Posts Tagged ‘experiences’
5 Companies Trivia Team Building Activities Won’t Work For
Wednesday, July 6th, 2011
Team building trivia events are my passion. I love everything about them, from customizing trivia questions for specific groups to hosting events, to seeing the enjoyment people get out of them and the smiles they beam afterwards. However, as strongly as I feel about this unique form of corporate employee entertainment, I know that live trivia just plain isn’t for everybody.
I’ve been doing this for a long time, and have seen my share of successful events and happy clients; however, you simply cannot please everybody all of the time, and my craft is no different. Below is a list of the 5 types of companies for which, despite the best of intentions, live trivia just isn’t going to be an effective team building activity:
1) The Ultra-Serious Company – I’ve done events for quite a wide variety of companies, and can assure you that serious people can have just as much of a blast playing and competing in a high-energy live trivia party as anybody else. However, there are just some companies which, for whatever reason, simply do not project, encourage or thrive in relaxed & competitive environments. I can’t generalize based on industry, only on a case-by-case basis, but the fact remains: if managers & employees are too stern & solemn to have fun in group setting outside of work, live trivia isn’t for them.
2) The Incredibly Small Company – I dread receiving inquiries from tiny companies, because I hate turning clients away. However, if a company is made up of, like, 4 people, I can’t in good faith guarantee we can deliver a high-energy, impactful event, since you need to have a decent number of people competing against each other to do so (FYI this is a VERY gray area; in general, I don’t recommend trivia unless you can have at least 2 “sizable teams” playing against each other, who can create the type of boisterous environment which will make an event successful).
3) The Failing Company – There’s an old saying I love, which is “putting lipstick on a pig.” Sometimes, even the best of intentions aren’t going to help a losing situation, and with companies which are obviously in trouble, a trivia party simply won’t do much to boost morale and foster teamwork long-term.
4) The “Bad Fit” Company – This past year, I had a humbling experience whereby a prestigious company expressed enthusiastic interest in creating a series of trivia events for their employees; after coming to observe a public event, however, they backed out of the deal. Despite having a great time, loving our format and being impressed overall, they felt that, for their employees, trivia just wouldn’t be a “good fit.” And you know what? I didn’t argue for a second, since I will never know their company’s “feel” as well as they do. If they sense it’s not a good fit, it’s probably not.
5) The Company Which Treats Its Employees Poorly – I’ve luckily not seen many of these, but am including them here anyway. There are some companies out there which place their employees way at the bottom of the priority scale, and it shows: authoritarian managers, unrealistic expectations, hostile workplaces, high turnover. Occasionally, someone from management will decide to throw employees a bone by giving them a trivia party, which is tons of fun and helps create some laughs – for 2 hours. Back at the office, however, all of the lessons, memories and positive messages go right out the window as the staff goes right back to feeling overworked, abused and undervalued.
If it were up to me, I’d obviously love to create trivia team building events for every company in New York City, American and planet Earth. However, it is far more important to me that we are only creating events for the most appropriate companies, in order to ensure that attendees have the best experience possible.
Do you think trivia would or would not work for your company? Please let us know why in the space below!
Bribing Employees is a Good Thing
Friday, July 1st, 2011
HR managers, take note: employees are unhappy. They are unhappy with their workloads and unchallenging tasks, dissatisfied with their compensation packages, uncomfortable with co-workers and angry at The Man. In fairness, work is serious business, and isn’t supposed to be fun (although I’ve argued against this in a previous post). However, there is good news: bribing employees makes them enjoy their jobs more.
Fellow psychology majors may remember the behaviorist theory of “classical conditioning,” which basically boils down to carrot and stick motivation: reward wanted behaviors, punish unwanted ones. In the workplace, I would argue that you can take this a step further: directly reward wanted behaviors, but also encourage positive attitudes by indirectly rewarding favorable work environments. This can easily be done through bribes.
