Ask Michelle & Chris About Team Building
Michelle and Chris are here to answer your team building questions so we can learn and grow together!The more you know, the more you can do! Michelle Cummings (Training-Wheels.com) and Dr. Chris Cavert (OnTeamBuilding.com & FUNdoing.com) team up on this weekly podcast to field questions from team builders all over the world. Michelle and Chris have over 50 years of combined team building and training experience and over 20 publications to their credit. They both have traveled the world to help team builders get better at what they do best - lead powerful team building programs. Do you have a team building related question? Submit it to the show at OnTeamBuilding.com/askpodcast
Latest episodes
Dec 30, 2020 • 24min
#32: Reflections on 2020 and Our First Season with, Ask Michelle & Chris About Team Building
Michelle and Chris look back and talk about this interesting year, sharing learnings, discoveries, podcasting and possibilities. Who could have ever imagined.....We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.comchris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERESubmit a comment or team building related question HEREMichelle Cummings - Training-Wheels.comSign Up for Michelle's weekly Newsletter HEREDr. Chris Cavert - OnTeamBuilding.com & FUNdoing.comSign Up for FUNdoing Fridays bi-Monthly Activity email HERE
Dec 23, 2020 • 16min
#31: (Part 2) How Can We Get More Engagement During Processing with Face-to-Face Team Building Groups
Michelle & Chris continue (from Episode #30 about virtual engagement) with more ideas on how to increase engagement during processing with team building groups - this time they focus on engagement with face-to-face groups. Some of the keys: getting participants "warmed-up" to talking and "those who talk more first, talk more."We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.comchris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERESubmit a comment or team building related question HEREMichelle Cummings - Training-Wheels.comSign Up for Michelle's weekly Newsletter HEREDr. Chris Cavert - OnTeamBuilding.com & FUNdoing.comSign Up for FUNdoing Fridays bi-Monthly Activity email HERE
Dec 15, 2020 • 21min
#30: (Part 1) How Can We Get More Engagement During Processing with a Virtual Team Building Group?
Michelle and Chris talk about strategies and tools for increasing participant engagement in processing sessions during virtual team building programs. Some key points: What are the expectations you are setting around engagement - for yourself and your group? And, does your group understand your expectations. Are you using a variety of methods to process experiences? What processing tools are you using inside and outside of ZOOM?We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.comchris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERESubmit a comment or team building related question HEREMichelle Cummings - Training-Wheels.comSign Up for Michelle's weekly Newsletter HEREDr. Chris Cavert - OnTeamBuilding.com & FUNdoing.comSign Up for FUNdoing Fridays bi-Monthly Activity email HERE
Dec 1, 2020 • 21min
#29: What types of Activities Go Into the Three Kinds of Programs?
In Episode #26, Michelle and Chris talked about the three kinds of programs they choose to offer their clients - Team Bonding, Team Building and Team Development. In this episode Michelle and Chris share the types of activities they consider for each kind of program. During a needs assessment we (team builders) like to uncover our client's goals and objectives for a program - this helps us offer the right experience for them. Then, once we have the kind of program in mind, we can break down the goals and objectives into behaviors and go on to choose the types of activities that can surface those behaviors. This thinking can lead to powerful program designs. We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.comchris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERESubmit a comment or team building related question HEREMichelle Cummings - Training-Wheels.comSign Up for Michelle's weekly Newsletter HEREDr. Chris Cavert - OnTeamBuilding.com & FUNdoing.comSign Up for FUNdoing Fridays bi-Monthly Activity email HERE
Nov 17, 2020 • 22min
#28: How Do We Use Our Facilitation Skills to Market Our Programs? with guest Paul Cummings
Paul Cummings from Strategic Adventures joins Michelle and Chris to talk about marketing adventure programs and how we can leverage our facilitation skills in our marketing efforts. Paul shares his experience with needs assessments, promoting the value we bring to our programs, the importance of video messages and delivering on promises. We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.comchris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERESubmit a comment or team building related question HEREMichelle Cummings - Training-Wheels.comSign Up for Michelle's weekly Newsletter HEREDr. Chris Cavert - OnTeamBuilding.com & FUNdoing.comSign Up for FUNdoing Fridays bi-Monthly Activity email HERE
Nov 10, 2020 • 20min
#27: What Do You Include In A Program Needs Assessment?
