higher purpose as your people will learn about and from one of our charity partners and the incredible work they do and impact they have in our communities. They will also collaborate as a team in fun activities and challenges to deliver something meaningful that has a direct benefit to the people and communities they support.
Your team will leave the session feeling inspired about what is possible and have a shared sense of a higher purpose to fuel the team spirit. This in turn will set the tone for the next chapter and build the momentum needed to tackle the challenges your people will invariably face ahead. Bring them closer through a sense of celebration, camaraderie and gratitude.
Be Beach Safe This Summer
Spending summer at the beach is a time-honoured Australian tradition – and this summer already looks like it’ll be one of the hottest, sunniest summers in years!
However, are you sure you’d know what to do if there was a beach emergency? Team Building With Purpose has teamed up with Surf Life Saving NSW to educate you about the most important beach safety tips you and your team need to know before you and the kids hit the sand!
Beach safety starts at home
Some of the most important elements of beach safety start at home. Before you head to the beach, check the following:
Is the beach open or closed?
Is the beach patrolled by lifesavers today?
Are there any hazards like rip currents, bluebottles or large waves?
What is the UV rating for the day?
You can check all these details and more via the Beachsafe app, available for iOS and Android platforms.
Pack the right gear
Make sure you have everything you need for the beach you’re heading to. Remember, not every beach will have a cafe or surf club nearby, so it’s better to pack too much than too little. Essentials include:
Sunscreen (apply 30 minutes before you go outside and reapply regularly during the day)
Swimwear – do not swim in normal clothes as these can become waterlogged and heavy
Hats
Plenty of water and fluids to keep you hydrated (not alcohol)
Food
Beach towels/mats
A gazebo, sun umbrella, beach tent or other shade
Beach toys and games, boogie boards and more for everyone to have fun!
Staying safe at the beach
Once you get to the beach, follow a few simple rules to stay safe.
Look for beach safety signs – lifesavers place signs on the beach to let you know of any dangers that may be present in the water.
Say hello to a lifesaver. When you arrive at the beach, go and say hello to the lifesavers – they are there to help!
Always swim between the red & yellow flags: Lifesavers place the flags where it is safe to swim and they will be observing this area and will notice if you need help.
Never swim alone. Always accompany your kids in the water. If you go into the water, by yourself, let someone know where you are.
Learn how to spot a rip and keep clear of it. A rip can be recognised by sand-coloured or rippled water running out to sea when the water on either side is generally cleaner. The waves may also be larger and breaking further out to sea on both sides of the rip.
If you get into trouble in the water, stay calm and raise your arm for help. Try to float and if you feel you are being pulled away from the shore avoid trying to swim against the current – this will only make you tired and unable to stay afloat.
In an emergency, call triple zero (000). If you cannot swim, do not try to rescue other people who are in trouble. If a lifesaver is not available, call triple zero (000).
You can help someone by throwing them something to hold onto like a board or a cooler box. Many beaches have red flotation devices installed for public use.
Beach safety isn’t all we can learn from SLS NSW…
Surf Life Saving NSW is one of the biggest volunteer networks in Australia, marshaling and training over 20,000 volunteer lifesavers every year. Team Building With Purpose has partnered with SLS NSW to create a unique team building event – the Corporate Lifesavers Challenge.
This event provides insight into the charity and provides the opportunity to self-reflect and draw parallels from how Surf Life Saving NSW operates with their own team and work environments. Key elements include:
understanding what makes a great team member;
learning from beach safety to better navigate problems at work; and
celebrating the power of belonging to a strong community culture and using these insights to brainstorm practical ways to work better as a team.
In addition, every Corporate Lifesavers Challenge event helps to support Surf Life Saving NSW, they receive 50% of the net profit from every session, which translates to at least $500 plus GST for every session. So, your people are also making a financial difference to Surf Life Saving NSW, and helping to save lives.
So, why not book a Team Building With Purpose/SLS NSW Corporate Lifesavers Challenge event for the early days of 2024, while the memories of the beach are fresh in your team members’ minds.
