Fresh Tracks Team Talk - June 2008
The Secret of Success
With Sir Alan Sugar's new apprentice Lee McQueen still fresh in our minds, we'd like to reveal to you the secret of success.
The research company Gallup carried out a survey some years ago attempting to discover what the most successful leaders, athletes, entrepreneurs and politicians did that made them the best in their field. Like most great discoveries, the answer was not a surprise - these people had simply worked out what they were good at and spent their time working to their strengths. The majority didn't even bother to try to improve on their weaknesses, they simply partnered with people who were good at the things that they found difficult.
So how can we discover our strengths and those of our team mates? All too often people confuse their activity with their gifting. Just because we may have stumbled into a well paid job may not mean that this role fully exploits our in-built talent. Our self perception is often influenced by things that others have said to us in the past in school reports, appraisals, and so on. Even close friends won't necessarily be able to see beyond our behaviour to the qualities that lie beneath.
Questionnaires created by psychologists and tested for accuracy can provide the most reliable indication of whether we are motivated by outcomes, relationships, data or a combination of these factors. The Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI), developed during the 1960s by Dr. Elias H. Porter, is widely regarded as the most effective tool for enabling individuals and groups to understand their strengths and, therefore, motivation.
Several Fresh Tracks facilitators are accredited to administer SDI
during team
building programmes and away days, with fees per participant starting
from just £25. To discuss how to unleash the strengths within your team
contact Jane Mole on 01920 822220.
Trust
UnwrappedFresh
Tracks founder and senior facilitator, Dan Collins, has long argued
that trust is the secret ingredient of team effectiveness. With
David Thompson, author of Career
Helium, he has written "Trust Unwrapped: a story of ethics,
integrity and chocolate".
This book will be published later in the year, but in the meantime
beady-eyed volunteers are required to review the manuscript and,
if they see fit, submit an endorsement for the book's cover. If
you would like to be considered for this prestigious task simply
tell us why in less than 50 words by clicking
here to contact Dan.
Summer Sailing Special - Throughout August
Looking
for a reward or an incentive for your team this summer? We have just the
ticket.
Cowes Week - Fireworks Spectacular, Friday 8th August 2008
For up to 10 people - Two day itinerary from £3,500 + VAT
Sail to Cowes in style on board this luxury sailing vessel, where you will
be given the opportunity during the morning to try your hand at some sailing
manoeuvres and helming. You will enjoy a buffet lunch and spend the afternoon
on deck watching the yachts finish their day's racing. You will then make
your way up the marina and berth the yacht for the night. A water taxi
will transport your group to Cowes for your evening meal and watch the
finale of Cowes week, the fireworks display. You will overnight on board
the yacht and sail back to Portsmouth the following morning.
Cowes Week - 2nd to 8th August 2008
For up to 10 people - One day itinerary from £2,250 + VAT
This is a one day itinerary, similar to that described above, except that
you will remain on the vessel and return to Portsmouth the same day, arriving
back at approximately 5.30pm.
If you are unable to make a date in August, don't worry as we run our water-based team building activity Set Sail on the Solent throughout the year. For further information on either of these itineraries please contact Candy Clarke on 01920 822 220.
Book
Review Now Discover Your Strengths
By Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton
This short read reports on Gallup's findings and identifies over 30 distinctive qualities that an individual will possess in different measures. The authors argue that the most successful people know which of these qualities are in their top five and they order their life, work and relationships around these strengths. Each book also contains a code enabling the reader to discover his or her top five strengths through an online questionnaire. Click here to buy the book or click here to buy the audio CD through amazon.co.uk at a discounted price.
Some
Recent Fresh Tracks EventsFacilitated
Team Tasks - Activity based learning for HBOS
Multi
Activity Evening - All action fun with Timberland
Go
FAR - Focused team building for Pfizer
Chocolate
Challenge - A tasty reward for Cambridge
Water
If
you are planning a staff
conference or team
building event, or simply need some ideas on how to motivate your
group, please feel free to contact Tom
Vaughton on 01920 822 220 or visit www.freshtracks.co.uk.
Fresh
Tracks
"Creating better workplaces"
Team Building, Motivational Activities, Event Management Solutions
Web: www.freshtracks.co.uk
Tel: 01920 822 220
Email: mail@freshtracks.co.uk
‘teams that play together, work together’