Pulse October/November 2024 | Page 50

DO YOU EVER WONDER how your peers would handle a situation ? Maybe you ’ re curious what other leaders in the spa industry have to say on a certain subject . In Sound Off , we ask ISPA members from differing backgrounds , countries and companies the same question and see how their answers compare .

SOUND OFF

DO YOU EVER WONDER how your peers would handle a situation ? Maybe you ’ re curious what other leaders in the spa industry have to say on a certain subject . In Sound Off , we ask ISPA members from differing backgrounds , countries and companies the same question and see how their answers compare .

“ What is your go-to icebreaker or team-building exercise for staff meetings and retreats , to help build team harmony and camaraderie ?”
SAL CAPIZZI Book4Time VP , Marketing
KARINA CHUNG
Alexandria Real Estate Equities , Inc . Executive Director Amenities & Wellness
BENJAMIN DONAT Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa Director of Spa
ANNIE ELLIOTT
Spa Matchmaker Founder
I break the ice with “ Desert
We play “ Mind Block
We play Bingo with secret
Volunteering is a good
Island Survival .” Team
Challenge ” [ a game like
talents : Attendees send me
activity for harmony build-
members imagine they are
musical chairs ] for bonding
their hidden talents or a
ing and deeper connections !
stranded on a deserted
and collaboration ! The
curious fact about them
We allow the team to pick
island and must choose
narrator asks everyone to tell
ahead of time , and I create a
from a few options , and we
three items to help them
each other the answers to
Bingo sheet . They have to
all come together around a
survive . The team works
the icebreaker questions ,
talk to their peers and find
cause we support and give
together to come up with a
like : What sport would you
out who has what talent ,
back as a group . It allows for
survival plan using the items
play in the Olympics ? or If
and then cross off people ’ s
the team to have a shared
they ’ ve collectively chosen . It
you were an animal , what
names until they have a
experience and organic
allows members of the team
would it be ? Once a question
BINGO . It ’ s a fun exercise to
conversation .
to relate to their colleagues .
is completed , the narrator
get to know your peers and
For example , if someone
will say “ TIME !” and all the
also creates binding conver-
says one of their items is an
iPad because they can ’ t live
without watching a show ,
players must find a block to
stand on for five seconds .
With each question , the
sation that will hold on for a
long time after .
Below , the team at Alexandra Real Estate Equities , Inc . plays the “ Mind Block Challenge ” for bonding and collaboration .
someone else might be like
narrator will remove one
WOW ! I love that show ,
block . The team must rely
too — fostering a connection .
on communication , support
Others may be more logical
and collaboration to
and bring a water canteen ,
complete the game .
and that may resonate with
other members of the team .
32 PULSE n OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2024