It’s an unparalleled opportunity to capture that New Year energy, unite your team like never before, and create meaningful, accountable New Year’s resolutions for your team. To discuss the Corporate Lifesavers Challenge or any of our other team-building events, contact us today.
Strategies for Corporate Team Building
There’s no doubt that effective team building activities strengthen corporate teams – fostering effective communication, building trust and creating a positive work environment for everyone.
With these insightful strategies, you'll be able to cultivate a strong and cohesive team that can tackle any challenge anything that comes their way.
Team Building Exercises - step by step
The key to an effective team building exercise is effective planning. Here’s a step-by-step process.
1.Determine the Objectives of the Exercise
By setting clear objectives, you provide a framework or roadmap for the team to work towards common goals, aligning their efforts and creating a sense of purpose. These directly translate to the desired team building benefits: these might be improved communication skills, enhanced problem-solving abilities, trust-building and better collaboration.
It's important to communicate these objectives to the team so everyone is on the same page and understands the purpose of the exercise.
2. Establish Which Resources and Materials are Needed
Assess the resources you currently have and determine if any additional materials are needed. It's also important to take budget considerations into account when sourcing equipment or purchasing materials. Look for cost-effective options that still meet the needs of the exercises.
3. Ensure Safeguarding Measures are in Place
Employee engagement is an essential aspect of successful teamwork, and trust-building activities are a great way to foster a positive work environment. However, consider potential conflicts that may arise during these activities. Incorporating conflict resolution techniques into the exercises can help address any issues that may arise and promote a healthy team dynamic.
4. Provide Feedback and Evaluation
This will help to continuously improve and enhance the effectiveness of the activities, understand the strengths and weaknesses of the team, and identify areas for improvement.
Effective communication channels are essential for sharing feedback and evaluation results. This ensures that the team is aware of their progress and can work together towards achieving their goals.
Team Building Games
Staging team building activities as games are a great way to improve engagement, encourage teamwork and introduce a bit of (friendly) internal competitiveness. Here are our top tips for ensuring these run smoothly.
Establish Clear Rules
Consider these three rules when conducting team building games.
Game variations are essential to keep things interesting and prevent monotony.
Icebreaker activities can help break down barriers and foster a sense of camaraderie among team members. These activities can help to create a relaxed and open environment, allowing individuals to connect on a personal level.
Communication exercises, problem-solving challenges and trust-building activities are vital components of team building games.
Necessary Equipment
Ensure you have sufficient water supplies if you’re going to be carrying out physical activity, and ensure your team has appropriate clothing and shoes. Don't forget to also pack a first aid kit in case of any accidents.
Budget considerations need to strike a balance between quality and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, technical requirements should be thoroughly analysed to ensure that the chosen equipment meets the needs of the activities.
Time Allocation
Make sure to allocate enough time for each team-building game to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute and participate. Prioritising tasks is essential in order to effectively schedule the team-building games. By identifying the most important activities, you can allocate more time to them and ensure that they're given the attention they deserve.
Reward System
A reward system affects the motivation and engagement of participants in team building games.
Incentive programs, recognition awards, performance-based bonuses, team outings – these are all common methods that can be used to incentivise employees and foster employee engagement.
Bear in mind that some individuals may be motivated by monetary rewards, while others may value recognition and praise.
Role-Playing Exercises
Role-playing exercises provide an opportunity to simulate real-life situations and develop important skills for effective teamwork. By engaging in these scenarios and roles, you can enhance your team's ability to solve problems, communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, make decisions, and build trust and collaboration.
Collaborative Projects
These offer a valuable opportunity for team members to work together towards a common goal, fostering a sense of unity and shared achievement. These can be even more effective if your team works towards a goal that contributes to society in some way.
Project Ideas
Brainstorming activities, problem-solving challenges, communication exercises, trust-building tasks, and creativity workshops are all great ways to foster collaboration and enhance team performance.
Assign Roles and Responsibilities
This helps with task allocation, as it helps team members understand their individual contributions and expectations.
By clearly defining roles, you can create a productive and efficient work environment. Understanding team dynamics is essential for successful collaboration. Each team member brings unique skills and expertise to the table, and recognising and leveraging these strengths can lead to better outcomes.
