Michelle and Chris discuss their considerations about how long to stay with ice-breakers and name games, problem-solving activities and processing sessions. With time, we find out how to watch our groups for changes in energy, signaling the need for something different. It could be staying with the activity but simply adding something to it to re-energize the group. It could be time for a check-in to find out where the group is at and what they need. It could also mean moving on to another activity in order to change the energy in a needed direction. Knowing (or sensing) how long to 'play out' and activity depends on a number of factors. Over time and purposeful observation we learn what to look for and when to step in. It's not an exact science, as Michelle and Chris note, it's more often about 'going with your gut' in order to provide the best possible experiences for our groups.   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

In this episode, Michelle & Chris sit down with Angela Sebaly - Michelle's business partner in Personify Leadership. She shares with us her journey through traditional training and development into the experiential applications of training. We also find out about Angela's and Michelle's Personified Leadership training program - how it grew as a face-to-face experience and how it's evolved into including the virtual training course. 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

Michelle and Chris share six additional team building activities you can lead while safely distancing participants. This is a primer for Chris' workshop on Sept. 28th 2020, covering a wide range of safely distancing activities.If you are reading this before the 28th, find details HEREIf you are reading this after the 28th, find the complete assets package HEREWe 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

In this episode, Deb and David share their recent experiences team building face-to-face while safely distancing with participants. They tell us about coordinating with stakeholders, the preparations they made, the activities that worked for them (and the ones that didn't work) and some of their biggest learnings. They are out there proving that we can bring people together again face-to-face by carefully preparing for programs and working together, as a facilitation team, to manage the potential risks. 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

Michelle & Chris share some advice about putting a price tag on virtual team building programs. Pricing virtual programs does not have to be much different than face-to-face programs. Two major considerations: Contact hours and 'development' fees. Advice: If six hours of face-to-face programming is $400 for a group of 12, contract three two-hour sessions for $400 (since the consensus is, two hours is a good timeline for an online session. Advice: If you have to spend more than an hour developing a specific (custom) program, charge an hourly rate for this extra time. And, yes, this team building context is new for everyone (for now), but it doesn't mean it has to be cheaper - you are still providing value whether you are online or face-to-face. You might have to start out charging what 'feels' good to you (your organization), but over time, if you deliver memorable, purposeful programs, you can raise your prices due to your proven success. (And, don't forget to collect those testimonials!)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

Just prior to this episode, Michelle had the opportunity to lead an activity training for 18 participants - teaching them how to lead some of the activities in her Table Top Team kit. As a way to contribute some data about programming while safely distancing, she shares with us what she thought about prior to leading the training, some of the activities she led and some of the procedures she followed during the training. Available links to the resources shared will be provided in the Show Notes - if you have questions about any of the activities, or about Michelle's considerations for the training, please email her. We hope to share more data about team building while safely distancing on future episodes. And, please tell us what's working for you - submit a comment through the link below and we'll share it out.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

In this episode, Michelle and Chris share five activities teachers (and team builders) can do to start building strong community connections in classrooms, and online, while safely distancing. Creating a safe environment to learn and grow is important. "Without relatedness, no work can get done." "The more we know about each other, the less likely we are to hurt one another." These are two quotes shared during the episode that highlight the fact that communities (classrooms and teams) of people who know each other learn and grow together, learn and grow more! Links to the activities shared will be provided in the Show Notes along with additional resources for more connection and team building activities. You don't need to do a lot to make powerful connections between and with your students and participants. The important thing is to take the time to make them! 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

As a follow-up to the last episode, where Michelle shared her writing process, Chris shares his writing path, the folder method and productive writing tips. He never intended to be a 'writer' - his adventures simply started with providing handouts and resources for workshop participants 'back in the day' (the, go-to-the-print-shop-and-make-the-books-yourself-pubishing method). He never sought a publisher, one approached him. He collaborated on all but one of his 16 books and he supports neo-publishing because everyones ideas will help someone! We hope you join us!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

In this episode of the 'Ask' podcast, Michelle shares her writing process. She has written both non-fiction (A Teachable Moment and more...) and fiction (her novel, The Reel Sisters). In both genres Michelle tells us how she goes from the idea to a book in hand following a similar path.Michelle talks about the power of collaborating with other authors and going solo. (Spoiler - she loves collaborating with others.) Then, whether collaborating or going it alone, there is the 'writers retreat' for ideation and brainstorming, followed by sticky notes (to numerous to count). When the ideas are flushed out it's time to consistently schedule writing time and guarding that time - no matter what - so you can see, first the light, then the end of the tunnel. A journey few people take, but one that most can accomplish! We hope you join us!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

Michelle & Chris talk with Dr. Amy Climer about how to create meaningful experiences online. Amy has been delivering online experiences long before the rest of us were 'forced' into the virtual space. After receiving a flood of requests for help in the online space, Amy created a course, 'Leading Engaging Virtual Meetings' (including Trainings and Webinars) to help with the growing demand.  In this episode, we learn about the three keys to creating an engaging online experience, some tools to apply to online settings and ways to deliberately prepare and deliver purposeful programs.We hope you join us!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