Seven Elements of an Awesome Team Building Activity

The ACE Escape is one of our most popular team building sessions and in this post we try to understand what are the essential elements of an awesome team building activity.

1. A Simple Premise
The goal of the activity is easy to understand and straightforward. Open the locked safe.
There are lots of unique props that add to the appeal and intrigue yet the goal is clear and simple.

2. Physically Inclusive and Non Weather Dependent
Every person should be able to participate regardless of their physical limitations or fitness levels. Whilst the ACE Escape is a mental challenge involving many activities each one is not physically demanding. The entire activity can be conducted at a table or on the floor.

3. Engaging and Fun
Everyone should be involved throughout the exercise and their combined contributions are essential for completing the task. The ACE Escape involves a multitude of puzzles and code breaking so that individuals are consumed in a task yet they must pass on their findings for the activity to progress.

4. Venue Friendly
Some activities require large outdoor areas or purpose built facilities. One of the great strengths of the ACE Escape is its portability and minimal room requirements. It can be conducted in virtually any room.

5. Level of Challenge
The task needs to have the appropriate level of difficulty to challenge the group. Everyone enjoys success but if it comes too easily or quickly it is not appreciated. The rate of success should ebb and flow so that the group encounters bursts of productivity interspersed with periods of inaction. During the ACE Escape the best teamwork seems to occur when the group have hit a roadblock. In many cases, the group are able to find a solution once everyone shares their individual problems.

6. Competitive and Collaborative
People enjoy competition yet a team building activity should be collaborative. The ACE Escape involves the team working collaboratively to achieve the most competitive time possible.

7. A Finale
The activity should have a natural conclusion that is exciting and brings together all the contributions of the team members. The finale of the ACE Escape involves the opening of the digital safe yet the emotional high happens just beforehand when the group know they have the answer.

Pokemon Go - possibly the best game in the history of the world

When the News reported the frenzy created by Pokemon Go, I was sceptical about its merits. Stories of people causing accidents whilst driving and thousands of computer geeks mobbing religious monuments made me reluctant to become one of the players.

My opinion of the game changed when my son asked me to go for a walk with him. He only needed to walk another 300 metres to hatch his egg. I did not know what this meant, but I like going for walks. I loaded the game onto my smartphone as he guaranteed me that we would find something. Two hours later and I was hooked. We explored our neighbourhood and had a blast. I think the dog enjoyed it too.

For more than twenty years I have designed treasure hunts and navigational activities for corporate groups. I have spent many days photographing landmarks and exploring areas to be used for specific events. I have an appreciation of the difficulty in creating an activity that rewards success in such a way that you want to keep playing.  It can take two or more days to design a small race for a country town or CBD. I hate to think how long it would have taken to create this game.

It encourages physical  activity
The game is designed so that you want to go walking and exploring. The further you walk, the more Pokemon you will find. But you must also walk to Pokestops to collect more Poke balls that are essential for catching Pokemon. It was quite amazing to see the hundreds of people in our local park playing the game. My fitness watch is meant to motivate me to walk however the lure of virtual creatures is much more effective.

It is free
The activity can be played for hours in almost any populated area of park. I would be quite happy to pay for the pleasure of playing the game (don't tell Nintendo). The only cost is the data required to access the app. People can make in-app purchases but it is not necessary provided that you are willing to do some walking.

It is social
It can be played solo or in a group. It is non-competitive in the sense that when a Pokemon appears, it is accessible by all players. However, there is a competitive element when fighting for control of a gym. One afternoon, I was staggered to see the number of tradespeople playing the game.


It is well designed and fun
The game is quite sophisticated and incorporates GPS with augmented reality. The graphics are cute and playful and there are lots of random surprises when Pokemon appear and vanish.

The scale is mind boggling
It is difficult to comprehend the sheer number of landmarks, parks, shopping centres, beaches and places of interest that have been incorporated into the game, for just one small city. But when you think that that the game can be conducted across multiple countries it is like trying to understand how many stars are in the night sky.

It is unfortunate there have been some unpleasant incidents but this is not surprising considering the number of people are playing the game. I don't think Pokemon Go will be a lasting phenomenon but at this point in time, I honestly think it is the best game in the world. If you have been reluctant to try it, give it a go, it is a lot of fun.

The ACE Escape - a strategic and collaborative team building game

 Impactful and effective team building activities are real.
They provide an opportunity for teams to practice teamwork by harnessing their individual skills and talents to complete the task.

A perfect activity matches the degree of difficulty with the capability of the group...too easy and it is boring, too difficult and it is frustrating.

Ideally, the task should be complex, multi faceted and cumulative so that information or successes achieved during the activity are required throughout the exercise.

