Embrace Change AND Preserve Stability
As a busy leader, we understand how hard it can be to find the time to develop your team. This is why each month we provide you with team-building ideas that are easy to deliver and proven to be effective. Enjoy!
Team-Building Activity
Embrace Change AND Preserve Stability (approximately 30 minutes)
When your team can find #HealthyTension between Embracing Change AND Preserving Stability, you will achieve a winning culture that is exciting, focused and confident. Here is a worksheet that will allow you to see this tension more clearly:
Step 1 – Print out the worksheet and give a copy to each team member (click here for the file). Read through all four of the quadrants on the worksheet.
Step 2 – Have your team get into small groups of 3 to 4 people and give each group 10 minutes to answer the following questions:
1. What is the best example of our team experiencing the positive results from focusing on change in the past year? What could we learn from this example and apply to the coming year in order to experience more of these positive results?
2. What is the best example of our team experiencing the positive results from focusing on stability in the past year? What could we learn from this example and apply to the coming year in order to experience more of these positive results?
Step 3 – Have each small group report back on their example and learning from each question. After hearing all the examples and learning, end with a discussion that identifies 1 to 3 things the team can commit to doing in the year ahead in order to leverage the tension of Embracing Change AND Preserving Stability.
Icebreaker
Chili Cook-off (Suggestion: do this as a fun team lunch)
As we prepare for Super Bowl season, why not bring some friendly competition to the office. A Chili Cook-off is a fun tradition you can keep going for years to come! Using some tips from the culinary pro herself- Betty Crocker- follow these 3 easy steps for a memorable team event!
-Borrow bowls and spoons or buy disposables (even better, compostables) so everyone can have a separate bowl for each chili.
-Make Chili Name Tags with the name of each chili and a rating for heat level.
-Make enough ballots so each guest has a ballot for each chili.Step 2 – Chili Tasting Set-Up
-Just before the team arrives, set up a Chili Toppings Bar—offer a variety of chili toppings and “go-withs “. Include shredded cheese, chopped onions, tomatoes, olives, bell peppers, sliced jalapenos and sour cream for toppings. Great go-withs include crackers, corn bread, tortillas and corn chips.
-You may need to spread the slow cookers out among several outlets, so you don’t blow a fuse.
-You may want to have team members bring in desserts as well.
Step 3 – Rules to the Cook-off
-Keep the cook of each chili secret—as to not throw the vote!
-Invite your team to taste a spoonful of each chili and fill out a ballot for their favorite before eating it as a meal. Have them cleanse their palate between tastings with a little water or soda cracker.
-Have team members rate each chili on the ballot. The chili with the most points wins!
-Announce the maker of each chili and then announce the winner.
-Award prizes – grand prize, hottest, most creative, or easiest for just a few ideas.
Not only will your team enjoy a great meal together, they will share a memorable experience that will help strengthen your team relationships as well. Bon Appetit!
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Tim Arnold is passionate about helping people understand the chronic issues that limit leadership and teamwork, so they can thrive. He is the author of The Power of Healthy Tension and speaks to organizations around the globe on how they can overcome chronic issues and conflicting values.
