International Association of Teamwork Facilitators

Free IATF TeleSeminar: Alex Scordelis shares Teamwork & Leadership Lessons from the "No Pants Subway Ride" and other Improv Everywhere "missions"

Register for FREE TeleSeminar below.

It was a GIANT teambuilding and leadership challenge...

On a cold Saturday in New York City, the world’s largest train station came to a sudden halt.

Over 200 Improv Everywhere Agents froze in place at the exact same second for five minutes in the Main Concourse of Grand Central Station.

Over 500,000 people rush through Grand Central every day, but on this day, things slowed down just a bit as commuters and tourists alike stopped to notice what was happening around them.  [watch the video clip below]

This "mission", as Improv Everywhere likes to call it, is just one example of how groups of people (many are strangers to each other) come together to create memorable and fun moments.

Improv Everywhere is, at its core, about having fun - - organized fun.  Their missions are a fun source of entertainment for the participants and those who happen to see them live.  Improv Everywhere brings excitement to otherwise unexciting locales and give strangers a story they can tell for the rest of their lives. 

Teamwork & Leadership Lessons

Two of Improv Everywhere's key agents have authored a fun and memorable book entitled "Causing A Scene:  extraordinary pranks in ordinary places with Improv Everywhere" which describes some of the group's exploits.

On Wednesday February 10, Alex Scordelis will visit the IATF community to share behind the scenes stories of their most famous pranks as well as lessons they've learned about successfully leading hundreds of volunteers during these pranks.

• Learn what it's like to be in a creative space in an "open space" environment.
• Discover how to harness the creativity and enthusiasm of your team.
• Learn principles of improv comedy and how they can help your team work better together.

Call Details

TITLE

Teamwork & Leadership Lessons from Improv Everywhere

DATE

Wednesday February 10, 2010

TIME

Starts at 1 pm Eastern (NY City time zone)
runs for 60-75 minutes

PRESENTERS

Alex Scordelis, senior agent with Improv Everywhere and coauthor of "Causing A Scene"

Tom Heck, President & Founder of the IATF

WHAT TO EXPECT

Come to the call ready to participate in small group discussions, share ideas and resources, ask questions, answer quick polls, and be fully engaged as we put the newest distance learning telephone conferencing technology to use!

RECORDING

This call will be recorded and archived in the IATF members only area.

COST

Free for all subscribers of the IATF free e-newsletter.

REGISTER HERE

CLICK HERE to register.  It's free.

TELEPHONE CONFERENCING TECHNOLOGY

During this TeleSeminar we'll be using the newest telephone conferencing technology that provides a remarkably engaging experience.  CLICK HERE to learn more about this technology.

From Wimpy to Edgy: 10 observations to help you become a stronger teamwork coach

The most powerful way to build and lead teams is through a "Coach Approach".

Some mistakenly believe coaching is, by default, wimpy. Yes, there are a lot of wimpy coaches (leaders) however, one of the most common requests from team members is for a strong coach (strong leader).

But what does it mean to be "strong"?

The answer can be found by exploring the difference between "Wimpy" and "Edgy".

Leader Coaches can be experienced and highly skilled and STILL be wimpy. 

At the IATF, we prefer Leader Coaches who have "the Edge". 

I’ve never met a very successful Leader Coach who doesn’t have this Edge.

Andrea Lee has re-posted a great description of the Edge which was originally written by Thomas Leonard - - read it HERE

Learn how to become a Leader Coach with the Edge HERE.

Free IATF Leadership Skills TeleSeminar: Visiting Faculty Member Dan Pink on his new book "DRIVE - The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us"

Register for FREE TeleSeminar below.

Motivation by Carrot & Stick

Most of us believe that the best way to motivate ourselves and others is with  external rewards like money and threats (of losing money or a job, etc.) — it's motivation by carrot-and-stick.

Only one problem with the carrot-and-stick method of motivation.

It's completely outdated and no longer works.

That's what Dan Pink says in his provocative new book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. The secret to high performance and satisfaction—at work, at school, and at home—is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world.

Drawing on four decades of scientific research on human motivation, Dan exposes the mismatch between what science knows and what business does—and how that affects every aspect of life.

Dan demonstrates that while carrots and sticks worked successfully in the twentieth century, that’s precisely the wrong way to motivate people for today’s challenges.

