Build TEAMwork.

Trust is the cornerstone of an effective team. If we don’t trust ourselves, we’ll struggle to identify our needs or be confident in our work. If we don’t trust those around us, we’ll be unable to work with them productively and unwilling to express ourselves authentically. And if we don’t give trust to others, we’re unlikely to receive it from them.

We like to say trust is earned in pennies and lost in dollars. For this reason, each of our activities is designed to incrementally build trust between participants. By gradually increasing group size and difficulty of activities, people continually experience moments of success while being supported by one another, leading to more confidence and trust. This helps them feel empowered to tackle progressively harder challenges.

This approach, coupled with the somatic nature of our activities, facilitates rapid bonding and the ability of groups to accomplish things they wouldn’t have thought possible.

Even those who choose to opt out of physical activities are vitally important, as they serve as a reminder to set appropriate boundaries and can often offer a valuable perspective by seeing things that people immersed in the task at hand might miss. We find that this deliberate approach - making sure each person is engaged in a way they understand, feel good about, and recognize is valued by others - leads to increased participation and satisfaction.

When bolstered by trust, communication, and authentic expression, increased engagement leads to a better end product as well as more fulfilled individuals and cohesive teams.

Practicing authenticity means that our actions are consistent with our values, beliefs, and desires. There are several prerequisites that make this seemingly straightforward concept possible. For one, we must be aware and accepting of our true emotions. We also need the confidence and ability to effectively express these feelings. This requires both effective communication strategies and the assurance that the people we are working with will be open to and receptive to our perspectives and needs.

CK programs enable participants to practice all aspects of authentic expression. We focus on identifying and expressing needs as well as hearing others’ realities in a judgment-free manner. This allows us to develop a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of a situation where everyone feels heard and empowered to speak their minds and ask for what they need.

The positive outcomes of this experience, in turn, will make people more likely to reciprocate the caring and active listening that allows for others to show up more authentically.

Many people find meaning in their work, and they find greater meaning in feeling they are an integral part of something larger than themselves. Our experiences, triumphs, and failures are amplified in perceived importance by virtue of being shared with and appreciated by those around us.

CK activities help participants feel more connected to the groups they work - and play - with by progressively building trust, which allows for vulnerability, honesty, and authenticity. These qualities lead us to care more about the work we do and the people we do it with, leading to increased engagement, and ultimately, a deeper sense of meaning.

There is no better way to find meaning and to feel meaningFUL at work than to deepen our connections to and hone our skills for interacting with our co-workers and teammates.