Angus Firth, Rapid Teams Director, was recently interviewed on the USA-based podcast Vertical Playpen about creating inclusive team-building experiences in the modern workplace. Hosted by Phil Brown, a team development facilitator based in Vermont, USA, the discussion centred around how to balance fun, leadership, social events, and professional development.
Blurring the Lines of Fun and Purpose in Team Building
Phil Brown’s summary of the conversation:
- Blurring the line between fun, leadership, social events, and professional development is a challenge in team building and team development.
- The Amazing Race event can be designed to include project adventure games and challenges that foster collaboration, strategy, and problem-solving.
- Long-term initiatives and planning are essential for making a lasting impact in team development.
- The industry needs to focus on being more legitimate and avoid taking on jobs that do not align with their mission and values.
- Pushing individuals to face their fears, such as heights, is not appropriate in the modern workplace and should be avoided.
- The industry has become more aware of inclusivity and the need to create experiences that cater to different personality styles and energy levels.
- Competition can be a positive aspect of team development if it is structured well and aligned with programmatic goals.
Facilitating World-Class Team Building Today
Facilitating team-building programs today requires a deeper understanding of individual differences and dynamics. When creating experiences, it’s essential to consider factors like introverts vs. extroverts, precision vs. enthusiasm, and action vs. stability. These are all scales on the DiSC tool, but this is just one of many tools available. Each of Rapid Teams’ programs is mapped to these scales to ensure there is something for everyone.
“There are misconceptions about team building,” said Angus Firth. “We are looking to create fun, engaging experiences for all styles of individuals that change the perception of what team building is and how it crosses over into the workplace.”
The Origins of Team Building: Project Adventure and Karl Rhonke
During the podcast, Angus discussed the origins of team building and his family’s involvement in the industry in Western Australia, tracing it back to Karl Rhonke of Project Adventure.
Who is Karl Rhonke?
Karl is widely recognized as the best-selling author of numerous innovative publications, including Cowstails & Cobras, Silver Bullets, Quicksilver, and FUNN ’n Games. He played a key role in founding Project Adventure in 1971, an innovative physical education program launched at a local high school, helping popularise adventure programming and challenge ropes courses worldwide.
Bringing Experiential Team Programs to Australia
Karl visited Australia multiple times, sharing his fun, quirky, and highly engaging activities, as well as his expertise in challenge ropes courses. Today, terms like “Challenge by Choice,” the “Full Value Contract,” and the concept of “FUNN” (Functional Understanding Not Necessary) are ingrained in the language of adventure programming and camping.
His initial visits to Australia in the late 1980s led to the establishment of Project Adventure Australia. In fact, he was part of the opening of Merribrook in the 1980s in Margaret River, Western Australia. Richard Firth, Angus’ father, is a pioneer of outdoor experiential training in Western Australia. He set up Korringal for Christ Church Grammar School in the early 1980s. His next project was Merribrook, which was at the forefront of team building in WA from 1984 to 2015.
Honoring a Legacy: Karl Rhonke’s Impact
Here is a picture of Richard’s original (signed!) copy of Karl’s most successful book. Karl Rhonke passed away in 2020, leaving an everlasting positive impression on the experiential team-building world.
About High 5 Adventure Learning Center
Based in Vermont, USA, High 5 Adventure Learning Center is a nonprofit educational organisation dedicated to helping individuals, schools, teams, and communities use adventure experiences as an effective tool for improving the way they live, learn, work, and lead together.
