Three Team-Building Exercises That Can Help Your Team Grow

Team-building exercises are designed to help your team grow. The games and activities are created to build teammate relationships and support a positive company culture.

The goal of team-building exercises is to help teammates get to know, respect, and trust each other as they collaborate to achieve a desired outcome. The targeted skills include motivation, creativity, communication, and problem-solving.

Regularly organizing team-building exercises helps your team develop their skill sets and strengthen their commitment to their roles. These suggested activities can help.

Choose among these three types of team-building exercises to help your team grow.

1. Communication Exercises

Help your team to develop their communication skills with any of these exercises:

  • Blind Retriever: Divide your team into small groups. Provide each group with a blindfold. Have each group blindfold one member, then guide them to an object.
  • Building Blocks: Divide your team into pairs. Provide each pair with a pack of cards that have a different question written on each. Have your employees take turns asking and answering the questions.
  • Circle of Appreciation: Have your team form a circle. Ask each employee to share one thing they appreciate about the teammate to their left.

2. Creative Thinking Exercises

Support your team in developing their creative thinking skills with any of these exercises:

  • What’s My Name?: Provide each team member with a note card that has a famous person’s name on it. Have your team members walk around and ask each other questions to figure out each other’s person.
  • Design Battle: Divide your team into small groups. Provide each group with a product or service. Ask each group to create a poster for their offering.
  • Idea Day: Ask your team to share creative ideas to update company processes and procedures, develop new products or services, or create other business ideas. Choose the most beneficial idea to develop and implement as a team.

3. Problem-Solving Exercises

Encourage your team to develop their problem-solving skills with any of these exercises:

  • Barter Puzzle: Divide your team into small groups. Provide each group with a jigsaw puzzle that has a few pieces removed and given to other teams. Have the groups find ways to barter for the pieces needed to finish their puzzles.
  • Business Simulations: Divide your team into small groups. Provide each group with the same scenario involving a business problem, resources, and a deadline. Compare the solutions after the deadline passes.
  • Solution Day: Schedule a meeting for your team to share creative solutions to problems your company is facing.

Do You Need Help with Growing Your Team?

The goal of team-building exercises is to help your team grow. Depending on your goals, you might choose communication, creative thinking, or problem-solving exercises to enhance your team’s skill sets.

If you need help with growing your accounting and finance team, include Casey Accounting & Finance Resources in your hiring process. Get in touch with us to learn more today.

Thanksgiving Inspo, and Gratitude From Our Homes to Yours

Just about everyone is pretty pumped to plan their Thanksgiving celebrations. The preparations, cooking, table settings, decorating your home, matching outfits, and more. In advance of the upcoming holiday, we want to provide some valuable advice and inspiration so that you can whip up a great time – whether you go big or keep it on the light side. We’ve got your back!

The Food

Just Google search “best Thanksgiving food sites 2023,” and you’ll receive a myriad of ideas from the traditional to the trendy, homecooked or ordering meal kits online, restaurants that are open, or food trucks for a more casual affair. And, if turkey isn’t your jam, try alternatives like steak or prime rib, brisket, lamb, or a pot roast. Maybe this year, it’s a charcuterie Thanksgiving. Or breakfast/brunch becomes a new tradition for you and your friends and family. Whatever you decide, you’ll find plenty of ideas on the Internet.

Finally, if you have a cooking question on Thanksgiving Day, here is a list of several hotlines to help you with your needs.

The Decorations

Not all of us have a Martha Stewart gene in our family tree. Here are some easy DIY decorations that won’t require a glue gun and YouTube videos.

Don’t forget about your table settings. Find more dreamy inspiration at this website.

