#45 – Thought Experiment: What can team builders learn from interactive theater? with Carlo D’Amore (17+)

Join West and Chris as they explore of some Mindsets of a team builder. How do we think about being of service? How does a beginners mindset influence our engagement? What mindset helps us ‘see’ our group? Approaching challenges with invitation. And how do we think about using our energy – when do we flip the enthusiasm switch. West has a committed philosophy. He wants to be standing next to the people in his groups, not in front of them. “I’d rather be in the circle with them, standing beside them in partnership.” We hope you join us!Find all Show Notes and Episodes HEREThis podcast is another facet in a network of resources being developed in an ongoing effort to help team builders, all over the world, learn and grow: OnTeamBuilding Blog - Conversations covering a variety of team building topicsFUNdoing - Activity Resources for Team Builders (Blog, Store, Trainings)FUNdoing Fridays - Bi-weekly email of activities (sign up form at this page)

Carlo D’Amore is an actor, writer, director and coach with Live in Theater. Carlo and Chris explore the mental models of the theater world to see what they can show us as team builders. What is “really listening” and how can the behaviors of “rehearsal" enhance our practice. As a thought experiment, Chris challenges the team builder to take Carlo’s dialogue and filter it through the team builder’s context. Learning is everywhere if we are receptive to it. We hope you join us!Find all Show Notes and Episodes HEREThis podcast is another facet in a network of resources being developed in an ongoing effort to help team builders, all over the world, learn and grow: OnTeamBuilding Blog - Conversations covering a variety of team building topicsFUNdoing - Activity Resources for Team Builders (Blog, Store, Trainings)FUNdoing Fridays - Bi-weekly email of activities (sign up form at this page)

Dr. Nevin Harper is the author of Nature-Based Therapy (with Kathryn Rose, 2019) and Kids These Days: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health (with Will W. Dobud). Nevin and Chris talk about 'Kids These Days’ and how team builders (these days) can help create environments for youth to thrive. Nevin encourages us to treat our youth like “crew not passengers" and argues that “what is happening with kids these days has more to do with the adults these days.” He says, the most powerful thing we can do, as 'adults in the room', is to focus on building meaningful relationships with youth. Build environments of belonging. We hope you join us!Find all Show Notes and Episodes HEREThis podcast is another facet in a network of resources being developed in an ongoing effort to help team builders, all over the world, learn and grow: OnTeamBuilding Blog - Conversations covering a variety of team building topicsFUNdoing - Activity Resources for Team Builders (Blog, Store, Trainings)FUNdoing Fridays - Bi-weekly email of activities (sign up form at this page)

Melanie finds joy in helping her groups learn life skills like patience, giving them the opportunity to practice these skills in healthy environments so they have the confidence to use them on a regular basis. Whether working with roller derby athletes or middle schoolers, helping them “learn how to talk to each other is a good thing.” Chris and Melanie also explore her style of organic programming. From the time they “get off the bus” Melanie says, “I need to be able to assess what people aren’t saying and see what they are not seeing…I read all these things and then decide how to get started.” The experiences that follow? “That depends on the group,” Melanie emphasizes. “Every group’s dynamic is different…I’m there to see…what benefits these particular people on this day.”  We hope you join us!Find all Show Notes and Episodes HEREThis podcast is another facet in a network of resources being developed in an ongoing effort to help team builders, all over the world, learn and grow: OnTeamBuilding Blog - Conversations covering a variety of team building topicsFUNdoing - Activity Resources for Team Builders (Blog, Store, Trainings)FUNdoing Fridays - Bi-weekly email of activities (sign up form at this page)

Barney is an Adventure-Based  therapist working mostly with people in recovery from addictions. He is the author of ‘Healing in Action: Adventure-Based Counseling with Therapy Groups’ and co-author of the new release, ‘Group Psychotherapy with Addicted Populations: An Experiential Manual’ (published by Routledge). Barney shares with Chris his ‘enjoyment’ approach to therapy, some favorite activities that really make an impact and his use of Kinesthetic Metaphors so he can, “help people connect the dots…between what’s important to them in their life and what they just did with the [experiential] activity.”  We hope you join us!Find all Show Notes and Episodes HEREThis podcast is another facet in a network of resources being developed in an ongoing effort to help team builders, all over the world, learn and grow: OnTeamBuilding Blog - Conversations covering a variety of team building topicsFUNdoing - Activity Resources for Team Builders (Blog, Store, Trainings)FUNdoing Fridays - Bi-weekly email of activities (sign up form at this page)

