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Team building events, programs, and sessions are one of the most helpful ways to help your corporate and company team better communicate for effective company success and achievement. Typically, team building training programs last anywhere from a couple hours to weeks, and gather your employees together in teams to cooperate in situational games, tasks, and activities. These activities teach them to better interact and value each other’s talents, experience, and role in your company’s goals.

Since the introduction of corporate team building training programs and sessions, the focus was always exclusively for the purpose of building better relationships and communication within amongst staff. Employees would walk away with a clearer, more positive outlook on their part in the company team as well as how their actions contributed towards the short and long term objectives of their company. Since the conception of team building programs, a new aspect has been added to the overall mission of team building events: philanthropy.

Corporate team building training is now enhanced by tasks, activities, and games that help better society’s goals. For example, one of the tasks of a corporate team building program may be cleaning up an urban playground so neighborhood children have a safe, clean place to play. Another philanthropic project may be to help a nonprofit build a home for a homeless family. When a nonprofit and a corporate team building company get together to boost company morale as well as help society, this is what is called a philanthropic team building endeavor; and definitely an option to consider if you thinking of enrolling your staff in a team building event. Here’s why:

One of the most important reasons to consider philanthropic teambuilding training for your company is that through its tasks and activities, it builds relationships and a sense of togetherness. Each task or activity calls upon your employees as a team made up of valued team members. This not only boosts confidence and solidarity, but by adding philanthropy to it, your employees will be furthered bonded by feeling like they did something good for society-together.

Of course, one of the best reasons to enroll your staff in a philanthropic team building training event is that it helps out a nonprofit with volunteered time and task. Volunteer work at all nonprofits are in great demand and helping out for just a couple hours or more, does your part and helps remind your staff and you of their connection to their world. Moreover, if you are planning on teaching your staff team building training anyway, why not kill two birds with one stone, and involve them in something that benefits not just them but others as well?

Lastly, choosing a nonprofit team building training event inspires employee vision both as individuals as also as a team. Doing something good for humanity and its environment not only helps out in the short term of the nonprofit, but also reminds each employee what is really important in life. It reminds them of their ideals and vision and creativity, and challenges them to go after previously-held goals with your company.

3 Reasons Holiday Corporate Team Building Works

I love this time of year. I find that more team work is exhibited during the holiday season than any other time of the year. Everything from a family working together to put together a family holiday meal, to a corporate work team having a holiday party, or groups of people helping out with making sure underprivileged kids get gifts that they may not normally get without someone caring enough to organize a team to give back to their local community. It is my observation that there are 3 reasons that corporate team building is so effective at this time of year.

The first reason is that corporate teams tend to look out for their fellow man during the holiday season. Corporate teams or groups come together to participate in some kind of activity that focuses on giving back to another underprivileged person or group. They will either sponsor a child or a whole family to buy gifts or holiday meals. They feel it’s their responsibility to ensure that others get to enjoy the season as well.

The second reason is that people, for the most part, are happier at this time of year more than at other times of the year. Holiday parties or corporate team building events are something that team members look forward to because they are more inclined to celebrate with others during this season. Even the most stoic (or Grinch-like) person tends to melt when they receive a card or present from a fellow team member.

The third reason that holiday corporate team building works is that people feel great when they give back. Most people know the old adage that “It’s better to give than receive”. But, it seems that giving back during the holiday season makes us feel just a little better. We feel more blessed and want to share our good fortune with others by making their holiday season a little brighter. Giving back to our local community is a company’s way of saying “We care about those around us.”

There are many ways that a team can give back. Helping at a food shelter, sponsoring a child or family, or taking up an offering from the group. Magnovo Team Building offers many ways for a group to give back to a local charity and have a great time doing it. We offer many Corporate Team Building Event that focus on giving back to your local community. As a matter of fact, All of our team building workshops center around having fun and giving back.

Our Bike-a-Thon Team Building Workshop gives bikes to young kids in community that might not ever have a bike otherwise. It’s a fantastic way to have an incredible impact on your local community.

