Wikipedia explains that Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is a psychometric questionnaire designed to measure psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions.  These preferences were extrapolated from the typological theories originated by Carl Gustav Jung, as published in his 1921 book Psychological Types (English edition, 1923). 

The original developers of the personality inventory were Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers. They began creating the indicator during World War II, believing that a knowledge of personality preferences would help women who were entering the industrial workforce for the first time identify the sort of war-time jobs where they would be “most comfortable and effective.  The initial questionnaire grew into the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, which was first published in 1962. The MBTI focuses on normal populations and emphasizes the value of naturally occurring differences.

Do let us know which explanation you prefer. 

If you want to use MBTI with your team do contact us on 01920 822 220 or email us at mail@freshtracks.co.uk.

January is a great time to motivate the workforce

Although the right attitude, application and work ethic are important throughout the year, we’ve assembled some employee motivational events that will inspire and invigorate your personnel during a gloomy January.

The Chocolate Challenge

If you have a creative team who love chocolate, then our Chocolate Challenge is made for them. The challenge is to fulfil a complete commercial process, from concept to launch, of a new chocolate brand. You will have the exciting opportunity to design the box, as well as film a commercial. Be prepared to express your creative attributes and consume a lot of chocolate!

Lights, Camera, Action!

Calling all budding film makers and script writers! Our Film Making Team Building activity is a chance to write, choreograph and produce a short film either on your company or a new product. Each task requires a hands on approach, including camera operating, sourcing of props and acting, so there’s a role for everyone. The great thins about this activity is it can be tailored to your team’s requirements and budgets.

Cooking up a storm

After the continuous success of reality TV show, Master Chef, our Culinary Team Building Event is the perfect way to express your cooking skills without having to be in front of the camera. You will be actively involved in creating a three course meal from a limited array of ingredients. As well as preparing dishes, your team are also instrumental in the menu presentation and table decoration in order to obtain points. This is one of our most flavoursome employee motivation ideas yet!

We offer a wide choice of Corporate Team Building Activities for all sized businesses who want to start 2010 the right way.

http://www.freshtracks.co.uk/cooking.htm

Be creative this Christmas

Boozy parties are probably not the best way to mark the end of a tough year but that doesn’t mean there’s not value in gathering everyone together.

As we enter an era when return on investment is at the forefront of our minds the annual celebration needs to deliver more than just a few laughs and sore heads the next day.

So, while everyone is together in celabratory mood here are a few suggestions that will turn a turkey dinner into a turning point: stand out awards for outstanding contributions during 2009; use energisers to get people mixing – it will improve internal communication in the New Year; recast the vision and energise the team for 2010; invite former colleagues back – not always appropriate but if you can, you should; accommodate non-drinkers with fabulous soft drinks; replace the usual dinner dance with an activity – see possible ideas below.

Alternative Christmas activities: Treasure Hunt, Cook your own Christmas lunch, Quad Biking, Reflective Nature Walk, Cultural Christmas (visiting museums and galleries), Fondue lunch/dinner, Sensory Quiz, Interactive Cabaret, Karaoke, Wii Olympics, Scalextric Grand Prix, Take a trip to the seaside, Plant some trees, Help a charity, school or neighbour. 

Any other ideas? Let us know.

We're back on Channel 4 with Paul O'Grady on 22nd Sept

This time we have created an exercise that will have X Factor runners up JLS competing against Paul & Co to see which group can perform best as a team under pressure.  In a matter of minutes the two teams will have to first understand the task, before coming up with a plan that will utilise their strengths and earn them maximum points.

Being an entertainment show today’s challenge will involve lots of water and a fair amount of chaos but the essence is the same as in any other sports or business team – Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

Do tune in to Channel 4 at 5pm tonight but if you can’t get to a television do come back to the blog in a couple of days or follow us using your RSS feed because we’ll upload a video of the team building activity!

A great team performing under the pressure of live TV

Today I spent the afternoon on the set of a live TV show.  With just two hours to air the production team managed to deal with numerous unforeseen crises calmly and confidently.

Much has been written about stress and its impact on individuals but this afternoon’s experience got me thinking about team stress.

It’s surprising how often we allow anxiety to build from within our teams, limiting productivity, stifling creativity and eradicating the fun from work.

The TV production team today demonstrated excellent performance under pressure by:

- Having clearly defined roles.
- Being empowered by their leaders to do what they do best without interference.
- Listening to suggestions from all team members regardless of hierarchy sharing the load when something had to be fixed quickly.
- Pride in the show they were producing.
- Maintaining a sense of fun throughout.

And finally after 60 minutes of prime time live broadcast we all gathered for a well deserved drink in the Green Room to celebrate a job well done.

Maybe we could learn a thing or two about teamwork from the luvvies in the entertainment industry.

Have a go running a live TV show with your team with our ‘Television Experience’ event.

The original team building activity

This group have given up two days of their hectic schedules to invest time in getting to know each other better and to take time out as a team.  By combining proven tools such as the psychometric Strengths Deployment Inventory along with team exercises the group will begin to bond as friends rather than colleagues.

Eating together is probably the original team building activity and when those around the table have all contributed to the feast, each mouthful is all the more satisfying.  All too often we separate our behaviour at work from our behaviour with friends more than is necessary.  Given we spend up to 60% of our waking lives with our work colleagues shouldn’t we make time to build friendships.  After all these are the people that influence our health, wealth and happiness more than any other.

Team building in Europe is only 24 hours away.

Below me a truck full of team building equipment is hopefully well secured to the deck.  Despite the high seas I’m excited to be part of a new chapter in the life of Fresh Tracks as we increase our overseas team building offering.  On many occasions in the past we’ve jumped on planes to deliver keynote talks and team building sessions at conferences and on occasions we’ve freighted equipment ahead of us.

Now times have changed with much easier road travel throughout Europe.  Ferries can transport vehicles overnight. Laden with team building games not just to France but also the Netherlands (just a couple of hours from the German border) and even as far as Norway, Spain and Ireland.  Most European capital cities can be reached in under 24 hours by road from our Hertfordshire base. This has increased our immediate operating area from being UK wide to being Europe wide for 90% of our activities and worldwide for around 50%, where the kit and equipment can be loaded on a plane.

Clients are delighted that they no longer need to risk using unskilled local team building suppliers that are not familiar with their corporate culture, values and strategy.  They now have access to the same people, equipment and innovation that they use in the UK right around the world.

A submarine offers an unusual venue for teambuilding

A team of business leaders were given permission to witness officers and ratings participating in damage control exercises on board the nuclear submarines HMS Sceptre and HMS Victorious before being put through their paces themselves. The team, which included business leaders from the local area, got a rare glimpse of the challenges of life at HM Naval Base Clyde, home to the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent.

Using footage from Jamie Oliver’s school dinners programme accompanied by memorable team games and activities, we take groups through a process where they learn to embrace change rather than fear it. Consequently the process of change runs more smoothly with majority buy in eliminating the all too common threat of sabotage from within. For more information or a meeting to discuss this workshop contact Dan Collins on t: 01920 822 220.