In DRIVE, Dan examines the three elements of true motivation—autonomy, mastery, and purpose—and offers smart and surprising techniques for putting these into action. Along the way, he takes us to companies that are enlisting new approaches to motivation and introduces us to the scientists and entrepreneurs who are pointing a bold way forward.

Check out the 18-minute video [below] of Dan presenting at TED.  You'll gain some new insights for becoming a more effective team leader.

In this interactive TeleSeminar we'll explore the impact of these lessons on TEAMS.  You'll also get to ask Dan some questions yourself!

"Pink's ideas deserve a wide hearing. Corporate boards, in fact, could do well by kicking out their pay consultants for an hour and reading Pink's conclusions instead."
- Forbes

"Fascinating . . . If Pink's proselytizing helps persuade employers to make work more fulfilling, Drive will be a powerhouse."
- USA Today

Call Details

TITLE

DRIVE - The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

DATE

Wednesday February 24, 2010

TIME

Starts at 1 pm Eastern (NY City time zone)
runs for 60-75 minutes

PRESENTERS

• author Dan Pink  www.DanPink.com
• Tom Heck, President & Founder of the IATF

WHAT TO EXPECT

Come to the call ready to participate in small group discussions, share ideas and resources, ask questions, answer quick polls, and be fully engaged as we put the newest distance learning telephone conferencing technology to use!

RECORDING

This call will be recorded and archived in the IATF members only area.

COST

Free for all subscribers of the IATF free e-newsletter.

REGISTER HERE

CLICK HERE to register.  It's free.

TELEPHONE CONFERENCING TECHNOLOGY

During this TeleSeminar we'll be using the newest telephone conferencing technology that provides a remarkably engaging experience.  CLICK HERE to learn more about this technology.

Award for best Super Bowl ad demonstrating teamwork

Here's what's possible when your team is internally motivated.

Wondering how to make this happen on your team?  Learn how in the IATF Leader As Coach Fast Track Program.

Free IATF Leadership Skills TeleSeminar: Using conflict creatively in teams with Karen Valencic, IATF member

Register for FREE TeleSeminar below.

All conflict is bad and should be avoided at all cost.

That was a strong belief held by one organization I worked with.  They believed the presence of conflict was an indication of organizational weakness.

And as you might imagine, the organization was anything BUT strong.

Conflict is like fire: if used unconsciously destruction follows and if used wisely a team will prosper.

Challenge and conflict are particularly prevalent right now for people and organizations. Tight resources, rapidly changing technology, and multiple generations in the work place all add to the intensity. 

A delicate balance is required to use conflict creatively before it gets destructive.  Yet, innovation requires conflict and performance peaks when we are challenged. 

Now is the perfect time as a leader to learn how to foster and harness conflict.

Karen Valencic is an expert in conflict resolution; she works with teams to help them understand conflict and use it to collaborate and create.  Karen is the author of Spiral Impact -- The Power to Get It Done with Grace.  Her understanding of conflict stems from her many years studying Aikido, an absolutely amazing martial art [check out the video clip below showing Karen's master instructor].

In this interactive TeleSeminar you'll learn the following:

1. Why it is crucial to have conflict and be challenged.

2. What it takes to create with conflict.

3. How to implement these ideas with a team or group of people working together.

Karen Valencic is an IATF member and it is both our honor and pleasure to provide IATF members with a platform to share their wisdom with the worldwide IATF community.  This represents one of the many benefits of IATF membership.

Call Details

TITLE

How To Use Conflict Creatively in Teams

DATE

Thursday February 18, 2010

TIME

Starts at 1 pm Eastern (NY City time zone)
runs for 60-75 minutes

PRESENTERS

• Karen Valencic, author of Spiral Impact, IATF member
• Tom Heck, President & Founder of the IATF

WHAT TO EXPECT

Come to the call ready to participate in small group discussions, share ideas and resources, ask questions, answer quick polls, and be fully engaged as we put the newest distance learning telephone conferencing technology to use!

RECORDING

This call will be recorded and archived in the IATF members only area.

COST

Free for all subscribers of the IATF free e-newsletter.

REGISTER HERE

CLICK HERE to register.  It's free.

