Try something different with your team....
That's my invitation.
Perhaps you've sat through 'Planning days' where the feeling going in is - what's the point, nothing will change, we're already drowning, there won't be any more resources, 'X' person from another team is blocking my work etc. etc.
Don't do that to your team. What if you could flip that thinking. Start with how people are truly feeling (and not have to manage that yourself as a people leader).
Imagine if you could start the conversation with a better regulated, calmer, less reactive, creatively thinking team?
Hear me out......
The neuroscience of nature connection and a professionally facilitated opportunity to be connected with nature can make an epic difference to how people feel and their willingness to care about each other, identify strengths, understand thinking styles and enter a more creative and innovative way of thinking.
Why Take the Team Outside?
Clear the mind
A nature connection experience based on Forest Bathing (connecting with nature through our senses and 'bathing' ourselves in the sensory experience of nature).
OUTCOMES - Create calm and sooth the nervous system to start the day. Based on neuroscience and solid evidence about stress reduction, increasing clarity of thought, memory and creativity.
Find the flow
A facilitated creative session using metaphors of nature to explore the flow, context, barriers and enablers of the work for each team member. Adapted to suit the needs of the group.
OUTCOMES - Greater shared insight into the facilitators and barriers to work. Identification of strengths and unique 'sparkles' for each team member.
Move forward
Guided sharing of the work experience, development of shared strategies and agreements about what impacts the work and next steps to nurture a high performance team.
OUTCOMES - A shared approach to addressing shared barriers, working to team members' strengths. Greater awareness of the needs of others in doing effective work, and in self-regulation strategies for work and life.
Who is this for?
Employers and leaders who;
- genuinely care about employee wellbeing,
- are sick of paying for EAP programs with minimal engagement and outcomes,
- value innovation,
- are prepared to break the mould and try something different (and evidence-based).
Ideal for teams who
- are doing challenging work,
- need a rest,
- are in or approaching burnout (think 'functional freeze'),
- have team members with a range of thinking and communication styes (a range of neurodiversity, because that's the reality and this process values ALL)
- want to strengthen care, communication and collaboration within and between teams
- would benefit from a shared understanding of each others work and explore ways to collaborate efficiently
Logistics and creating your experience
Together we'll decide on the following as we co-create your bespoke team experience.
- Location (including our place, The Sanctuary Yundi), or a suitable venue with nature that we agree on
- Duration - this is best as a 4-6 hour workshop but we can adjust to suit your needs
- Choose your experiences - forest bathing, creative reflection/work flow mapping, large and small group processes, Indigenous Elder welcome to country (additional charge). YOU choose the focus - wellbeing with or without planning/team building.
- EXTRA option for 'Your senses at Work' evaluation for each team member to explore sensory experiences that impact work flow, productivity, wellbeing (e.g., noise, light, overwhelm)
- Catering - yours or ours
- Goals - we'll have a strategy planning meeting to identify current issues, strategies priorities, desires outcomes.
- Evaluation and outcome measures - we'll agree on these before we start.
- Pricing - Thriving Teams (in nature) pricing is based on location, catering, number of attendees, duration and amount of pre planning required to create your experience. We'll discuss this. Maybe you can access wellbeing, leadership, EAP funds within your organisation. I've had teams access innovative funding such as volunteer support group fundraising. I'm happy to help brain storm this and to support you to communicate your needs.
Many things are possible and it starts with a conversation.
Contact BronwynBronwyn Paynter
Bronwyn has worked as an occupational therapist (OT) since 1993 in Australia, with a passion for innovation in occupational therapy and a focus on wellbeing. In addition to occupational therapy Bronwyn holds qualifications in workplace health and safety, project management, forest & nature therapy and permaculture design.
She has created a unique blend of occupational therapy, permaculture and nature therapy as the basis for her business Nature OT Pty Ltd.
Bronwyn has worked for over 30 years within large employers - contributing to making work healthy, safe, engaging and good for the wellbeing of both individuals and the organisation. She has worked in roles including injury, illness and return to work, work health safety management, wellbeing strategy and program development and implementation and contributed to processes and programs in reward & recognition, equity, diversity and belonging and leadership. Bronwyn's experience spans Policing, electricity/water construction, and community retail pharmacy in capital city and regional locations across several states of Australia.
Bronwyn has presented about nature based occupational therapy at national occupational therapy, social work and outdoor health sector conferences in Australia, the OT Entrepreneur Summit (on-line as the only Australian speaker) and as a podcast guest on OT and wellbeing focused podcasts.
She has recently authored and co-authored chapters in publications about Outdoor Health practices in Australia; occupational therapy perspectives on the accessible design and activation of urban greenspace; the occupational therapy role in menopause, and innovation in occupational therapy practice with 'back to our roots' nature connection.