What We’re Thankful For

“I am very thankful for my family, friends, and co-workers who have always been supportive, nurturing, and loving to me. They are always there for me when I  need them.” – Eileen Renk, Casey Accounting & Finance Resources Director of Recruiting and Sales

“I’m thankful for the traveling I got to do this year! Aside from Midwest travel, I got to visit Colorado, Maine, Italy, and Mexico for Christmas.” – Julie Jurek, Arlington Resources Sourcing Specialist

“This season, I am thankful for joining a caring and thriving team. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be challenged every day by learning a new industry, interviewing top HR professionals, and serving our clients with top quality.” –  Courtney Thome, Arlington Resources Talent Acquisition Consultant

“I am most Thankful for my Good Health & Family. I am blessed to have my 92 year old grandfather on this earth still. Especially around the holidays is when I cherish making memories with him the most.” – Nina Salgado, HR Administrative Assistant

“So much to think about here, I am thankful for incredible friendships that I have built over many years now that I don’t have family anymore. The opportunity to be in a career for the past 26 years that allows me to change peoples’ lives every day and make an impact in our working world is very rewarding.  I am also thankful for the opportunities I have been presented in life that have helped me to grow and become a better person” – Denise Young, Arlington Resources Director of Recruiting and Sales

“I am thankful for my loving family, who are always there for me when I need them, and for having a hobby that brings me joy. Reading is a great escape from everyday life!”  Elizabeth Lanaghan, Arlington Resources Senior Recruiter & Sales Consultant

“Family is the most important to me always and for what I am most thankful. God has blessed me with an amazing husband and two daughters that have forever changed my life. I love my job and what I do on a daily basis, and I put my heart into it for my family.” – Cheryl Reinwald, Arlington Resources Director of Recruiting and Sales

Sending you a Harvest of Blessings

We hope Thanksgiving brings you reasons to be grateful, as we are so grateful for you. May your hearts be as warm as your kitchens, and we wish you good health and good times.

And remember, if you have a last-minute staffing need, we are here to fill your open positions so you can focus on filling your hearts and tummies.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Important Role Feedback Can Play for Employee Engagement

Feedback plays an important role in employee engagement. Sharing concrete examples of what an employee does well, how they could do better, and specific steps for improvement helps elevate performance.

Employees who implement feedback given understand exactly what they are working toward. As a result, these employees are likely to stay engaged as they finish their tasks. The results elevate your bottom line.

Discover the important role feedback can play in employee engagement.

Ongoing Communication

Feedback requires regular communication with your employees. Sharing ideas, perspectives, and suggestions to approach tasks helps minimize conflict and elevate performance.

Ongoing communication helps your employees feel heard and respected. As a result, your employees should effectively collaborate and remain engaged as they work toward their goals.

Employee Motivation

Sharing feedback shows you want the best for your employees. Therefore, your employees should feel valued and appreciated. They also should be motivated to stay engaged in their work as they improve their performance.

Minimal Errors

Sharing feedback helps ensure tasks are completed correctly. Not having to go back and fix mistakes saves significant time and money. The results include greater performance and productivity.

Stronger Leadership

The implementation of feedback helps your employees become more focused leaders. Leadership development is an effective method to increase employee engagement, performance, and retention.

Employees who consistently receive feedback can elevate their performance. As a result, these employees can take on additional responsibilities, grow into more senior roles, and provide additional value for your organization.

Tips to Provide Feedback

Implement these tips to properly provide feedback to your employees:

  • Provide specific examples of what your employee does well and what areas they could improve.
  • Include as many details as possible.
  • Remain nonjudgmental.
  • Focus on coaching to improve performance.
  • Show you have the employee’s best interest in mind.
  • Encourage your employees to engage during feedback conversations.

Do You Need to Hire Accounting and Finance Employees?

Feedback can play an important role in employee engagement. For instance, implementing feedback supports ongoing communication and provides motivation to improve performance. Also, regular feedback provides guidance to minimize mistakes and a strong foundation for leadership. These results help strengthen your bottom line.

If you need help with hiring accounting and finance employees, include Casey Accounting & Finance Resources in your process. Reach out to us to learn more today.