The Circle-the-Wagons Team Building Workshop is an event that will bring your team closer together while giving local children’s hospitals or child care centers wagons that are full of thousands of dollars of gifts. The gifts don’t cost you a penny more because of Magnovo’s exclusive partnership with Diakon Kathryn’sKloset .

We have many more Team Building Workshops to choose from and all of them are centered around giving back. You can give a Dollhouse, Train Set, or even cook a dinner for the underprivileged in your community.

Please contact Magnovo Training Group at www.magnovo.com or call us at 800-861-TEAM (8326).

The “Do-Over” Proposal

As a kid playing ‘hoops’ with my friends was fun. When I missed a basketball shot, by saying ‘Do-Over’ I was immediately given the ball again to try and score. (Well, almost immediately, my friend Timmy wasn’t the most gracious, but it did it because he expected the same in return.) My failed attempt was gone, forgotten all because of my plea for a ‘Do-Over’.

These days life is harder, not only because of our fast-paced lives. Economic times may make colleagues more stressed, too many activities and pressure take a toll on business and personal relationships so we all have a tendancy to be too harsh with each other. Please understand that I believe we need all to have high standards and I am in no way condoning slackers, cheaters, abusers or unethical practices. I hold myself and others accountable to give their personal best efforts in everything we do! But after traveling to many countries, cultures, corporate & small businesses, meeting families of every shape and size I have noticed a growing trend of personality intolerance. Too many times, if there is a personality issue or conflict we have a tendency to ‘write off’ that person. “You get one shot and that’s it – I’m done with you! ” Sound familiar?

I propose that we each take a step back to the days when we gave someone another chance. Grant forgiveness to the person who said the wrong thing at the wrong time, or didn’t follow the agenda in the meeting. Perhaps you’re reading this because you saw the webpage listed on the back of a business card. For those who didn’t, I have ” ‘Do-Over’ I’m sorry, please give me another chance” printed on the back of my business cards. I give these out when I facilitate personality or leadership classes. It’s one way to spread the ‘Do-Over’ proposal and it’s been great to see the positive responses from the folks that have tried it. And after conducing these workshops all over the world, I’ve learned this concept can be used universally.

I realize it may not seem difficult, but it’s harder than you think when you apply it. Ask for a ‘Do-Over’ from someone who is unhappy with you, they just might grant the chance. So I challenge you, your family and/or organization to grant a ‘Do-Over’ and hopefully one will be granted when you need it. If we can start this trend, it could lead to much bigger, more positive environments for all of us!

Two Keys to Help Employee’s Look Forward to Team Building Training

I have been developing and conducting Team Building Training Workshops for many years and for large companies and small groups. I can’t tell you how many times I hear the groans and grumbling right before the event. People walk in the room and ask if they are going to be required to participate in the event. People are rarely excited about team building activities.

Most people think about team building training the same way that they think about Change, with a rolling of the eyes and a “do we have to” attitude. It’s usually not until they see that it can be fun and get curious about creating a positive effect on themselves and the group that they give into the idea. When people share with me that they are totally against change, I ask them, “If I gave you $100,000, would that change their lives?” They of course say “Yes”. Then I say, “See, change isn’t always bad”. Neither is Team Building Training. It can help a department or company to be much more profitable if they work together as fully functioning team.

The key is that people have to consider team building training activities and change as “Positive”. That’s the key! If they feel that it is good for them, then they will have a much more accepting attitude. The great thing is that it doesn’t have to have a long list of criteria to meet their goals of being positive. I believe that there are only a few keys for people to look forward and have fun with team building training activities.

Games can be fun, but they do nothing towards the goal of developing the team’s ability to communicate better and work better together. Activities like bowling and go-carting are enjoyable and can even help the team to have more camaraderie among them. But, it doesn’t do anything to develop skills. Which is why it is easily forgotten and has a low return on investment?

So, next time you decide to develop your team, check out team building training activities that give back. There is no greater impact both personally and professionally! Become the team who works together to accomplish a common goal of making a significant positive change for the less fortunate.

ALL of Magnovo building training events give back to local communities! That’s right — Magnovo Training Group believes that ‘significant positive change’ is realized when teams contribute to local area charities. So all of our events are philanthropic!!