TELEPHONE CONFERENCING TECHNOLOGY

During this TeleSeminar we'll be using the newest telephone conferencing technology that provides a remarkably engaging experience.  CLICK HERE to learn more about this technology.

Katie Salen on Learning with Games

Katie Salen is a professor of design and technology at Parsons The New School for Design.  In this video Katie talks about the value of games and the empowerment of play.

The IATF teaches how you can use teambuilding games to engage a group and help them evolve as a team.

The Disposable Worker

Pay is falling, benefits are vanishing, and no one's job is secure. How companies are making the era of the temp more than temporary.

Business Week has a great article HERE about how companies are working with temps.

The forecast for the next five to 10 years: paltry pay gains, worsening working conditions, and little job security.

More jobs will be freelance and temporary, and even seemingly permanent positions will be at greater risk.

"When I hear people talk about temp vs. permanent jobs, I laugh," says Barry Asin, chief analyst at the Los Altos (Calif.) labor-analysis firm Staffing Industry Analysts. "The idea that any job is permanent has been well proven not to be true."

As Kelly Services (KELYA) CEO Carl Camden puts it: "We're all temps now."

Are you a manager or supervisor faced with leading a workforce made up partially or fully of temps?  If yes, then the best leadership "operating system" you can use is that of Leader As Coach.

6 step debriefing process from Thiagi

Thiagi offers up a great podcast on his 6-step debriefing process.  You can listen to the podcast HERE (approx. 30 minutes).  Listen to all the podcasts HERE.

Thiagi (Sivasailam Thiagarajan) is a leader in the field of training and development and he is a master of using interactive games.  Subscribe to his monthly newsletter HERE .  Thiagi's newsletter always has great information.

Seth Godin says "Control is a losing strategy"

Seth Godin says "Control is a losing strategy."

Is there any doubt that the world is going to go faster, not slower?

Any doubt that non-state actors are going to have more influence on world affairs than ever before?

Any doubt that technology will continue pushing us along a slippery slope where control is not a winning strategy?

Control might be the goal of a typical politician, but the future belongs to linchpins, individuals with leverage, people willing to make a difference and do work that matters.

Read the article HERE.

So if you're in agreement with Seth, then what IS the best way to lead?  How about as a Leader Coach?

Can fun change behavior?

For centuries small groups of people have tried to figure out ways to influence the masses. 

Dan Pink's new book DRIVE - The surprising truth about what motivates us suggests that everything we think we know about what motivates us is wrong.

Turns out, one of the most effective and uplifting ways to influence behavior is through fun.  Watch the video clip below for an example.  CLICK HERE for more examples.

Fun, when used with a purpose, is a POWERFUL motivator. 

How are you using FUN to influence, uplift, and direct your team?

Free IATF TeleSeminar: Secrets of building and leveraging a Virtual Team with expert Melanie Benson Strick

Are you an entrepreneur working in the field of Teamwork Facilitation?  If yes, this event is for you!

Many entrepreneurs who work in the field of Teamwork Facilitation are so busy with the daily demands of business they don't have time to do what they are passionate about…and what makes the biggest difference to their bottom line.

Are you so busy playing "catch up" you don't have time to do your great work and make more money?

Do you find yourself:

• Doing your own bookkeeping (and you're not a bookkeeper)?
• Maintaining your own web site (and you're not a web guru)?
• Creating your own marketing materials (and you're not a copywriter, marketing consultant or graphic designer)?
• Doing your own customer service/scheduling/correspondence, etc. (and you aren't a virtual assistant)?
• Or doing anything else you could easily outsource?

A lot of people in business for themselves make the mistake of being a one-man or one-woman show. Do you really have to do it all? Not if you REALLY want to make money and make a bigger difference.

Does this sound like you and your business:

• You’re too busy to make money.
• You’re working over 80 hours a week just to get by.
• You start projects that never go anywhere because you don’t have time to follow through.
• Your family doesn’t recognize you anymore.
• You need help, but you can’t afford to hire anyone.

 
You’re overwhelmed. Exhausted. Plus you probably realize you're leaving tons of money-making opportunities on the table.

If this describes you, then you need to know about Melanie Benson Strick who is an expert at helping entrepreneurs learn how to build and leverage a virtual team.

