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Rewarding Your Team Even During Tough Times

This post  was inspired by comments made by Marie Hunter on Tuesday, March 10, 2009, in her blog. It is a response to her questions:

Meetings, Events, Travel and Hospitality Industry: Leaders Needed, Marie Hunter wrote:

“When it comes to meetings, travel and entertainment, America is in a temporary state of gridlock. Headlines condemning corporate entertainment next to headlines about ponzi schemes and secret bonuses have caused public outrage and boardroom paralysis. This panic may be understandable based on the events of the past few months; but, the panic itself has dire consequences for the economy.

What questions should we be asking?
Now more than ever, corporate leaders, elected officials, regulators, industry associations, small business owners and salespeople nationwide are struggling to understand what is and is not appropriate when it comes to client entertainment and employee perks. When is it appropriate to spend money to recruit, educate or incent employees? A question that is not getting as much press, but that I would like to see on the table, is when, if ever can public companies allow employees to engage in entertainment practices that implicitly or explicitly condone gender bias?

Marie, I decided to take a stab at answering your questions and accept your challenge but my response became too long for  the comments section.

Before we begin, here is the White House’s position on business travel and meetings:

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama was not discouraging travel when he said last month that businesses receiving federal bailout money should not be taking junkets.
“The president believes it’s important to have a strong tourism industry and that it’s important that, as the president said earlier … that we shouldn’t retrench,” Gibbs said. “He would encourage people to travel.”

Gibbs said Thursday that the president was referring specifically to companies “that are getting large amounts of public funding.”

“The President does have great concern with public money being used for that,” he said. Gibbs added that the president’s comment was “very clear,” and passed on a chance to express regret.

So,  here is my take on your questions.  I encourage other management consultants, meeting and business travel professionals to respond to your challenge and answer your questions in their blogs. Since I am based in Toronto, I’ll be giving some Toronto examples but they can be applied at other locations.

 

How to Reward Your Team Even During Turbulent Times

What meetings and events do you feel should be green-lighted immediately and why?

When companies are in trouble, they should be spending THOUSANDS of dollars to bring in management and business team building consultants to help  them resolve their problems instead of HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of dollars on junkets and luxury events. Either through on-site meetings or off-site retreats at AFFORDABLE local venues such as community centres and conservation areas, consultants can steer organizations through a structured brainstorming process to identify:

  • cost saving measures and strategies
  • new target markets
  • new sources of revenue
  • strategies for improving efficiency

Depending on your location, here are a couple of ideas. These sessions can be offered at luxury resorts when the good times roll and conservation areas when times are tough. The content remains the same, the recreational components are the only things that change:

  • Wilderness Survival
  • Desert Survival
  • Arctic Survival
  • Visexecutaries - loosely based on the Apprentice, this session can be delivered at a luxury resort or a local community centre. When times are tough, the “task” can consist of developing a strategy to address some specific business challenge your organization is facing 

Save the lavish celebrations for when your company is back on track. In North America, we seem to want to party all the time.  Unfortunately, all too, often the emphasis seems  to be on strictly recreational events that organizations try to pass off as team building. Definitely we get far more calls for recreation and entertainment than consulting. This is quite surprising during a recession. People seem to forget that they are running businesses not social or country clubs. This bandaid approach is merely offering placebos instead of getting to the root of organizational problems and generating solutions.

What gender-related entertainment practices should be discontinued?

Strip clubs, male only golf clubs, etc. are highly inappropriate and they have NEVER had a place in a  corporate setting PERIOD!! Ditto for bringing porno movies to coroporate retreats and skinny dipping on the corporate dime. Grow up. You’re running a business not a fraternity house.

While we’re at it, it’s time to cut back on alcohol consumption and the open bars at corporate events for a while. This will save a bundle.

What constitutes lavish entertaining?

When companies are in trouble, they should postpone expensive events and partying until performance has improved. Focus instead on resolving business problems.

