Picture this. The corporate culture is “Do more with less.” You are overwhelmed due to the additional workload. Morale is down. You receive an invitation to yet another team building program, and you think, “I know how to collaborate. I have too much work to attend another team building event.” Your boss notes in the invitation, “We need to work better together. Synergy drives results.” You arrive at the team building event, known as “bicycle building.” Everyone breaks into groups and collaborates to build 10 bicycles. You realize the advantage of interacting with your colleagues in a relaxed environment, a much needed break from the daily grind. Then just as the program is wrapping up, 10 less fortunate children from the community come running in, to receive their first bicycles ever. At first you could hear a pin drop. Then everyone cheered. Some even had a tear in their eye. All of a sudden, the whole meaning of team building changed from “Yeah, I know how to collaborate” to “WOW… We really made a difference in these children’s lives.” At the same time, the Executives collaborated for a more productive work environment.

Feeling part of a bigger purpose is one of the secrets to Employee engagement. Participants were pleased to see the “fruits of their labor” and see the big picture as a whole. If Employees are continually shown the big picture/purpose of their workload, they feel appreciated, engaged, and loyal. The 2007 Global Workforce Study found that 1 in 5 workers today is engaged, so how do we educate tomorrow’s leaders to increase these engagement levels? Most Leaders’ #1 priority is results. Have they tried implementing a balanced approach of results and people? Now more than ever, having “People Smarts” is critical for the success of our future Leaders.

To sign up for a team building workshop, please call 1-866-923-4692, or peruse one of the 50 professional development course descriptions at www.corporatetrendsetters.com.

Via EPR Network
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