To find out more information on Team Building Training Programs, visit our website at www.magnovo.com or call us at 800-861-TEAM (8326)

Campfire Leadership

When I was 13 years old I lived with my father, who was in the Army and stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. During the summer months, we would spend most of our weekends fishing on the Kenai River. It was in the Kenai Peninsula, just south of our home in Anchorage. My father would fish for King Salmon on the river and my brothers and I would fish for trout in the stream that flowed into the river. Those were some of the greatest years of my life.

After spending a long day of fishing and goofing around, we would always end up at the campgrounds nightly campfire. We would spend hours listening to the fishing stories of the adults who almost landed the Big One while fishing that day. They were great stories about adventure and the perils of living in Alaska. The life lessons taught around that campfire were lessons I still follow today. The leadership I learned from those men around that campfire would prove to be invaluable later in my life.

Years later, I find that I want to be the kind of leader that I saw in those men. They gave us such great advice and insight during those nights just sitting around those campfires. I was drawn to their leadership and realized that there are 3 types of leaders. There is the Penlight Leader, the Spotlight Leader and the Campfire Leader.

The Penlight Leader is a kind of leader that is a leader by title alone. They really don’t show many leadership qualities in the way that they lead. They tend to be meek, timid, and lack the confidence to lead. And, just like a penlight, they only shine enough light to see just enough ahead to really wonder where you’re going. I always felt sorry for these kinds of leaders because they never really seemed to want to be the leader. They were just too nice to say no when they had the position appointed to them. It’s hard to follow these leaders. They are very likeable, but don’t seem to have a clear direction or passion for leadership.

The Spotlight Leader is easy to spot, or should I say ‘hear’. You can’t miss them! They will remind you over and over that they are the Leader. They have a “in your face” style of leadership. Not one of leadership abilities, but of verbosity and intimidation. They look for ways to put the spotlight on themselves, even at your expense. It’s hard to like and very hard to follow this style of leader. There is no passion for leadership, only passion for power and authority.

The Campfire Leader is the type of leader that we should all aspire to be like. Just like a campfire, they are warm, inviting and easy to spot. Their leadership style lights up the surrounding area making it easy to spot them as a leader. Also like a campfire, we are drawn to these kinds of leaders. They have passion for leadership making them easy to trust, because you know that they care for your well being.

Like adding wood to a campfire, a Leader knows that the importance of constantly adding to their survival skills. Resource tools like books and articles on leadership are part of the ‘essential’ preparation. But more importantly, lessons learned through personal experiences are key to a Campfire Leader in success to developing into the best leader that they can be. They share their life lessons and experiences not to tell you what you do wrong, but as a guide to lead you. They know that demonstrating is the most effective way to train and lead.

You CAN always get what you want

Have you ever bought something online and received something far inferior than what you expected? It happens all the time. Last week, I thought I had purchased a flight from Allentown Pa, to Indianapolis, IN via Newark, NJ. I fly over a hundred times a year and have never experienced what happened to me that day. I got up to the ticket counter of major airline to check in for my “Flight” to Newark only to be told that I would get on the “Bus” out front for my “Ride” to Newark. (Yes, I was actually riding on a bus for the first hour and a half!! ) Needless to say, it was a complete shock to me. The bus trip was crowded and I needed to see a chiropractor the next day because of the rough ride.

Now, I know what you may be wondering “Did it say Bus on the ticket?”. The answer is yes, it did say in small writing where it tells you what kind of Plane that you will be flying on. I do take responsibility for that. But, it was not made clear to me about the bus part of the trip. As you may know there are ‘Airbus’ listings for various models of planes, so I didn’t think anything about it. However, this is the area of business I what to cover with you today. There are times that we order or purchase something only to find out that it was not what we expected or far less quality than we would have agreed too.

There are many Team Building companies out there to choose from. Most of them, I would like to think, perform a high quality workshop that meets the goals and expectations that the client sets for them. But, unfortunately, there are many out there that don’t find out or listen to what the client is wants in a workshop. The workshop doesn’t go the way the client expected or wanted and they are frustrated and upset with the team building company.