If everyone has worked hard and you’ve had a successful year, pull out all the stops. Lavish entertainment to reward employees and express appreciation to clients is perfectly in order when you’ve earned it. Depending on  your location, some ideas might include:


When is it okay to spend money on Employees?

Even when a company is facing a challenging year, it’s important to reward top performers, build skills and boost morale. The key is to gear the spending to organizational performance.

Hint: When a company is in trouble, more money should be spent on resolving business issues than on entertainment and recreation. Far too often, it’s the reverse.

How should recruits be entertained?

Again it depend on whether or not the company is performing well. If the company is facing challenges, you can still entertain recruits but choose a cost effective strategy such as:

If a company is doing,  well consider some of the options I’ve already listed and other luxury options like:

These are perfectly in order when a company is doing well.

If you’re located in the Middle East, a desert safari would be perfect. If you’re in the Caribbean perhaps a beach barbeque would work.

What other questions should we be asking?

I posted these suggestions on Marie Hunter’s blog. I’ll take a stab at anwering them now.

 What can companies that are having financial difficulties difficulty do to reward their people?

Companies can reward top performers and top performing teams and still provide a meaningful experience for hundreds of dollars instead of thousands of dollars. There is no need for gift cerfiticates starting at $1,000 per employee.  People seem to be lacking imagination.

Under $250 per person

  1. Give top performers gift certificates for spa TREATMENTS or a local Day at the Spa rather than spending a weekend away for a spa retreat.
  2. An overnight stay at a nice local inn with dinner and breakfast for top performers and their spouses.
  3. Get a corporate table at Polo for Heart or a similar event and invite top performers and their spouses.
  4. Dog sledding afternoon and lunch at a local inn or resort.
  5. Morning of horse riding and lunch at a local inn or resort.
  6. A day at  Canada’s Wonderland for top performers and their families.
  7. Seasons passes to Canada’s Wonderland for a family of 4.
  8. A day at the zoo for the top performers and their families.

Under $100 Per Person

  1. Dinner at a nice restaurant
  2. Afternoon Tea
  3. Movie passes for teams that have gone above and beyond the call.
  4. Theatre tickets.
  5. Concert tickets.
  6. Take a group of top performers and their spouses to the Royal Winter Fair including the horse show and dinner at the upscale restaurant that is on site every year.
  7. Get a table at the gala for tournament of champions.
  8. Tickets to local hockey, baseball or basketball games.

How should companies that are experiencing financial difficulty entertain their staff?

  • Picnics at a local conservation area
  • Christmas party – for heaven’s sake, don’t cancel the Christmas party. Insted, do it at a venue in the suburbs instead of a costly downtown venue. Consider using a community centre with an ice rink to save money and keep everyone entertained.
  • An evening at a comedy or improv club.

Anne Thornley-Brown is the President of Executive Oasis International, a Toronto based firm that regularly organizes incentive travel and executive retreats in  Dubai, Oman, Jamaica, Malaysia, Singapore, and Canada. They provide  one stop shopping service with  a  personalized approach to incentive travel for corporate groups of up to 40.  Customized itineraries include travel, transfers, hotel, tours, team activities, and special events.

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Equestrian Adventures for Corporate Incentive Travel

By Anne Thornley-Brown, President
Executive Oasis International

Anne Thornley-Brown is the President of Executive Oasis International, a Toronto based firm that regularly organizes incentive travel and executive retreats to Dubai, Oman, Jamaica, Canada, Malaysia, and Singapore. They offer a one stop shopping service with  incentive travel itineraries that include travel, transfers, hotel, tours, team activities, and special events for corporate groups of 10 to 60.