Get Melanies e-book The Power of the Virtual Team

Melanie is known as The Million Dollar Lifestyle Business Coach because she knows first-hand how to build a successful, thriving, freedom-based company with her secret weapon -- LEVERAGE. With over 12 years in corporate America and eight years as a business owner, Melanie works exclusively with entrepreneurs who are ready for a “sustainable” lifestyle business.

After her first two years running her own company, Melanie quickly realized that most entrepreneurs create a JOB, rather than a company. They position themselves to work harder than they ever imagined – with minimal results. Frustrated and overwhelmed, they get stuck and never actually experience the FREEDOM or the financial success that they crave.

Melanie’s clients, who are typically coaches, consultants, authors, speakers, trainers, service professionals and information marketers, average a 172% revenue increase while creating more time for living their dream lifestyle. She does this through her revolutionary mentoring programs, easy to follow systems, and proven, profit-generating tools that cause her clients to CATAPULT into their dream businesses!

Call Details

TITLE

Secrets of Virtual Team Building for Entrepreneurs Working in Teamwork Facilitation

DATE

Wednesday January 27, 2010

TIME

Starts at 1 pm Eastern (NY City time zone)
runs for 60-75 minutes

PRESENTERS

Melanie Benson Strick, Virtual Team Expert

Tom Heck, President & Founder of the IATF

WHAT TO EXPECT

Come to the call ready to participate in small group discussions, share ideas and resources, ask questions, answer quick polls, and be fully engaged as we put the newest distance learning telephone conferencing technology to use!

RECORDING

For a limited time, the recording can be downloaded for free HERE.

This call is archived in the IATF members only area.

During the call Melanie mentions the "Hidden Gold Exercise" and you can get it HERE.

COST

Free for all subscribers of the IATF free e-newsletter.

REGISTER HERE

CLICK HERE to register.  Registration is closed.

TELEPHONE CONFERENCING TECHNOLOGY

During this TeleSeminar we'll be using the newest telephone conferencing technology that provides a remarkably engaging experience.  CLICK HERE to learn more about this technology.

Newsletter of the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators -- January 2010

Hello Teamwork Facilitators!  It's Tom Heck, President & Founder of the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators, with your January 2010 teamwork ideas e-newsletter.

Our hearts reach out to the people of Haiti.  There are many people and organizations working to help during this difficult time.  If you haven't already done so, please consider donating to the Red Cross HERE.

Today, here in the United States, we celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King.  Life's most persistent and nagging question, King said, is "what are you doing for others?"  Our relationships  team  world would be transformed if each of us pursued the answer to this question.

2010 is an important year for the IATF.  Our emphasis and focus this year is INSPIRATION.  We will continue to establish and strengthen relationships with leaders who seek to grow inspired teams.  Be sure to listen to the audio interview with Dr. Lance Secretan (link below) who recently spoke at the IATF about how you can be an inspired leader and build inspired teams.

Tom Heck
President & Founder
International Association of Teamwork Facilitators

Free TeleSeminars

IATF Monthly Leadership Skills Call
Wednesday January 20, 2010 at 1pm EST
Topic:  The Control Model and Teamwork
CLICK HERE for more info and to register

Virtual Team Secrets
Wednesday January 27, 2010 at 1 pm EST
Special Guest:  Melanie Benson Strick
Mark your calendar.  More info coming soon

Free Virtual Team Resources

In December 2009 the IATF hosted the first Virtual Team Leader Virtual Conference taking place over the course of 5 days.  This course was designed for those who are new to leading virtual teams.  The course included classes, coaching, guest speakers, handouts, assessments and more.  IATF members receive immediate and full access to all the materials for free.  For a limited time you can now access the recordings of our guest speakers for this event:

• Jessica Lipnack -- Secrets to unlocking virtual team intelligence HERE
• Barry Rellaford -- Building trust on the virtual team HERE
• Shaun Callahan -- Empowering the virtual team HERE
• Brian Burt -- Engaging the virtual team HERE
• Jenn Sramek -- Lessons learned from leading a multinational virtual team HERE

Free IATF Visiting Faculty Audio Interview

How to be inspired and inspiring – everywhere, with everyone, all the time - with IATF Visiting Faculty Member Dr. Lance Secretan.  CLICK HERE to access the recording for a limited time. 