Mark is the Chief Ambassador of FUN, and Founder of WorkPlay Solutions. He and Chris talk about facets we all experience as team builders: Opening Engagement (or Soft Openings), Discovery Sessions (a.k.a., Needs Assessments), Managing Expectations, Mark’s Checklist for Creating Powerful Experiences, and a fun way to end meaningful programs. We hope you join us!Find all Show Notes and Episodes HEREThis podcast is another facet in a network of resources being developed in an ongoing effort to help team builders, all over the world, learn and grow: OnTeamBuilding Blog - Conversations covering a variety of team building topicsFUNdoing - Activity Resources for Team Builders (Blog, Store, Trainings)FUNdoing Fridays - Bi-weekly email of activities (sign up form at this page)

Sarah Gough has been the Executive Director of Play for Peace for over 17 years. "Play for Peace supports individuals and organizations who are passionate about children to transform conflict into meaningful and impactful learning experiences, fostering laughter, compassion, and lasting peace worldwide.” Play for Peace facilitators bring play into harsh conditions to help build bridges between groups in conflict. When connections are made, conversations can following and “conflict transformation” can happen. Play for Peace is not only about play, it’s about community-building, community-bonding and unity. Educators learn from Sarah about “connection before perfection,” the mindset that serves the educator and taking a place in the circle where every voice is heard. Sarah also talks with Chris about the organization and how it’s designed to support communities in conflict by training young facilitators from those communities to use play as a way to bring people together, have fun, and learn about each other as a way to better understand each other. We hope you join us!Find all Show Notes and Episodes HEREThis podcast is another facet in a network of resources being developed in an ongoing effort to help team builders, all over the world, learn and grow: OnTeamBuilding Blog - Conversations covering a variety of team building topicsFUNdoing - Activity Resources for Team Builders (Blog, Store, Trainings)FUNdoing Fridays - Bi-weekly email of activities (sign up form at this page)

Chris Ortiz joins the OnTeamBuilding podcast to discuss some of the things he does during the early portion of his programs to get a sense of his groups – observing behaviors that can help him gauge the group mindset. These observations, Chris tells us, helps him steer programming decisions to better meet the immediate needs of his participants. We also find out Chris's take on the concept of connection and why he plans for it at the onset of his programs. We hope you join us!Find all Show Notes and Episodes HEREThis podcast is another facet in a network of resources being developed in an ongoing effort to help team builders, all over the world, learn and grow: OnTeamBuilding Blog - Conversations covering a variety of team building topicsFUNdoing - Activity Resources for Team Builders (Blog, Store, Trainings)FUNdoing Fridays - Bi-weekly email of activities (sign up form at this page)

Jolee Jones is a Director of Organizational Development and Experiential Learning for a school district in Colorado. In this episode Jolee and Chris talk about resiliency-building and the value it poses for educators and team builders. Jolee’s ‘Why’ (our Why being an important foundational principal of resilience), is to “revolutionize systems of work so that we have systems where humans can thrive and be healthy.” Resiliency is part of such a healthy system. What can it do for you? We hope you join us!Find all Show Notes and Episodes HEREThis podcast is another facet in a network of resources being developed in an ongoing effort to help team builders, all over the world, learn and grow: OnTeamBuilding Blog - Conversations covering a variety of team building topicsFUNdoing - Activity Resources for Team Builders (Blog, Store, Trainings)FUNdoing Fridays - Bi-weekly email of activities (sign up form at this page)

Anna Grace started team building four years ago. She's now the Assistant Director of Outdoor Programs at a university in Georgia. She talks with Chris about her fast track, being in charge, imposter syndrome and the work she does with college age groups. She emphasizes that choices help us grow, everyone exhibits leadership behaviors, it's important to recognize the leadership behaviors of others, and when groups show their 'humanness' we need to stop and listen. We hope you join us!Find all Show Notes and Episodes HEREThis podcast is another facet in a network of resources being developed in an ongoing effort to help team builders, all over the world, learn and grow: OnTeamBuilding Blog - Conversations covering a variety of team building topicsFUNdoing - Activity Resources for Team Builders (Blog, Store, Trainings)FUNdoing Fridays - Bi-weekly email of activities (sign up form at this page)