 

Around the World on Horseback

 

When people ask me, how someone like me who isn’t particularly athletic started riding horses, I smile because it’s a long story. The short version is that on a return visit to Jamaica, I had the opportunity to see polo for the first time. I was blown away.  The game was action packed and so fast paced that it took my breath away. Upon returning to Canada, I remember telling one of my Jamaican friends that I thought it was a pity there was no polo in Canada. She quickly corrected me and told me where I could watch polo near Toronto.  I quickly became a fixture at Toronto Polo Club and GGHG.  I would go almost every week and watch.  I always credit Phil and Tammy Van Der Burgt and Sheila Sifton for getting me started in riding. When they encouraged me to take riding lessons, they opened up a whole new world of adventure to me. I will always be greatful to them for their support. Soon, I was heading up to GGHG twice a week. It took me a while but eventually, I did learn to walk, trot and canter.  I even took a couple of polo clinics.

Horse riding opened up a whole new world for me. I soon got introduced to show jumping…. watching it, not doing it.  During my riding lessons, I only jump when my instructors remember and I never remind them. Wherever I travel whether it is for business or pleasure, as long as the weather is great, I make a point of going riding, watching polo or taking in a horse show. I have ridden on the beach and taken my horse into the water to swim a number of times. I have ridden in snow, in the desert, in the mountains, and in the jungle. So what are some ideas for building riding into your incentive travel? Where can you go to ride?

Horse Riding and Incentive Travel

Pleasure Hacking and Trail Rides:  At many destinations, there are places where you can go just to ride for pleasure.  So whether it’s riding in the desert near Dubai, the jungle in Singapore, or on the beach in Jamaica, there are options for beginners and experienced riders

Team Challenges on Horseback: Beginners can take riding lessons and most destinations. This can open the door to some interesting team challenges.  Even those who are a bit nervous around horses can participate in a tack up challenge or horse watering relay. On horseback, there are simple gymkhana games that one can use of team competitions. Beginners can participate at a walk or even while lead by another member of their team.

Horse Shows:  If you time it right, you and your team can go to a horse show during your trip. You can watch international competitors compete in show jumping events, speed classes and even unique carriage events. Horse shows also provide your company with an opportunity for corporate sponsorships to promote your services and products.

Polo: At most destinations, polo is accessible and it’s free to watch club chukkas. For groups, it’s best to contact the club ahead of time to make arrangements. For charity tournaments, you have the option of reserving a corporate table or tent with gourmet meal or paying general admission, bringing a picnic or enjoying the action while you eat a burger or hot dog. Corporate sponsorships and promotional opportunities are also available at polo tournaments.

Polo clubs at many destinations have clinics for beginners. Make your plans well ahead of time and you can arrange for some riding lessons and a beginner clinic. You’ll watch videos to show you the basics, practice your shots from a wooden horse, and participate in ground scrimmages to get a feel for the basics. When you do get on a horse, participation is always within your zone of comfort whether you want to do it at a walk or, for the experienced riders, do some stick and balling at a canter.

Polo Team Building

  

How to Build Horse Riding into Your Incentive Travel

  

 

 Timing is key. The most important piece of advice that I can give you is to contact the equestrian facilities and polo clubs at your desired destination WELL in advance. Plan your trip at a time when some interesting events are available. This is not something you can pull together at the last minute for a group.  I don’t want to give away all of my secrets, here are a few ideas to get you started.

Toronto

There are many stables in the GTA where you and your team can take riding lessons. The 3rd weekend in June, Polo for Heart is the perfect opportunity to reserve a corporate table, paddock or tent for your team. Your enjoy world class polo as well as activities ranging from sky diving, superdogs and superdogs to the polo pony parades with luxury automobiles.

In November, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair always has a fabulous horse show with international competitors and options to fit every budget

Jamaica

Whether you are in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios or Negril, there are places where you can go riding. You’ll have everything available to you from a beach ride where you’ll get to ride while your horse swims in the sea to a cool ride in the mountains.