Free Teambuilding Game with VIDEO

How important is timing and coordination of efforts on your team?  Here's a simple no-prop game that can help your team practice and refine these skills.  CLICK HERE for video and more info.

Free Team Theory

How does a teambuilding game relate to a job?  CLICK HERE

Workshops

January 21, 2009 -- "Lessons In Leadership" in Asheville, NC  MORE INFO

March & April 2010 -- "AEE regional conferences all over US  MORE INFO

Free IATF Leadership Skills TeleSeminar: The "Control Model" and Teamwork

For too many, leading and working on teams is stressful.  Much of the source of this stress is generated by wasting time, thoughts, and emotions focusing on things that can't be controlled.

In this 27-minute long "laser" TeleSeminar we'll explore a model that will help you (and your team) get a clear idea of what you can control (and what you can't).

The ultimate outcome of this TeleSeminar is to help reduce your stress and increase your productivity.

Call Details

TITLE

Understanding The Control Model

DATE

Wednesday January 20, 2010

TIME

Starts at 1 pm Eastern (NY City time zone)
runs for 27 minutes

PRESENTERS

Tom Heck, President & Founder of the IATF

WHAT TO EXPECT

Come to the call ready to participate in small group discussions, share ideas and resources, ask questions, answer quick polls, and be fully engaged as we put the newest distance learning telephone conferencing technology to use!

RECORDING

CLICK HERE to download the recording of this call (available for a limited time). 

This call is archived in the IATF members only area.

COST

Free for all subscribers of the IATF free e-newsletter.

REGISTER HERE

Registration closed.

TELEPHONE CONFERENCING TECHNOLOGY

During this TeleSeminar we'll be using the newest telephone conferencing technology that provides a remarkably engaging experience.  CLICK HERE to learn more about this technology.

New Teambuilding Game: Ground Slap

How important is timing and coordination of efforts on your team?  Here's a simple no-prop game that can help a team practice and refine these skills.

This teambuilding game called "Ground Slap" and can be played sitting around a table or (preferably) kneeling on the ground in a circle.

The setup is important - - with team members on hands and knees, ask everyone to place their right hand in between the hands of the person to his/her right.  The end result will weave everyone's hands together.

Here's the challenge:  The leader starts by slapping his/her right hand on the ground which starts a domino effect meaning, the hand immediately to the right must slap the ground and then the hand immediate to that hand must slap the ground, and so on. If someone slaps the ground twice in a row then the direction of the ground slapping domino effect reverses (watch the video and you'll see this happen).

Would you like to lead this teambuilding game with your group?

Join the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators and receive immediate access to the growing online archive of teambuilding games.  The lead-it-yourself instructions include: 

• Setup & Preparation directions
• Rules
• Comments and insights about the teambuilding game
• Debriefing suggestions
• Variations
• Detailed "how to make it" if props are involved
• Video clips and photos

"Lessons In Leadership" workshop in Asheville, NC

The Western North Carolina Lessons In Leadership group will be hosting a fantastic evening training event in Asheville, North Carolina (headquarters of the IATF) on January 21, 2010.

The theme will be Leadership 2010: Accelerating Results in Uncertain Times.


The featured presenters are nationally-acclaimed leadership coach and motivational speaker CHIP MADERA, and GEORGE FLEMING, whose Personal Transformation workshop at Lessons in Leadership 2009 was a huge hit!  Read about their presentations here.

In keeping with the Lessons in Leadership concept of "giving back to the community," both presenters and many other people involved in organizing the event have donated their time and talents free of charge which means you can attend this amazing world-class leadership training for a low $25 per person (discounts for groups).

Space is limited so please register now!

Association for Experiential Education -- Regional Conferences Spring 2010

The Association for Experiential Education (AEE) offers regional conferences each spring.  I've attended AEE regional conferences and have presented at them as well.  There are always great workshops and great people to learn from.

From the AEE website:

AEE sponsors a variety of events for experiential educators, practitioners and students from around the world to come together in a supportive community with the goal of promoting, defining, developing, and applying the theories and practices of experiential education.

AEE conferences are designed to help you to develop professionally, find employment or employees, learn valuable new strategies and skills to integrate into your work, and develop lasting personal and professional relationships.

The conferences take place in 8 regions of North America during March and April.

CLICK HERE for details and links.