At Magnovo Training Group, we find out as much of the needs of our clients as we can and make sure that the workshop meets their needs and achieves their goals. More communication on the front end makes for a successful event. We fully explain how the workshop runs and the benefits’ that they should expect from it. But, even with all that being said, we have a Money Back Guarantee if the client is not totally happy with the workshop. Now, I’m very proud to say that we have never had this requested by a client. But, it is important for me as the President of Magnovo Training Group, to make sure that if a client is unhappy with the program or it isn’t the highest quality program possible, they will get their money back. Isn’t that the way it should be?

So, if you choose a Magnovo Team Building Program, you can expect to be asked several questions at the beginning to make sure you get the exact event that you expect, or your money back.

How Team Building Events Can Make Your Organization More Effective

If you own a company, you are probably always trying to use your resources to become more profitable and become the best company possible. So much time and effort is spent trying to research where the market is moving before spending any money on marketing. It can be very frustrating at times. This is especially true when we still have to manage day-to-day operations. Fortunately corporate team building programs and events can help you achieve your short and long goals for your business become more efficient and effective.

Why Corporate Team Building?

Basically, because corporate team building event is an event that includes your employees- the entire staff or single departments- with the end goal of better communication for enhanced company productivity and efficiency. The events typically occur at external locations such as retreats, conference halls and hotels, and create a team-playing environment for employees through games, and problem solving activities. Studies show time and time again that employees involved in corporate team building events come back to work noticeably more productive, enthusiastic, and overall happier.

Team-building Enhances the Efficiency for Your Business

One of the biggest goals and typical outcomes for businesses and organizations that enlist in one of these corporate team building events is enhanced efficiency. Your business can have the most up to date equipment, the newest technology, the best employees and the best product possible for your prospective customer. However, if your employees do not know how to effectively work as a team, your company’s objectives and overall efficiency will greatly suffer.

So, how do these corporate team building programs, events, and retreats teach your employee workforce how to better communicate in a day, weekend, or week? First, like any business or service, the professionals involved in corporate team building programs have been trained in personal communications. They know the basic personality profiles that make up any sample group of people, and can therefore use this to work with your employees in order to unite them. The team building activities, games, etc. that they use have been tried and proven to best connect your team through better communication.

More Effective Communication

Your employees communicate on a daily basis amongst themselves, but, because of human nature, they may be subconsciously communicating with stereotypes, negative perceptions, and grudges that only serve to break down effective communication. This breaks down the efficiency and productivity of your entire business. Team building events teach your employees, through games and activities, how to trust, depend upon, and better communicate with their fellow employees. In this way, they can better contribute to the efficient success of your company.

Improved Employee Morale

Corporate team building events can also improve your company’s efficiency through boosting employee morale. Studies have shown that making people feel more connected at work to fellow employees dramatically enhances how people feel about themselves and their place in the company. Furthermore, it makes your employees feel like they are a vital part of the overall success of the company.

Improved Problem Solving Skills

Many corporate team-building workshops contain activities that bring the participates together to solve a challenge or puzzle. This is an effective way to reinforce the employees need to look at business challenges in a healthy way and not in the typical, “we’re all doomed” attitude. Teams work to find the best collaborative solution to problems and challenges. Once the solution is found, the teams feels a strong sense of accomplishment, and are more willing to take on future challenges with a confidence they have never shown before.

If you are interested in a Corporate Team-Building Event, contact us at http://www.magnovo.com or call us at 1-800- 861-TEAM (8326)

Overcoming Anxiety on Your Next Presentation

Hi, this is Rob Jackson with Magnovo Training Group with another tip on how to overcome anxiety on your next presentation.

One of the most important things you can do with any speech to overcome that anxiety is to practice that speech. They say the difference between the amateur and the professional is practice, practice. That’s one of the things that you need to do to be very comfortable if you’re talking about the pristine element missing in there. You need to practice but you need to practice with a person.

If you can’t do it in front of a mirror, you can’t do it, try it down the road. The problem with that is you have no rapport with your audience. There’s no feedback. You’re not getting anything. You’re not getting advice. You’re not being told things that are good, the things that they’re a little bit challenging. So by doing it in front of a person, you’ll get that feedback. You just have to look in their eyes. You know that face look they give if you’re not making a whole lot of sense to. That’s the kind of feedback you need.

