There is much to share on Pinterest - and Pinterest has much to share from the event industry.


Gelman finds that events where learning is the focus seem to find the most suc- cess. Often, the staff can incorporate the theme of the meeting into the team building program, as well.


With the drive for greater productivity and efficiencies in today’s economy, Gelman receives feedback from meeting planners that these team building pro- grams help build creativity and motiva- tion. Employees are more productive and energetic, which makes for a more successful meeting experience.


www.peddlersvillage.com Pinnable: Carousel pinterest.com/pin/13721973834532405/


KICK IT


If your group needs some “in your face” motivation, there may be no better place than at a sports stadium. Lincoln Financial Field offers groups a unique, “Bird’s” eye view of the Eagle’s home turf and training center.


Guests of group events here can experi- ence the routine of professional football players, or at least parts of it, for a day. “We have held Punt, Pass and Kick [exer- cises], where people can participate in a number of on-field activities, like throw- ing passes at targets, receiving drills, punt- ing for distance, kicking field goals, obsta- cle courses, and even flag football games,” explains Chris Sharkoski, events manager for Lincoln Financial Field. Keeping a running scorecard for each team or person can foster a spirited com- petition among the group.


The event staff at Lincoln Financial Field can include sessions of football class- room work, too. “For instance, a coach can come in and teach the Xs and Os of the sport, breaking down film, illustrating how players are graded out, etc.,” Sharkoski adds. The classroom sessions can utilize coaches, former NFL officials, and/or current and former players. This allows guests to get a feel of all aspects of the game.


After all, looking into the physical and mental aspects of a professional football team might provide a parallel story for


the corporate world and the purpose of your event.


events.lincolnfinancialfield.com Pinnable: Football Classroom Sessions pinterest.com/pin/13721973834571662/


CAKE AND STRATEGY


Not very often can you have your cake and eat it, too. Team Builders Plus offers an opportunity to do just that. They never lose sight of an event’s core pur- pose while consistently incorporating fun into each team building event or meet- ing (and vice versa). With a staff of exec- utive coaches and seasoned planners, the company offers its clients both seri- ous and light-hearted ideas.


More than one “pinnable” idea rests with- in the scrapbook of Team Builders Plus. Programs like Wheels for the World (where groups build bikes for local, underprivileged kids) and Kindness Wins (where groups participate in a competi- tion through which points are earned by random acts of kindness) certainly exemplify the idea of a “give back.”


Their website reflects, “As participants experience the power of generosity and compassion, they will discover that they get back as much as they give... a lesson that surely translates to a better environ- ment back at work.”


Lessons leading back to the workday are also threaded into facilitator led strategic planning sessions.


Team Builders Plus offers facilitators for strategic planning who can easily walk through models and projects, and - more importantly - create action plans that are executable.


Ken Blackwell, a senior trainer for Team Builder’s Plus, defines the facilitator’s role, “Our job is to help [our clients] see the answer they already have.” Blackwell believes that most executive groups often have the answer; they simply need a guide to navigate the conversation and foster constructive interaction.


One of their most pinnable ideas falls into the “fun” category - cake decorating.


Groups of five to six people receive a sheet cake, decorations and a theme. Within minutes, they must begin to plot their vision for creating a “house” or a “mountain.” Blackwell notes that this size group enables enough interaction, but avoids leaving anybody just standing around during the exercise.


“Always balance the activity with interac- tion,” he advises. Guests enjoy a creative few hours with their coworkers and have stories to share (or even pin) once their day is complete.


Regarding which type of event - fun or strategic - leads in popularity, Blackwell noted, “One of my surprises with the downturn in the economy was that the fun events became more of what we do.”


A few years back, Blackwell guessed that the fun events would disappear along with event funds, but the opposite occurred. More fun, light-hearted events increased in order to boost morale at companies.


Blackwell and his team are hopeful about the economy’s continued recovery, because in the past three to four months the ratio of fun versus strategic-led events is starting to rebalance.


www.teambuildersplus.com Pinnable: Cake Decorating Contest pinterest.com/pin/13721973834571908/


People thrive on sharing ideas, learning new things, and participating in a com- munity of thought provokers.


Events share many of the characteristics of Pinterest’s success, especially group outings and team building exercises. The site captures the essence of a well-craft- ed event by eliciting a “wow,” creating community and achieving the end result of an experience worth sharing.


There is much to share on Pinterest - and Pinterest has much to share from the event industry.


Cat Lambert is the Marketing Manager in the corpo- rate headquarters of SolomonEdwards where she focuses on thought leadership events, social media and branding. mcatherinelambert@gmail.com


Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 79


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