Hands-On Activities for Team Training Events

This week, I facilitated a manager workshop on how to grow and develop people and teams. One question sparked a great conversation: “How do you develop your people outside of formal programs?” It’s a great question. IMO, one of the highest leverage actions a leader can take is making small, but consistent actions to develop their people. While formal learning experiences absolutely a role, there are far more opportunities for growth outside of structured settings from an hours in the day perspective. Helping leaders recognize and embrace this is a major opportunity. I introduced the idea of Practices of Development (PODs) aka small, intentional activities integrated into everyday work that help employees build skills, flex new muscles, and increase their impact. Here are a few examples we discussed: 🌟 Paired Programming: Borrowed from software engineering, this involves pairing an employee with a peer to take on a new task—helping them ramp up quickly, cross-train, or learn by doing. 🌟 Learning Logs: Have team members track what they’re working on, learning, and questioning to encourage reflection. 🌟 Bullpen Sessions: Bring similar roles together for feedback, idea sharing, and collaborative problem-solving, where everyone both A) shares a deliverable they are working on, and B) gets feedback and suggestions for improvement 🌟 Each 1 Teach 1:  Give everyone a chance to teach one work-related skill or insight to the team. 🌟 I Do, We Do, You Do:Adapted from education, this scaffolding approach lets you model a task, then do it together, then hand it off. A simple and effective way to build confidence and skill. 🌟 Back Pocket Ideas:  During strategy/scoping work sessions, ask employees to submit ideas for initiatives tied to a customer problem or personal interest. Select the strongest ones and incorporate them into their role. These are a few examples that have worked well. If you’ve found creative ways to build development opportunities into your employees day to day work, I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® has become a favorite tool in my Creative Integration™ toolkit - the use of creative methods in corporate L&D. This facilitation methodology creates a new way for teams to communicate on a level playing field; so all ideas make it to the table. In my leadership development programs, when we get teams thinking with their hands, here’s what I notice: ✨ Hands-on learning activates a level of engagement and retention you simply don’t get from traditional methods. ✨ Building together gives everyone a voice—it's not just the loudest (or most senior) person who gets heard. ✨ Ideas take on physical form, making even the most abstract challenges something we can see, touch, and solve. ✨ The process speeds up trust and connection, which shows up in better alignment and faster decisions. And there’s a real business case, too: miscommunication costs even small companies hundreds of thousands every year. Creative tools like LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® open up new channels for sharing, listening, and building understanding. #creativityisgoodforbusiness #leadershipdevelopment #teamdevelopment

Alcohol as the centerpiece for business entertainment is #toxic in my not-so-humble opinion. It's a particularly crappy experience for women fully immersed in #techsalesbro culture. Take "why aren't you drinking?" out of your vocab, and try one of these instead: Escape Rooms: This activity involves a team working together to solve puzzles and challenges to "escape" from a themed room. It requires collaboration, problem-solving, and can be a fun, intense shared experience that will help your team bond. Community Service: Organize a day for your team to volunteer at a local charity or non-profit organization. This can be a great opportunity to bond outside of the workplace while making a positive impact on your community. It can also foster a sense of shared purpose. Outdoor Adventure: Plan a day of outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing, rafting, or even a simple picnic in the park. These activities can promote teamwork, foster a better understanding of each other, and help team members connect with nature. Cooking Classes: Cooking classes can be a great way for teams to work together towards a common goal. Plus, you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor at the end of the class. Alternatively, you could have a cook-off or a 'bake-off', adding a touch of friendly competition. Workshops or Seminars: Engage a motivational speaker or expert to conduct a workshop or seminar that enhances team collaboration or communication. This can be especially useful as a team-building activity, as it not only helps team members bond but also gives them valuable skills they can use in their professional life.

The Marshmallow Challenge isn’t just fun—it’s a powerful learning tool. Here’s why it’s a favorite in our workshops: Rapid Collaboration Teams are forced to work together quickly under pressure. Strong communication and trust become non-negotiable. Diverse Skills Shine It highlights the value of cross-functional teams—those with varied backgrounds, thinking styles, and experiences consistently perform better. Encourages Early Iteration Successful teams don’t just plan—they build, test, and adapt early. It drives home the importance of rapid learning cycles and experimentation. 💡 The challenge mimics real-world dynamics: time pressure, complex problems, and the need to deliver results through collaboration. Want your team to learn through doing? This is a simple but powerful place to start. #TeamDevelopment #ProblemSolving #LeadershipDevelopment #ContinuousImprovement #LearningByDoing #Innovation #MarshmallowChallenge #FacilitationTools #Findleansolutions