Apples or oranges, they’re both wonderful, but different of course. I recently worked with two corporate groups as a facilitator for our musical team building program. One group came to us at the end of three days of intense meetings and they were looking for a fun, collaborative way to draw their time together to a close. By the time we started brainstorming and writing their company song, the beer and cocktails were in hand. We wrote a wonderful song about their combined corporate identity and experience, an explanation of what they do so well. Part of my role as facilitator was containing the laughter and refreshments so we could get from point A to point B. These clients had a wonderful time and they have the song to prove it. The second group I recently worked with had a completely different set of goals. This was a mid-day team building program meant to help a small group better understand their company’s mission and hierarchy, to reinforce team interaction and flow, and to assess the participants roles and enthusiasm for their work. We wrote a wonderful song which enabled them to tell their story and map out the hierarchy of the company’s structure through music and lyric. Even with ’serious’ goals we had a lot of laughs, did a lot of bonding, got to understand each other a little bit better and created an impactful and positive experience.

Some days it’s an apple, sometimes on orange, but always great. I enjoy this as much as the clients I work with, because it’s always new, always exciting, unexpected and satisfying. Team Building Through The Art of Songwriting, why haven’t you tried it yet? www.kidbillymusic.com

Billy Kirsch

Days Like This

Do you ever have days like this. It was my goal to write the June newsletter first

thing this morning…here it 4:30 pm and I’m just getting started. It does feel like

summer, 88 degrees in Nashville and sunny. Maybe that’s the problem! Well,

onto the news. We recently worked with The Affinion Group and as usual, I

believe I learned as much as our clients. This was really fun. I know I always say

that, but it’s true. I never get tired of writing songs with people. It is such a joy to

watch participants discover how creative they are, how funny they are and how

much they have in common. Most importantly this group learned a lot about

working together. During our discussion after the event, a participant commented

that she’d now walk down the hall to confer with a co-worker in person.

Previously, they were communicating via email even though their offices

were about 30 feet apart! Do you do this sometimes…or often….

There really is no substitute for sharing ideas together. Sometimes an old fashion flip chart trumps email, and it's more fun!

Some clients view team building as extra curricular. Once they’ve participated

in the program they view it as vital: productivity, shared goals, renewal, focus

and re-dedication. All for the price of a song, why haven’t you done this?

A little impromptu choreography never hurts. Luckily, they didn't ask me to dance.

Master songwriter performer Don Henry in the middle of it all with our clients from Affinion.

Team building day with Affinion

I hope you’ll visit us at www.kidbillymusic.com to learn more about Team Building

Through The Art of Songwriting, creativity, productivity and living with enthusiasm.

If you have any suggestions for the next monthly newsletter, please let me know.

I’d love to share what you’re doing. Stay in touch and let us help you deliver the

programs you need.

Billy Kirsch

I really meant to write this on  Sunday morning, my adrenalin was still flowing as were my emotions. But time does slip by and here it is Tuesday evening. Now the thinking part of my brain has kicked in, yikes! I’m left with the memory of the feeling, but not the feeling itself. When we have an experience that bonds us with a group we long to maintain the wonderful feeling that comes from the experience. The best way to build and maintain a successful team is to find ways of sharing meaningful and moving interactive experiences on a regular basis, sort of a team building regular-exercise-routine.

But back to Sunday morning. That was the day after the marathon, the Music City Marathon in Nashville. My wife joined a group of about 50 women to “Hoop the Half”, hula hooping 13. 1 miles. Yes, actually hula hooping while making forward progress. The hooping team began as a disparate group of people with a common goal each driven by varying personal motivations. During the four month training period I witnessed the wonderful effects of group effort; friendships formed, challenges shared, doubts overcome, fears faced and victories savored.

Your team doesn’t have to Hoop the Half to do some fun and productive team building. But you should do something; invest in your people and your organization’s future!

My son, Julian, is making a documentary about Hooping the Half; the inspiration, motivation and satisfaction the participants gained from being a part of this experience. I was Julian’s production assistant on marathon day. We ran about eight miles ourselves, following and interviewing racers and the gawking crowd. Believe me, a group of 50 hoop-walkers is an unusual sight.

I hope you’ll visit us at www.kidbillymusic.com to learn more about Team Building Through The Art of Songwriting, creativity, productivity and living with enthusiasm.

As promised, this month I’m sharing news you can use about people I work with who offer great services and knowledge. I’ve heard James Spellos present twice this year and he’s wonderful. You need to know about Web 2.0, twitter, linkedin, facebook etc. Ignorance is not bliss! James is an expert on the essentials of digital communications. He makes it easy and accessible. His website is www.meeting-u.com

As someone who helps teams build unity, productivity and communication I’m a big fan of the web tools we can use to network; twitter, linkedin, facebook etc. Yes, it does get overwhelming because it can take a lot of time just to keep up. To unclutter my inbox, I’ve created a web 2.0 email folder. I put all the relevant emails in that folder, and then carve out just a little time to go through them every day. Don’t be too hard on yourself. The best learning is experiential so don’t be afraid to make mistakes and get messy, I have!

As usual, I’ll invite you to visit our website, www.kidbillymusic.com Team work, morale, vision, communication; don’t underestimate the value of it all.

