This weather is great!  I have been opening the doors to the business to get all the fresh air possible.  This time of year is the most distracting of all.  When the weather warms up it is difficult to focus on work.  I can see it in the eyes of our staff.

Energy levels are up, distractions are up and we all need to channel this enthusiasm to be productive.  There is no better time to focus the group then to get out of the office for the day.  Instead of fighting the distractions, let them get it out of their systems.

Do a picnic, hit a baseball game or go do something adventurous.  We are finding many companies are coming out to Lehigh Valley Grand Prix for their team building events to let go of that steam.  Everyone has been working extremely hard through this economy and the fresh air and the warm sun are a great excuse to take a corporate retreat.

Enjoy the weather as I plan a special outing for our team here at the track

El Diablo

Lehigh Valley Grand Prix takes pride in helping organizations raise money through our fundraising events.  We are always looking for creative ways to have fun and take it to the next level.  April is Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Month and LVGP is teaming up with the RAACE Foundation to help spread the Awareness.

Child Sexual Abuse is a topic that is not easily discussed.  It is a dark subject that is embarrassing and uncomfortable for victims, therefore the epidemic is not as widely discussed as it should be.  Here are some statistics that make me sick to my stomach!!  1 in 3 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18.  95% of sexual abuse occurs within the family of trust.  1 in 7 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18.  There are 39 million Child Sexual Abuse survivors in the US!!

Have I got your attention?  Now for the part where we can help!  On April 22nd starting at 5:30pm LVGP is having a wing eating contest combined with racing.  Teams of 3 will participate in a relay race.  Each participant will eat 2 wings and race 10 laps on the track then tag a partner.  Fastest team wins.  Top 10 teams will compete in a final race. This is going to be a blast!!

The Corporate environment is something that intrigues me.  How people use their resources and skill sets to get the optimal performance level out of their staff is challenging.  There is no exact formula to running a great operation.  All of the manuals, courses and training programs are great but in the end it comes down to how you can deal with your team as individuals.  Everyone is different and has different needs.

The challenge we all face is “How to create a cohesive team with our individuals?”  The answer to that isn’t simple or clear cut.  The old method of a dictatorship with strict guidelines and discipline isn’t necessarily the best approach.  Today we need to find creative ways for the team to gel and create stronger bonds.  This doesn’t mean that every day is a party at the office but it does mean that people who like each other, will be more effective working together.

Creating bonds through fun team building activities outside of the office can be an efficient and cost effective way of creating these bonds.  There needs to be a maintenance plan put in place that incorporates training and fun activities.  Think of something fun and creative each quarter to keep your team engaged and energized.

Some suggestions; glass blowing at Banana Factory, Clay Shooting at Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays, Indoor kart racing at Lehigh Valley Grand Prix or Paintball are good places to start!