Performance Measurements
Performance assessment allows for a comprehensive analysis of individual and collective performance, enabling the team to address any gaps in skills or knowledge.
Corporate team building activities enhance employee morale, improve problem-solving skills, and ultimately drive success and innovation within their teams. For create a truly memorable team building event that will engage your team like never before, as well as giving back to the community by supporting charities, contact Team Building With Purpose today.
Have a Very Sustainable Xmas (and New Year)
The holiday season is a time of joy, generosity, and celebration. It's also a perfect time to reflect on our environmental impact and explore ways to celebrate sustainably. This year, why not give the gift of a cleaner planet by incorporating sustainability into your Christmas and New Year festivities?
Embracing the Clean Up Australia 'Change Makers' Session
Clean Up Australia has been leading the charge in environmental sustainability through education and action. Their 'Change Makers' program is an innovative blend of team building and corporate volunteering, designed to mobilize people for environmental good.
What's the Focus?The session zeroes in on environmental sustainability, offering a deep dive into Australia's waste challenges and providing effective solutions. Delivered in-person or online, it's an engaging way to understand the waste problem, its lifecycle, and the legacy we leave for future generations.
Team BenefitsParticipating teams gain valuable insights into Clean Up Australia's operations, fostering a sense of unity and purpose. The program encourages self-reflection and brainstorming on practical ways to reduce waste and improve environmental impact both at work and home.
Charity and Team BuildingBy partnering with Clean Up Australia, your team's involvement also translates into direct financial support for the charity, with 50% of the net profit from every session donated to their cause.
Practical Ways to Reduce Environmental Impact
Here are some practical tips to make your holiday season more sustainable, inspired by the 'Change Makers' program:
● Gift Responsibly:Choose presents that are useful, long-lasting, or experiences rather than physical items.● Decorate with Nature:Use natural materials like branches, berries, and flowers for decoration.● Eco-friendly Wrapping:Opt for reusable gift bags or recycled wrapping paper.● Sustainable Feasting:Plan meals to minimise waste, use local and organic produce, and avoid disposable cutlery and plates.
At Home and Work
● Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:Apply this golden rule rigorously during the festive season and beyond.● Energy Efficiency:Use LED lights for holiday lighting and ensure devices are energy efficient.● Waste Management:Set up proper recycling stations at home and in the office.● Educate and Engage:Share the message of sustainability with friends, family, and colleagues.
The holiday season is more than just a time for celebration; it's an opportunity to make a positive impact. By adopting sustainable practices and supporting initiatives like Clean Up Australia's 'Change Makers,' we can enjoy a festive season that's merry for us and the planet.
Let's come together to create a sustainable future, one celebration at a time.
End of Year Team Gatherings
“Thank you for such a powerful and eye opening experience.” – Andrew
There are many facets to and needs for team building. Whether a leader is looking to build relationships and strengthen the team bonds, boost morale and team spirit in the face of unrelenting work pressure or just looking to have some fun and blow off some steam, a team building event plays a critical role for every team. This is no more true than for end of year team events when colleagues are brought together before Christmas to let their hair down so to speak and celebrate the year.
Getting your people together anytime of the year is a good thing and stepping away from the computer and desk to have some quality connection time is not only good for their mental health but essential for fostering closer team dynamics.
With the right team building session much team healing can take place to start to repair any broken or fractured relationships that the pressure cooker of work has caused. This is particularly important towards the end of the year as the months of frustration have built up.
Plus, when distracted by a team session that is all about having fun and focused on a charity, a group can more comfortably engage their peers in general discussions that don’t have a direct correlation to work. In fact, by avoiding work topics, the group can relax and let their guard down and find common and shared views and beliefs that unite them around important social ‘life’ topics. It is often through discussions around such ‘non work’ topics that someone’s personality can be revealed and shine.
“It was a cracking day!” – Matt
And by doing team activities in the session that are designed to help a charity in the process, a group will have the added sense of purpose, which is accentuated as we get closer to Christmas when the spirit of giving is at its strongest. In fact, for many staff, doing something meaningful is an expectation before the Christmas break and gives a sense of purpose that Transends work.