Billy Kirsch 3-23-09

Every program has it’s own challenges. I was honored to be chosen to facilitate a team building event for the Partners in Policymaking annual reunion. Partners is an organization of people with disabilities, both physical and intellectual. This is a wonderful event, a weekend in which people are educated to advocate on their own behalf for equal access and legislation. I was careful in my preparation for this program, working to understand the particular group dynamics, sensitivities and challenges. It was wonderful. We were able to have a lot of fun and touch upon the goals, concerns and aspirations of this group. Here are some of the wonderful lyrics created at the event:

Schools, jobs, transportation
We want full participation
Empowerment through avocation
Help us pass more legislation

Wow, time really does fly. I can’t believe it’s been a month since my last blog entry. It’s not that I’ve procrastinated, just busy, really busy! Does that sound like you? How do we prioritize effectively. It’s easy to set goals, but keeping our eyes on the prize is sometimes elusive. One of my constant goals is to be productive, but at times I need to find ways of refreshing and renewing.  One of the most productive and stimulating activities we can take part in is a learning activity. Learning excites the creative side of us, renews our passion and reminds us of original ways to work toward our goals. An effective  team building activity is a natural learning opportunity.  We’ve noticed the following benefits from our musical team building events; Discover new sides of your self and your co-workers, renew the conversation about goals and be reminded how to lead effectively. Of course, example is a wonderful way to lead. Are you willing to try something new, to expose your creative side and think outside the box? Our program is a natural way to do all that; with effective return on your objectives and lasting value. We hope you’ll visit us at www.kidbillymusic.com

There is a psyche of fear right now. Let’s face it; it’s scary out there. But smart businesses are not getting caught up in ‘fear based’ thinking. We know you’re trying to spend money only on what you consider to be critical for survival right now. But leadership and organizational development are critical, important and necessary, especially now. The current marketplace puts more responsibility and stress on leaders. This requires greater vision, forethought and patience to maintain market share and plan for future growth. You want your company to be well positioned when the recession comes to an end.

Supporting and developing leadership through team work, building and training will enable you to maintain and grow, now and in the future. Make sure to support your most valuable resource, your Human Resources. Let your team know how crucial they are to your business’s survival and success. Build and maintain strong teams now!

Let’s hear from you with thoughts, comments and of course, for more information.

Billy

www.kidbillymusic.com
billy@kidbillymusic.com

It’s been long discussed; Can we assign measurable benefits to Team Building? Of course, I firmly believe there are benefits and that you’ll see a great return on investment with a well delivered team building program. Outlined below are ways we help our clients receive  positive, valued  and meaningful results with our program, Teambuilding Through The Art of Songwriting.

Results (ROI):
After the final team’s performance, the event culminates as we facilitate a debriefing with the entire group. Representatives from each of the teams will report on their team’s experience. We will lead your participants through productive discussion and establish goals that move the participants to decision and then action, highlighting some of the following:
•    What did we learn during the event
•    What new awareness was created
•    What is your plan of action to use what was learned
•    What support do you need to try to follow those action steps and maintain the new lines of communication established during the event
Potential Measurable Benefits:
•    Increased employee efficiency through sharing of common practices, questions, concerns, and challenges.
•    Better problem solving through networking and sharing solutions to common problems.
•    Increased sales through sharing of techniques, successful methods and information.
•    Increased morale leading to higher retention, efficiency and creativity.
•    A more cohesive united corporate vision.
•    Creation of corporate songs that serve as reminders of the teambuilding experience and action plans.

I hope you’ll visit us at www.kidbillymusic.com. I’d love to hear from you!

Billy Kirsch

Your team has certain dynamics, some great, some good and some not so good. Don’t forget the personality and productivity of your team mirrors that of the individuals who make up the team. Building a more productive team requires positive, experiential group activities like our program, Team Building Through The Art of Songwriting. The building experience mirrors your daily corporate team activities. During the process of writing a song with your group, we’ll notice the dynamics: The individuals who take charge, those who listen and may have a great deal to contribute but don’t often get the chance, and those who are somewhere in between. We help you highlight the different personalities within your team and make note of how to encourage more participation by those who tend to be quiet, better listening by those who tend to take charge, and increase the overall feeling of team unity and enjoyment.

Building your team work through our program is a lot of fun, it’s a unique way to document your team’s identity with a wonderful marker of who you are. Through a step-by-step, facilitated process of writing a song, brainstorming, developing themes and ideas in a fun and productive process, we all get to experience success that comes with contributing in a truly creative endeavor, yielding tangible results. Team members come away with renewed confidence in their ability to create and contribute. You’ll create a corporate song that will become a lasting part of your company’s culture and a permanent reminder of your group dynamics at it’s best. For more information, please visit us at Kidbillymusic.com

It is hard now. Our heads are out of the sand. We’re keeping our plastic in our wallets. We’re readjusting to a new approach, reality based living. Is that a bad thing, NO!  Successful planners are thinking about the future now, focusing on the positive, while admitting to past errors and creating a new plan. Now is the time to support your most valuable resource, the people you work with. When we get together, we can share worries, let them go and create a strong corporate community, ready for the challenges and excitement ahead.  Let’s not stay isolated in our cubicles, let’s not communicate only through email. Let’s focus together on positive strategies for the coming year. Team support, team building, now more than ever. We’re here to help and find solutions that fit your needs. Please visit us at kidbillymusic.com and drop us a line!