MGT Consulting was facing a few challenges. Their leadership team was spread across the country. There had been some recent turnover. Also, individual members of the leadership team didn’t seem to have much in common at first glance, with ages spanning from 30 to 60 years old. MGT Consulting hoped to bring the team together for the experience of working toward a common goal. The expectation was that this would improve the cohesiveness of the group.

Building Teams and Bikes in Chicago, IL

Our Bike-A-Thon™ program is uniquely positioned to facilitate working toward a shared goal, and we were eager to help MGT Consulting meet its objective. We met the group on a sunny day in Chicago, IL. The Godfrey Hotel had just the right vibe; the rooftop lounge allowed for inspirational views of the city. The 30 participants were amenable to anything, and little did they know what we had in store for them!
These were no ordinary team building exercises. We divided the group into two teams of about 15 people. Teams received some bicycle parts and competed for the rest. Games included Air Writing, Flip the Cup, and Card Tower, among others. People had a good time while earning the bicycle parts they needed to complete assembly of the bikes. At the same time, they were practicing working together. They saw each other’s differences and the strengths that came from utilizing those differences in these challenges. It was amazing to see the change in the group from a bunch of people working side by side to a bona fide team.

MGT Consulting Makes a Difference for SOS Children’s Villages Illinois

After two hours, MGT Consulting team members had completed several bicycles. Folks knew that these bikes were going to area children in need. This seemed to motivate them in a way that went beyond “work”.
Anne Glaza, from SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, arrived on-site to accept the donation for children cared for by the charity. SOS Children’s Villages Illinois cares for siblings in the foster care system. Families stay together and are looked after by a professional foster parent on a full-time basis.
Hearing from Ms. Glaza about how much these bikes would mean to SOS Children’s Villages families was heartwarming. She shared many success stories with the group. It reinforced folks’ commitment to continuing what they learned here about helping each other through teamwork.