GET YOUR TEAM COOKING UP A STORM!
Does the thought of clichéd teambuilding activities like ropes courses, indoor rock climbing and abseiling leave you in a cold sweat? Surely there must be better ways to get your team working in synergy with one another without scaling 10 metre high walls…
For decades, corporate organisations have conducted teambuilding activities to renew passion in weary staff, improve communications and inspire better performance. However many activities place too great an emphasis on competition and the downright dangerous nature of others have damaged the popularity of this management tool.
One Perth company is turning the cliché on its head, offering an innovative approach to professional team development. DKA Corporate Team Building programs focus on cooking as the means to encourage better cooperation, communication, planning and performance.
The company’s co-founder John Maiorana (aka Perth’s very own Gourmet Godfather) says cooking provides the ideal backdrop for team motivation.
“Food has always been a perfect way to bring people together. Food transcends social and cultural barriers. When food and dining are combined with team building and learning, people are more likely to work together. They are also more likely to understand the process to success more quickly and effectively.” “
The task of planning, organising, preparing and serving a meal is a complex task involving the interplay of a wide variety of individual skills. Our programs enable teams to serve a meal they have prepared utilising creativity and experimentation within clearly defined parameters, with the emphasis on working together.”
And what’s on the menu for the high energy sessions?
John says there are certainly no rigid parameters with the sessions, but rather a highly tailored approach to creating the best possible outcomes for each group.
“Although we really like to plan the menu around each different group, I must say, making pasta is a real favourite. It involves history and interest, can be mastered in a short amount of time, many wonderful shapes can be produced, and finally there is a real sense of accomplishment earned through hand making pasta.
“Everyone seems to get a lot out of it, not least pure enjoyment,” he says.
Classes tend to involve up to 24 participants and all manner of corporate teams benefit immensely from being involved.
In addition to corporate teambuilding, John runs gourmet cooking classes at the Subiaco showroom. He is generously giving away a voucher to attend one of these classes that include ‘Pasta Art for Perfect Pasta’ and ‘The Italian Way with Seafood’. Simply email us telling us when your company’s lease or option expires and you could win. Be sure to include your name and contact details in the email. Click here to enter! [This competition is now closed]