Welcome to the Stumbling Blocks Team Building Academy!

An intensive 2-day training seminar designed to strengthen communication, teamwork and innovation—the building blocks you need to succeed.

As a business leader you have so much to offer. Your experience, your ideas, your dreams and your story. It's time for you to share it with your team.

Whether you're just getting started or have been leading a team for years, Barbara May's Team Building Academy will give you the communication and leadership skills you need to succeed.

Join Barbara May in-person at the Fantasyland Hotel and Conference Centre on June 22 & 23, 2022.

Seating is limited to 24 participants. Register today!

Team Building Academy Presented by Barbara May, Founder & CEO at Stumbling Blocks

Barbara provides you with more than 30 years of expertise in two powerful days of training. You'll learn the tools, strategies and techniques she uses to help organizations strengthen communication, teamwork and innovation—the building blocks you need to succeed.

You'll also discover how to create a healthy work environment where people feel understood, accepted for who they are and valued as part of the team. Imagine being able to step into any situation and make a real difference in the quality of not only your life, but the lives of the people on your team.

Team Building Academy is fun, informative and highly interactive.

You'll learn practical skills you can use in real work situations. No boring lectures here.

Contact Barbara

Prefer to speak to Barbara about Team Building Academy? Call her at 780-722-3188. https://www.barbaramay.com/contact

Team Building Academy - Schedule

Day 1: Wednesday, June 22, 2022

8:45am - Doors Open

9am - Establishing Your Personal Leadership Style

A team can only be as successful as its leader. Learn how to establish your personal leadership style and create a healthy work environment where people feel understood, accepted for who they are and valued as part of the team.

Here what you'll learn:

• How to develop your own unique leadership style and use it to your advantage.
• Why you should understand and appreciate other people's communication styles—even if they aren’t right for you.​​
• A look at personality traits and how they affect your ability to build a stronger, more resilient team.
• Understand leadership attributes such as self-awareness, authenticity, character, accountability and resiliency.
• Dealing with pressure and stress—how to stay calm and in control, even in the face of chaos.
• Easy ways to delegate and make 'checking in' a natural, comfortable part of your team building routine.
• How to conduct focused, productive meetings that turn ideas into action.
• How to demonstrate big picture thinking and become a more effective and influential leader.

12pm - Lunch: Catered by Fantasyland Hotel

1pm - Responding Effectively to Resistance

Astute leaders spot problems brewing before they blow up. Learn how to deal with people, problems and situations honestly and improve productivity, teamwork and employee morale.

Here's what you'll learn:

• How to deal effectively with resistance, especially after a negative or unpopular decision has been made.​​
• The keys to building trust between team members and team leaders under pressure, crisis and change.
• Listening between the lines—identifying the hidden agendas and false signals that lead to misunderstanding.
• When emotions run high: getting at the real truth when dealing with sensitive issues and situations.
• Tips for understanding and communicating effectively with people who are stressed-out, upset or angry.
• Setting boundaries: How to say “no” without creating hard feelings or feeling guilty.
• How to confidently handle complaints and criticism from customers, team members and other leaders.
• How to develop a game plan that motivates and inspires your team to succeed.

3:55pm - Next Steps

Day 2: Thursday, June 23, 2022

8:45am - Doors Open

9am - Communication, Collaboration & Connection

Learn practical skills you can use to communicate, collaborate and connect with a diverse group of individuals and give your team the leadership, motivation and guidance it needs to succeed.

Here's what you'll learn:

• Why it's important to communicate in a way that motivates and inspires your team to succeed.
• How to use brainstorming as a tool for encouraging the free exchange of ideas and solutions.
• Becoming an Exceptional Listener: Paying attention to what people say to understand and appreciate their point of view.​
• Questioning Techniques: Asking the right questions to obtain useful information and help team members and team leaders gain insight.
• How to create an environment that encourages team members—even untalkative ones—to fully participate in discussions.
• Proven tips for making sure your instructions are clear and understood by everyone on your team.
• Strategies and techniques to encourage team members to collaborate, cooperate and turn to one another for help and inspiration.
• How to use communication touch points to build a stronger, more resilient team.

12pm - Lunch: Catered by Fantasyland Hotel

1pm - Public Speaking & Presentation Skills

As a business leader you need to know how to communicate with confidence and authority from the break room to the boardroom. Learn how to get past your public speaking stumbling blocks and build a stronger more resilient team.

Here's what you'll learn:

• Managing fear and nervousness: Relaxation and breathing techniques that keep you relaxed and in control throughout your presentation.
• Tips and techniques to help you think on your feet in meetings, interviews and impromptu presentations.
• How to handle difficult questions and unexpected queries even if you don't have the answers.
• Proven techniques to help you become a more animated and engaging storyteller.
• The best way to use stories, case studies and other anecdotal information to motivate and empower your team.
• How to facilitate group discussions to build trust, get buy-in and guide your team to higher levels of performance and productivity.
• High impact speaking techniques for better communication, teamwork and innovation.
• How to represent your organization at important functions, industry events and public meetings.

3:55pm - Next Steps

Contact Barbara

Prefer to talk to someone about Stumbling Blocks Team Building Academy? Call Barbara May at 780-722-3188. https://www.barbaramay.com/contact