Ocho Rios: Hooves

One of my favourite places to ride is Hooves. It’s one of the first places I went riding on vacation after I started taking lessons. I returned years later when I had more experience. My guide even remembered me. Both times he gave me pointers that really improved my riding. A friend of mine, polo player and  reggae artist, had told me that the best way to improve my riding would be to go bare back in the wter. So, the 2nd time I rode at Hooves, when I was more experienced, I dit that. It made a huge difference. When I was back in the saddle I could feel the difference. I felt grounded and my seat was firmly planted in the saddle. 

Hooves has great beach rides and up until recently, they also featured a Bush Doctor Mountain Ride. Experienced riders can sign up for private rides so that they can canter.

 

Who is that cantering on the beach in Jamaica?

In the following video, Jamaica’s Dry Land Tourist takes you riding at Hooves.

Montego Bay: Half Moon Resort Equestrian Centre

I recently had the pleausre of riding at Half Moon Resort. I went on 2 trail and beach rides. Without a doubt, this is the most professionally run riding facility I have seen anywhere. Trina gives MAXIMUM attention to safety. During trail rides, beginners’ horses are attached to guides horses by lead line with a ratio of 1 to 1.


Enjoy Horse Riding on the Beach at Half  Moon!

During  beach rides, ALL riders’ horses are attached to guides’ horses at a ratio of 2 to 1. The guides are professionally trained by Trina to a level that they give riding lessons and provide coaching customized to the level of each rider. On my first ride, one of the guides gave me a tip that corrected a problem that I had been having with posting diagonals for years. Trina gave me some coaching before I headed out the second time. It made a huge difference. 

 For polo, you can go to Drax Hall or Chukka Cove. July is a good time to travel if your group wants to watch some tournaments. We can also arrange polo clinics and polo team building at Half Moon Club Equestrian Centre.

 

Survivor Team Building Equestrian Simulation

Horsing Around in Jamaica

 

Dubai

At the Dubai Polo Club you can take riding lessons and polo clinics. You can also watch polo. There was even an endurance ride for experienced riders that would take you from the Dubai Polo Club to Bab Al Shams where you’ll have a gourmet dinner and spend the night. Unfortunately, this ride has been suspended because of all of the construction in the desert. I regret that I was not at the level where I could handle almost a day in the saddle but one of these days, I hope that they will resume this ride and that I will be ready.

 

My guide bringing me my horse, saddled up
and ready me for to ride in the desert at Bab Al Shams in Dubai.

One of my most enjoyable experiences involved cantering in the desert at Bab Al Shams. When my guide brought my horse out he cautioned me to make sure that I didn’t take the horse towards the small sand dunes or they would jump them. As I like jumping NOT I was slightly nervous very careful. In no time at all, I was cantering like crazy in the desert, even ahead of my guides. When we came back near the barn, I raced around the track over and over  again. It was great fun, an awesome experience and a wonderful way to boost my confidence as a rider. Endurance rides in the desert are available at Bab Al Shams for advanced riders.

 

Malaysia

For riding lessons, try:

The Royal Selangor Polo Club has clinics and tournaments several times a year. Make sure that you contact them ahead of time to secure an invitation for your group. I spent a pleasant afternoon there watching a tournament. Dato’ Beh Chun Chuan of BP Polo Club invited me to join his family for the scrumptious buffet of Malaysian treats that followed. I was really pleased that, even though it was the weekend, he arranged for a member of his team from BP Healthcare group to come to Kuala Lumpur from Ipoh to attend my 2 day seminar starting first thing Monday morning. Now that’s executive commitment.

Singapore

One of my favourite Singapore memories is going for a riding lesson at the Singapore Polo Club and then riding in the jungle with the club manager. After that, it was relaxing to watch the fast action of polo.

In Singapore, whether the members of your team are beginners or advanced riders, riding lessons are available at the Singapore Polo Club. After your lesson, you can go riding in the jungle.  Riding lessons, jumping lessons and hacking are also available at the Bukit  Timah Saddle Club. Horse shows are held regularly so, if you time your trip carefullly, you can take in some world class show jumping in Singapore.