Besides knowing that 50% of the net profit going to our charity partners from each session, the fact that our sessions include team activities that enable staff to directly give back to the charity and help them in their work in the community, is a proven tonic for the soul and serves to excite, inspire and importantly unite and mobilise work teams. In short, our team building sessions serve to top up the morale tank for our clients as the Customer Relations & Advocacy team at QBE recently discovered when they took part in a Starlight ‘Sparklers’ team building session.
Not only did they have great fun getting to know colleagues they didn’t know well, but the team activities provided an important creative outlet and catalyst to bring out the best of talents in the group. The session provided a great platform for their GM to cover important strategic issues and plans and set up their second conference day well.
So, when you’re looking for something special to do with your team as a way to celebrate the year that has been, or just looking to have some fun away from the office before the end of the year to welcome in the Christmas/New Year holidays and recharge the collective batteries ahead of 2024, any one of our twelve sessions are up to the mark. With such a variety of charities and topics to choose from, all of which will enable your people to have fun and give back, you will be spoilt for choice!
“Absolutely loved it!” – Ankit
For more information, visit our website at https://teambuildingwithpurpose.com.au/team-building/, email us at info@teambuildingwithpurpose.com.au or call us on 1300 880 487.
Team Pre-Christmas Celebrations
"I enjoyed the shopping activity the most and loved learning more about Drought Angels as a Charity." - Jyoti
As the end of the year approaches teams are looking to get together to celebrate the year that has been and whilst drinks and meals are an essential part of that, with the spirit of Christmas in the forefront of everyone’s mind, they want to find a way to give back as a team. This often means they’re looking to spend time helping a charity in some way.
Whilst there are some opportunities out there for corporate groups to volunteer with a charity, what is on offer and when the charity can accommodate the group doesn’t always suit them, which is why our sessions are hugely popular as each one of our dozen programs enables the corporate teams to give back in a meaningful way.
This is why groups looking to do a physical volunteering activity that directly benefits the people a charity support enjoy our corporate volunteering sessions that include putting together:
Welcome kits for the homeless with Beddown “Dream Builders’
a food hamper for struggling farming families with Drought Angels ‘Rainmakers’
Goodie (toy) bags for animals in care with RSPCA ‘Animal Advocates’
Dignity bags (of sanitary items and cosmetics) for disadvantaged young women with Share the Dignity ‘Defenders of Dignity’
‘Sparkle’ packs (toy hampers) for sick kids with Starlight ‘Sparklers’
Support kits for young women at risk with Te-Kworo ‘Community Restorers’
And for those looking to get their hands dirty we can build in a physical ‘clean up’ in your local community with our Clean Up ‘Change Makers’ team building session.
Plus, often groups aren’t able to go to the charity or just don’t have the time to travel far away from the office, which is why our clients appreciate that we can host our team building sessions at your office or come to your conference venue and can fit in with your existing session timings.
“What I enjoyed the most was to prepare a hamper for genuine people in need.” - Di
We recently ran a Drought Angels ‘Rainmakers’ session for the team at Purple Playground on the Gold Coast who were running their annual planning conference and were looking for a meaningful team building activity to incorporate within their team conference.
They enjoyed learning all about the amazing work our charity partner Drought Angels does in Australian farming communities to support farming families that are struggling from the impact of natural disasters and had a great time with putting together food hampers that were then distributed by the charity to regional Australia. This is the sort of meaningful activity that our sessions include, which enables your people to connect on a deeper more emotional level with their colleagues and give back together is something that particularly resonates with corporate groups at this time of year.
What also made this particular session unusual was that whilst most of our sessions we facilitate in-person or all the group are online, in this case the group was together in-person and the facilitator was online! This sometimes happen when we get a very last minute request or the group are in a remote part of Australia. It just goes to show that our sessions work whether everyone is in-person, online or when some are in the actual room and some online.
"It was a brilliant session and we enjoyed every minute. Great to know we are helping others as well." - Liz