Michelle and Chris talk about some of the important aspects of needs assessments. There is a lot to think about and include in your information gathering. You want to make sure you are able to understand your clients needs so you can put together the best possible program to meet their expectations. We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.comchris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERESubmit a comment or team building related question HEREMichelle Cummings - Training-Wheels.comSign Up for Michelle's weekly Newsletter HEREDr. Chris Cavert - OnTeamBuilding.com & FUNdoing.comSign Up for FUNdoing Fridays bi-Monthly Activity email HERE
Nov 3, 2020 • 20min
#26: How Do You Help Clients Understand the Difference Between the Types of Programs You Offer?
In this episode you'll find out how Michelle and Chris describe the three different types of 'team' programs they offer to potential clients. When we are clear about the programs we offer, we are more intentional about our outcomes and are better able to meet the needs and expectations of our participants. We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.comchris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERESubmit a comment or team building related question HEREMichelle Cummings - Training-Wheels.comSign Up for Michelle's weekly Newsletter HEREDr. Chris Cavert - OnTeamBuilding.com & FUNdoing.comSign Up for FUNdoing Fridays bi-Monthly Activity email HERE
Oct 27, 2020 • 15min
#25: How Is Team Building with Younger Audiences Different Than Working with Middle School and High School Programs?
Michelle and Chris start a conversation about team building with younger groups. Chris shares that it's more about 'cooperative' activities and introducing younger populations to concepts like being kind and safe and being willing to share and help others when needed (as promoted by MacPhee Bower in her book, Adventure Play). Michelle likes to offer younger groups the opportunity to explore feelings and identify ways the whole group can be successful as opposed to only some success.You'll also pick up a few action-packed activity ideas for younger populations in the episode and some useful resources to explore that can expand your activity options for elementary ages. We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.comchris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERESubmit a comment or team building related question HEREMichelle Cummings - Training-Wheels.comSign Up for Michelle's weekly Newsletter HEREDr. Chris Cavert - OnTeamBuilding.com & FUNdoing.comSign Up for FUNdoing Fridays bi-Monthly Activity email HERE
Oct 20, 2020 • 18min
#24: As Team Builders, How Do We Consciously Keep Things Fresh?
Michelle and Chris share ideas about keeping your programming fresh. It all starts with mindset. Even if you are 'locked in' to certain programming sequences (doing the same activities), you can get into a mindset of excitement and energy. Because, as we know, we never know what can happen! With a mindset of freshness, you can also revive old activities and make them new again, go browse around your favorite 'prop' stores or get together (in person or on ZOOM) to share ideas that will spark the excitement to try something new. And, don't miss Chris' 20-year habit that can keep you on your toes. We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.comchris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERESubmit a comment or team building related question HEREMichelle Cummings - Training-Wheels.comSign Up for Michelle's weekly Newsletter HEREDr. Chris Cavert - OnTeamBuilding.com & FUNdoing.comSign Up for FUNdoing Fridays bi-Monthly Activity email HERE
Oct 13, 2020 • 17min
#23: What Are Some of Your Favorite Portables?
Michelle and Chris share a few of their favorite, super-versatile, portable team building elements. Different from team building activities that can be done with or without props and where players keep their feet on the ground, elements are built structures that add to the complexity (and interest) of the task. Often times challenge course elements (low elements) will also require the participants to leave the ground within a manageable spotting distance. So, how do you take some of these low elements off the course and on the road? Listen in for some of the possibilities - all of which you can build yourself. We hope you join us! Emails: michelle@training-wheels.comchris@onteambuilding.com Find the Show Notes with all the resource links HERESubmit a comment or team building related question HEREMichelle Cummings - Training-Wheels.comSign Up for Michelle's weekly Newsletter HEREDr. Chris Cavert - OnTeamBuilding.com & FUNdoing.comSign Up for FUNdoing Fridays bi-Monthly Activity email HERE