The ACE Escape is our newest team activity and it is ideal for small groups that wish to practice collaboration, problem solving and effective communication.

Teams need to split the problem into individual tasks but keep each other updated as new information is revealed.  A clue in isolation has no value however when it is combined with other facts a breakthrough may occur.

The game is intense, enjoyable and provides a great opportunity for teams to work together on a complex problem that has time pressure and many unknowns. It provides an opportunity for a meaningful debrief about the way the group worked together, what they did well and how they can improve.

There is no such thing as a perfect team building activity however the ACE Escape is ideal for small groups wanting to practice their teamwork skills. The game is portable, non-weather dependent and not physically demanding. Most importantly, it is engaging and fun.

Team building and life skills for children

What was your most significant and transformational learning experience at school? Was it music, PE, science or French? In Dead Poets Society the teacher inspires his students through the teaching of poetry. At Mt Eliza Primary, the students are extremely fortunate to be involved in a life changing program called Kitchen Garden. It is amazing for a variety of reasons:

1. Children learn life skills
Children learn how to cook which is an important skill they will have for the rest of their lives. As an adult I have a small repertoire of meals that I prepare at home on a rotational basis.  However since becoming a parent helper the menu of meals that I regularly cook has dramatically increased. The children are very lucky to be introduced to a wide variety of healthy meals from all over the world. As a helper I have learned how to make fresh pasta with a pasta maker. I have also learned to make Japanese pancakes, Greek spanokopita, Thai curries, pumpkin bread, beetroot brownies and an amazing pasta sauce with roast cauliflower, pumpkin and basil.


2. Children learn to try new food
How do you get children to eat more vegetables? As a parent, I have had limited success getting my children to consume healthy foods at home. Yet every week during the Kitchen Garden program I am stunned as children devour the food that has been prepared. Children are encouraged to sample all the food and they are frequently delighted when they discover that fresh vegetables can be delicious. It’s hard trying to get your children to eat cabbage at home but when it is an ingredient in Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes) there are no leftovers.  Food comprising silver beet, zucchini, pumpkin, cabbage and cauliflower are happily eaten.

3. Children learn to follow instructions
A kitchen is a dangerous place with many hazards so there is a huge focus on safety.  I would have thought that the meals would be simple and kid friendly but this is not the case.  The instructions involve many steps, lots of ingredients and the use of large knives. The children are taught how to do things correctly and they are closely supervised to prevent accidents. The meals are delicious and restaurant quality. A typical meal might be a rice salad with a lentil curry and Naan bread and a raspberry macaroon for dessert.

4. Parents learn too
At our home there has been a transformation. My child volunteers to help in the kitchen. Last week he helped cut up all the vegetables and then helped make fresh pasta. I then watched him eat all his dinner and then help with the washing up. Why do I love kitchen garden? I feel like our lives have changed for the better.  Spending time in the kitchen no longer feels like a chore. We are spending more time shopping for fresh ingredients and more time preparing food but it is worth it. We are making delicious fresh meals and the kids are eating healthy food.

5. Personal Development
The children are empowered, enthusiastic and fully engaged. They want to help with every task whether it is cutting vegetables, stirring a curry or kneading bread dough. Children learn teamwork, collaboration and the importance of each person's contribution to the greater good. Four work groups prepare a meal course that comes together for a finale that is a delicious group feast.
Children volunteer to stay back during recess and help with the washing up in the hope that they may be given an extra serve of dessert.

6. It’s fun
All the children are engaged in the session and share in the triumphs created. It is a sensory delight with fragrant herbs, exotic spices and the hustle and energy of a commercial kitchen.

The Kitchen Garden program helps to develop students' self confidence in a fun and dynamic environment. I have no doubt that when students reflect on their experience at school they will appreciate how lucky they were to be part of such an excellent and worthwhile program.

Corporate Social Responsibility - at what cost?

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs are gaining traction as a form of team building in which companies volunteer their time to do something for the social good. Whether the activity is building bikes for underprivileged children or revegetating a local reserve, who should pay?

 
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There seems to be a perception that if people are donating their time, then everything else should be provided, but by whom? Government agencies and volunteer organisations rely on funding and sponsorship and they don't have the resources to coordinate and supervise corporate programs.

A typical revegetation day involves transportation, catering, personal protective equipment such as gloves and eye protection and the provision of seedings, weedmat, specialist contractors and equipment including wheel barrows, tree planters and loppers.

Companies that contact the appropriate agency at a fortuitous time may be able to access Government funding for a specific event but once this funding has been spent then the opportunity no longer exists for the next group.

For CSR programs to be able to run the entire event needs to be self funded, and this may be a surprise to companies that assume that volunteer work is free. It remains to be seen whether an appropriate funding or sponsorship model can be developed to enable these programs to be run on a regular basis.