So the next time they’re going to give a very important tip, grab your spouse, your co-worker, your friends and say, can I just do my presentation in front of you. Can I practice in front of you? Even if they’re not great presenting your self where they got pretty good advice on how you can look more natural and feel a lot more comfortable. You would be setting anxiety. There is your tip for the day.

Team Building Events – How to Solidify Your Organization

Sure. We’ve all heard of corporate team building events, programs, and activities. Corporate team building training boosts your employees’ sense of togetherness as a team so that they can better communicate within your company to reach short and long term goals more confidently.

Team building training programs are held much like seminars and corporate retreats and can last as long as a week long, depending on the program and your company’s needs. Their tasks and activities motivate staff members to work as a team and this, in turn, bolsters the overall success of your company. What are the main ways in which a team building program may be the best next step for your company? Below, we take a look at how enrolling your employees in a corporate team building event will help to solidify your organization.

1. Individual Value- By introducing your employees to a team building training event, they will feel more important as an individual-both by you for enrolling them, as well as, as part of a team that values what talents and experience they bring to the team activities.

2. Teams Connection- Team building training events also makes your employees feel a better sense of connectedness to one another. Through intensive games and tasks, they are forced to work one on one with one another and thus break through any preconceived notions or misgivings they may have had previously. This builds a sense of team connection and togetherness, much like a family. They can now depend on one another to carry out work more efficiently.

3. Motivation- Another great result of team building events is the motivation and inspiration that it gives your employees. They stop thinking that they must clock in and clock out every day five days a week, and they start thinking that they can help the company achieve better results through their own actions.

4. Retention- More than anything you want good employees to be happy in their positions and their future with your company. By enrolling in a team building program, you are showing your employees that you consider them important to your company’s goals. This, in turn, makes them feel more valued and more likely to stay and grow with the company.

5. Profit Margins- By ensuring that you have happy employees that are motivated, can communicate more effectively, and feel a valued part of a larger whole; you will necessarily experience enhanced profit margins. The happier an employee, the more apt they are to try to meet goals, company objectives, and the like. Many business executives overlook the importance of employee wellbeing, but it one of the most vital keys to keeping a company solid and successful.

These are just a few of the many positive results that you, your employees, and your organization will experience if you decide to enroll in a corporate team building training program. These programs and retreats basically re-teach us the reason that we began a career, a position, or a place in a particular company; and show us all the positive aspects of our past experience with it as well as our part in the future potential of the company. This is what you need for your employees in order to solidify your organization for years to come.

3 Things to Consider Before Deciding on Your Next Team-building Event

Team building can be an activity that employees dread because they don’t think that it will make a long term change in their co-workers attitudes or behaviors. This is a challenge that many Team building Companies struggle with when they offer cookie-cutter programs. I can’t recall all of the times I have had to overcome this very real challenge before people would engage in the Team building Activity. Ready to break out of the ho-hum? Consider these ideas when planning a successful Team building Event targeting many levels:

1) Change in personal attitudes and work habits should be the number one goal when planning a Team building event. If you don’t see that it will positively affect your team, then the event is a waste of efforts and money. Sure, it can be a lot of fun to watch one of your co-workers bowl a great game or laugh at the crazy driver who puts their go-cart into the wall. But, there is no long lasting change in the behavior of any of the people participating in the activity.

2) Team building should focus on the team working together as a “TEAM.” Many team building activities turn into a competition. This doesn’t benefit most of the members of your team because most of the activities center on athletic abilities. The emphasis should never be on winning and losing, but coming together as a team to overcome whatever challenge is put before them.

3) Every member of the team should be included in the activity. Too many events are designed to eliminate the weaker or slower participant. They end up spending most of their time watching others succeed and continue on in the activity while they are sent to the sidelines to watch and pretend that they care who wins the event. Team building events should be designed to keep every member of your team involved during the entire time of the event.

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The Philanthropic Approach to Team Building Training