Eleven Twelfths – Once I get to November, eleven twelfths of the way through the year, it’s hard not to begin to look backward. I have a tendency to look backward too much, dwelling on what I should-have, could-have, would-have done. My wife is the exact opposite, fortunately. She doesn’t spend much time dwelling. She’s more of a planner. I guess that’s why we make a good team. Opposites do attract, but there’s a challenge that comes after the thrill of newness wears off and those ‘opposite’ characteristics cause friction. Yet we don’t want to surround ourselves with people who mirror ourselves. What would be the point? In business this is especially true. It’s best to build a balanced team with multiple skill sets. So with our optimal team we have multiple skill sets, variety, and often conflict. Team Building to the rescue…you knew that was coming!

But seriously when I worked with a group from Ferguson plumbing products last week, I felt like a fish out of water. They were cut and dried fixture types and myself, mostly right brain. Well we ended up with a great song and a great experience. They learned that plumbing can be creative and very very funny with lots of lyrics about waste water, efficiency and value; all in an off-color sort of way. I learned that focus on unique products, design and detail really does make a difference.

All smiles as a group from Ferguson plumbed their way through a great song and gave voice to what their company stands for.

This Is A Wonderful time of year to plan team building as part of your holiday gathering. Fun, interactive, memorable and productive. Take a look at one of our holiday events from last year, Kidbilly on Youtube

I had a wonderful opportunity to attend a workshop about HBDI led by Bob McKown. Bob is a fantastic facilitator, coach and human resource consultant. I found out a lot about my learning, thinking and behavorial preferences. Most importantly, I gained skills and knowledge that will help me be bring more awareness to our team building programs. For more information about Bob McKown and XMi Human Resource Solutions click here, 

Share Your News: If you have any suggestions for the next monthly newsletter, let’s hear them. I’d love to share what you’re doing. Do you have new ideas or services you’re offering? Let us all know!

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.

Stay in touch and let us help you deliver the programs you need.

Billy Kirsch

One Hand Washes the Other – Maybe with all the talk of H1N1 I’ve got hand washing on my mind. But more likely it’s the inspiration and business I continue to receive from people, friends and competitors alike. Have you ever referred a potential client to someone who competes with you because you weren’t able to help that particular client? I did this recently and about two weeks later the favor was reciprocated. In an effort to grow I’ve been embracing change, difference, and new ideas in ways I never did previously. And the pay-off continues to come in ways I never could have planned with a more traditional, thought-out marketing campaign. As we get busier and business gets back to “normal” my goal is to not…That is, not get back to the old normal. I’m enjoying reaching out in new ways, being more open, networking more and learning from all of you!

The excitement of being out with people is contagious. Even a traditional performance event becomes an opportunity for Team Bonding.

Speaking of performances – The past several weeks I’ve been performing my show, Hit Songs & True Stories. With all my team building experience I can’t help but involve the audience in every show. At a recent performance at the Grand Ole Opry Studio A, the entire crowd helped me create a song about life as a travel agent. Lots of laughter as we sang about common experiences this group of travel industry people shared:

MIA, ORD, LGA
Where are We

Last Friday I performed for veterans of the 390^th bomber group from WWII. I reached back to my jazz days in New York City and incorporated some 1940’s favorites into the show. Somehow they blended well with my own hit songs. Don’t ask me how!

World War II stories and twenty first century country hits; somehow it all worked!

Not officially autumn yet, but as I walked through the streets of lower Manhatten on a cool evening last week I wished I’d had a fall jacket. Fall has always been a time of reflection for me and this year the reflection has been particularly strong as I leave my daughter to begin her first year of college in New York City. Of course the family text messages have been flying, it’ so easy to stay in touch these days. In fact, it’s so easy to stay in touch through our virtual world of emails, texts, facebook and twitter that we can quickly forget the irreplaceable value of person to person, face to face contact. I may be biased because team building events take place when people get together. But I continue to experience the irreplaceable value: the insights, bonding, learning and productivity that happens when teams get together to share common experience, challenge and success. It is truly empowering.

Healthways
We wrote a song with the Healthways marketing team at their annual department wide meeting. This group liked to compete, so after writing a song chorus together we broke into teams, with fierce competition to craft the best song verses. After their independent work, we rejoined as a large group and put the elements of the song together. One
team rapped a verse to drums, their visual presentation being as important
as their message. After all, this was a marketing group and the song reflected
their passion for presentation!

Healthways marketing team brainstorming and rediscovering their creative potential

Back to school time brings back memories and stirs emotions; a potent mix of summer heat, recent summer adventures and the promise of fall with new beginnings. As I plan to head up to New York soon I’m reminded of the past, and excited about what’s in store for the future. My daughter is beginning college in NYC and I’m getting ready to visit some wonderful clients there who are planning team building activities later in the year. Later in the year is a good place to be since companies are back in planning mode. We’ve sensed a feeling of optimism and restored hope. We’re hearing from clients who appreciate the tremendous value in professional and personal development. It is inspiring for us to be a part of group transformation as teams tell their stories, discover their identities and renew their vision through music and song.

Featured Program:”Our Song” – Musical Team Building for large groups
Team music for 1,000? Yes it’s not only possible but fun and effective. For
ice-breakers or closers this event is amazing. Everyone is engaged as they sing in sections and then as one, creating a powerful group performance. Inspirational, energizing and fun, we bring groups together in a unifying experience. With our band on stage and our hit songwriter-leaders on risers in the crowd, all are involved, with lots or participation and opportunities for
soloists. The performance of your client’s theme song will become a unique and lasting part of their corporate identity.

Featured Guest: David Hutchens is one of my favorite people and the author of “Outlearning The Wolves” among other great books. I laughed so hard while reading this book I forgot I was learning about organizational development and corporate creativity. Now in it’s gazillionth printing you need to check it out. As a songwriter and team builder, I’m addicted to stories and learning. David is one of the best story tellers there is.

David Hutchens

Visit David’s website at www.davidhutchens.com

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.

Stay in touch and let us help you deliver the programs you need.

Billy Kirsch

You finish the sentence, could be the summertime blues, as the old song goes. It could be the summertime fun and adventure…or a little of both; perhaps sitting in the office restless, dreaming of that magical summer experience we’ve all had at some point. At some point every summer I look at this picture and remember that feeling of total freedom, being in the moment and loving it.

Crested Butte, CO

Recent Fun: We recently worked with BD Diagnostics. An exuberant group of sales people from the BD GeneOhm unit gathered at the historic Hermitage Hotel to write a song about a subject only they understand, their GeneOhm products. But by the time the program ended, I actually knew what they were talking about. They have the song to prove it and the memories of a new kind of summer fun!

Teambuilding summer style: Lots of laughs and a few margaritas!

XMi HR Solutions helped us wrap up a busy June. We wrote a song exploring the company hierarchy and the wonderful services XMi offers to clients. Most importantly, a small group of dedicated individuals got to experience a wonderful group dynamic and came away with a better understanding of how to work together. You can see XMi’s offerings at http://www.xmihr.com/

Share Your News: If you have any suggestions for the next blog post, let’s hear them. I’d love to share what you’re doing. Do you have new ideas or services you’re offering? Let us all know!
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. Stay in touch and let us help you deliver the programs you need.

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

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.

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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