Now, my use of “bribes” here is not meant to be taken literally – you can’t outright pay people to like their jobs more. You can, however, promote a happier work environment by “paying” employees to work better with one another, collaborate more, communicate better and foster an overall more collegiate work environment. This may of course be done with money: employees are regularly provided with bonuses and other financial incentives. However, in order to really promote positive interactions which will ultimately benefit morale and productivity, the “bribes” should extend beyond dollars, and focus on improving performance.
How else can employees be rewarded for behavior which leads to a happier workplace? Give them what they want: professional development, recognition, and opportunities to bond with their colleagues. As both an employee and a business owner, I know firsthand how important it is to let staff know that they are valued, and to keep them motivated by providing positive feedback, opportunities for growth, acknowledgement of good work, and the chance to just relax and have fun with their fellow workers. Doing so provides the necessary incentives to keep workers happy, engaged, and full of enthusiasm necessary to do their jobs well.
Are there downsides to this approach? Of course – I think we have all just had a very good lesson with the recent economic downturn about how excessive reward can delude staff at all levels into thinking that they are invincible, and that they can carry on with business as usual without recourse. However, keeping employees stimulated with regular “bribes” of good will, encouragement and opportunities to bond as a team will certainly help create an atmosphere which encourages teamwork, pride and positive attitude towards work in general.
What are your thoughts on “bribing” employees to keep morale high? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Customizing Corporate Team Building Activities: Silly or Significant?
Friday, June 10th, 2011
I was recently on the phone with a prospective client, who was interested in building a team building trivia party for her office. While explaining my company’s range of services, she asked an astute question: what is the value of customizing a team building event? I’m glad she asked that, because I feel passionate about the answer – enough to want to share the answer with as many people as possible, hence today’s blog post.
It’s a valid point: say I’m a business owner, department manager or HR professional who wants to offer my company’s employees a fun activity, to reward them for hard work and a job well done – hopefully boosting morale and promoting teamwork to boot. What does customization have to do with that? Bowling’s not customized, but they’d have fun doing it anyway – why should I care if the activity is tailor-made for my staff or not?
I would argue – forcefully so – that customizing employee events as much as possible will produce better results in the long run. Below are some of the benefits of customizing team building activities, and why it’s worth the effort:
They’ll Be More Memorable – When events are customized for specific groups, incorporating familiar language, situations and “inside” information that only they are privy to, participants will be more inclined to think back positively to that experience, a key element of a successful event.
They’ll Be More Impactful – Activities which are carefully modified to perfectly fit the group will resonate far more strongly than a “one size fits all” approach to team building, increasing the likelihood of the core messages sinking in and being applied back at the office.
They’ll Be More Fun – It’s easy to dismiss standard team building exercises as boring, because for a large part, they are (trust falls, anyone?). However, it’s hard to not have a good time and be “present” when the entertainment event is specifically targeted to your work, your team, your colleagues and to you, personally.
The Results Will Last Longer – Favorable team building skills such as communication, collaboration, negotiation and decision making are more likely to be reinforced back at the office when the skill set has been introduced in a familiar practice setting.
I could go on, but to me it’s clear: in order to get the best results from an event, customization is key. That’s not to say that employees CAN’T practice important skills at a more cookie cutter-type event, but in order to have an event which is memorable, impactful, fun and produces lasting results, make the effort to specialize as many aspects of it as you can. You’ll be glad you did in the end, and so will your team.
What are your thoughts on customization and team building? Is making events tailor-made a complete and utter waste of time when creating fun group experiences? Share your opinion below!
What Does the Perfect Trivia Team Building Event Look Like?
Wednesday, June 8th, 2011
Ah, perfection- that most elusive of goals. For those of us who work in the live event industry, we know how hard – actually, impossible – it is to run a “perfect” event, what with so many plates spinning and balls in the air at once. With team building and corporate entertainment activities, the usual event fare of planning, logistics, crisis management and all the rest are compounded by the need to develop creative content which people will respond favorably to- so much so that it leaves a strong, indelible impact. Of course, without knowing who will be there and how they will respond, creating experiences which leave a lasting positive impression is virtually impossible to predict or prepare for. How, then, can “perfection” be achieved, when so much is left to chance?