Five Qualities to Look For in a Team Building Provider

For those industry professionals looking to hire a professional team builder, the process can seem a bit daunting. What will work to build morale and strengthen relationships, and how? What type of team building is truly and professionally effective, rather than simply being an excuse to play games or have a nice day outdoors?

 Separating the wheat from the chaff is not always easy. Some team builders are more “casual” than others, and all have varying degrees of skill, so if you are looking for a serious provider that can deliver according to the needs of a large corporate client, it’s important to be selective and thorough during the hiring process. When searching for a professional team building provider, look for the following five qualities:

1. Check for experience. Novice providers are unlikely to have handled many large corporate clients, so if that is what you need, it’s best to look for a provider that has a large body of experience in tailoring and delivering programs to corporate clients. Co-ordinating a large corporate event in an organised fashion takes a whole different skill set than hosting, for example, a simple sporting event for a small group. Look for references and client testimonials, particularly testimonials from clients with needs similar to your own. 

2. Make sure that the provider has a wide range of methods, programs, and concepts at the ready, so that they can custom-tailor events to your needs. The provider should be willing to build a program from scratch to suit your specifications. 

3. Make sure the provider has comprehensive and total (not partial) public liability insurance. No professional team event provider even leaves the building with a group of people without this in place. Plus, the fact that a provider is deemed insurable is a good sign that they have a proven track record, one that is trusted by major insurance companies.

4. Ensure that the provider has a permanent stock of quality equipment suited to the kind of events it provides. This is essential for safety reasons, to create a well-co-ordinated experience, and it also shows a high level of commitment to team building on the part of the provider.

5. Look for a fresh take on how activities are developed. Beware of providers who use the same old “stock” of concepts to create events from, as an event that is not original will not be engaging to the team. Look for creativity and ingenuity on the part of the team building provider; this will lead to events that challenge your team and facilitate the best lessons in teamwork possible. 

FIFO (Fly In Fly Out) Team Building - Behind the Scenes

The ACE Team - Wade, Mike, Dan and Ben

Have you ever wondered how companies improve morale and teamwork at remote camps in the gas industry? For the last three years ACE has conducted team building programs across three sites in outback Queensland. The work involves significant travel, heat, freight, long hours and lots of unexpected surprises. This year was no exception.

City driving - traffic, rain and lightning

The adventure started at 6am in Melbourne on a day with so much rain and lightning that the airport was shutdown for the safety of airline staff. The result was that our first flight of the day was delayed by two hours. The airport was so crowded that there was no space in the departure lounge to sit down.

On the floor at the crowded departure lounge

In this photo, Ben and I are making ourselves comfortable on the floor as we wait for our flight. Due to the flight delay we missed our next flight from Brisbane to Roma. We were put onto the next available flight which was then cancelled. So after waiting in Brisbane for several hours we finally arrived in sunny Roma to a sweltering 41 degrees celsius.

Outback driving - sunny and no traffic

Our next surprise was the hire car. We had four passengers and significant equipment so a ute was not a suitable vehicle. We were unable to get the vehicle swapped so we continued on our journey. We were about to drive through a thunderstorm and some dirt roads so we stopped off in town to buy a tarp to protect our equipment. It was disappointing that the Corporate Travel agent booked a ute even though they were expressly told that a ute would not be suitable.

The hire car - not what we wanted

One pleasant surprise was the food at the camp. In a word... sensational. I particularly liked the juice station complete with fruit, vegetables and herbs ready for juicing. The quality and quantity of the food was amazing. For dinner there were six different main course options. The roast lamb and Jamaican chicken were restaurant quality.

The juicing station - a pleasant surprise

We had eighty delegates in the group so we had planned to show our presentation on two projector screens. We had two projectors and a splitter cable but we had to be flexible with our plans when there were no screens available. We improvised by taping two white table cloths to the wall. This worked well and the show could continue.

My front door

You never know what you are going to find when you open the door to your room but another pleasant surprise was a comfortable bed, television and ensuite. The best thing in the room was the air conditioner. Due to the extreme heat this was essential for a good night's sleep.

Home for a few days

The event was very successful and we met all of our client's objectives for the team building program. After another amazing breakfast comprising french toast, croissants and espresso coffee, it was time to head back to the airport.

The breakfast buffet

We knew the drive would take two hours so we planned to get to the airport 60 minutes early. After 30 minutes of driving we received a phone call telling us that the road to the airport to had been closed due to a road accident. I was told by the State Emergency Service that a vehicle had collided with a bull at 3 am requiring the driver to be air lifted to hospital with significant injuries. The road had been closed for several hours so we were lucky to make our flight back to Brisbane.

Road closure

We made our flight - time to fly home. Another successful program, done and dusted.