I can’t answer that. I can, however, conjure up in my mind what that ideal event of mine would ultimately look like, if all of the stars aligned and things fell perfectly into place. Below is a snapshot of the “perfect” live corporate trivia party:
Everyone Arrives Happy – Employees and managers alike arrive with smiles on their faces, armed with awesome attitudes, clever team names and witty jabs to lob at other teams in the spirit of good, clean fun and competition.
The Questions Are Spot On – Everyone loves all of the trivia questions, which fit the group like a glove in terms of categories, variety difficulty level and humor.
The Competition is Fierce, Yet Friendly – Teams are playing to win, but are not cutthroat. If the better team wins the round, other teams show support (maybe with a biting comment or too, also in good fun).
The Timing is Perfect – Neither too long nor too short, the event naturally builds in both excitement and competitive energy, each answer feeding off of the next with the event ending with a perfectly-executed crescendo.
People Have Fun the Entire Time – The group enthusiastically finds humor in everything, from the trivia questions to the team names and the wrong answers, to the silly “graffiti” they draw on their answer sheets. From start to finish, everyone is laughing their heads off, enjoying each other’s company, and basically having an incredible time.
Surprises Abound – The boss erupts in song, the quiet guy dances on the bar, the intern nails everything in the “1970s Movies” round. People erupt from their shells and let loose in a way they never, ever have before at the office, and it is enthusiastically well-received by all.
As a live trivia company in New York City, it’s easy to find people who love competition, challenging mental exercise and good times. However, I strive to make each and every event look as close to the “perfect” event above as possible, as I know this will produce a team building activity which is truly effective and memorable.
Are you a trivia event enthusiast, event professional or group dynamics expert? What other elements might you suggest incorporating here, to create the “perfect” event using trivia for team building?
Confessions of A Trivia Host: Nobody is a Public Speaking Expert
Monday, June 6th, 2011
As a professional trivia host, I am always on the lookout for opportunities to practice and improve my public speaking skills. While I spend most weeknights producing and hosting live trivia parties and corporate team building activities in New York City, by day I serve as director of adult learning & enrichment programs at the 92nd Street Y, a major cultural and community center in Manhattan. Occasionally, this role allows me the honor of introducing speakers onstage as part of 92Y’s celebrated lecture series, a special perk requiring me to (briefly) address upwards of 900 people – a thrilling, rewarding opportunity indeed!
I was recently asked to introduce a speaker, and was happy to do so. Donning a nice suit, I prepared my opening remarks, and strode out onstage with the confidence of someone who has done more than his share of public speaking. I spoke strongly and clearly, didn’t stumble, and even made a quick joke or two which got laughs before introducing the lecturer. In short, I nailed it- or so I thought.
After the event – still glowing at my expertly-delivered introductory address - a gentleman came up to me in the lobby. “Good job!” he said. “Thank you!” I replied, feeling all the more validated in my public speaking awesomeness. “Can I offer you some free advice?” he continued. That caught me off guard. I looked at him quizzically, and raised my eyebrows. “Don’t cross your right leg behind your left when you speak. Don’t grip the lectern. Look out at the audience more, and don’t drop your eyes to the notes so much.”
I was stunned. Trying to recover from this embarrassing dress down, I said, “Thank you for the feedback. I assume you were sitting up front?” This time, he was the one with the raised eyebrows. “Actually, I was in the last row.” He handed me his card. Would you believe it, the guy was a public speaking coach.
Without realizing it, I had just been evaluated by a professional, and guess what? Years of hosting trivia, emceeing events and providing onstage introductions had NOT left me with flawless speaking skills like I’d thought. Feeling humbled – yet grateful – I realized that even though I had worked long and hard to perfect my proficiency in this area, there are always those “unknown knowns” lurking – the things that others can see, but which you yourself cannot.
This experience was a sharp reminder that when it comes to speaking in public, nobody is an expert; there is always something new to be learned, practiced and developed, and plenty of room for perpetual improvement. Do you strive to be a public speaking “expert?” If so, what steps might you recommend?
TrivWorks founder David Jacobson blogs daily on a wide range of topics relevant to corporate event entertainment, team building and live trivia. 
