In my time as the face behind Encore’s social media presence, I have come across many interesting articles, videos, and quotes that have been inspirational as a meeting planner. One video that captured my attention was a five-minute clip of a small herd of sheep. I was intrigued by the fact that instead of the sheep being herded by a sheepdog, they were being corralled in the pasture by something much smaller: a rabbit. According to the caption on the video, the rabbit had learned the craft by watching the sheepdog, and decided to try it out for herself. Watching the video, it was apparent that the rabbit really know what she was doing, and had the respect of the sheep to do what this creature a fraction of their size wanted them to do. And let’s be honest, unlike the sheepdog who would be able to nip at a sheep who tried to defy it, the rabbit had no such abilities yet was still a success at what it did.

As I watched this video, I became inspired. I can easily see the connections between each of the characters in the clip to any business or workforce. The sheep depict the every-day worker, as they are the largest group, who do the work that needs to get done in order for the business to grow. The rabbit is the boss, who has the ability to instruct and guide the sheep, or workers. Without the rabbit, the sheep would not know what to do on their own, and would not have the guidance they need to be successful. The sheepdog in the corner of the screen represents the partners of a company. They supervise the bosses, but have at one time been in the same position of the boss, or rabbit, so they know what it takes to lead and instruct those who need help. The farmer represents the executives in the company. They oversee the whole business and make the decisions that will lead the company in the best direction for growth. All four groups work together to create one company that has the same goal, mindset, and ability to grow.

I found this video really spoke to how a company needs to be formed and the people utilized. However, as someone who has spent the past six years of her life in different jobs that spanned from working in a bakery, to a clothing store, to a big corporate business, to a small incentive event company, I have seen it all.  Unfortunately, not all of these companies had the structure and ability to lead that I could see in the video. I see now how some of the executives and partners would profit from a leadership meeting, where they would have the chance to learn tips and tools to successfully lead the workers so that everyone works to their best abilities. Additionally, allowing the workers to see that they are appreciated for their time and effort through an incentive trip or companywide event would make for happier employees and therefore a better working company.

The rabbit had the respect of the sheep, which allowed her to instruct them without needing the teeth that a sheepdog could use. She also had the trust of the sheepdog and farmer, which allowed her to act on her own while having in mind the same goal as her bosses. This relationship is instrumental to the growth of a company, but needs to be nurtured through constant conversation, appraisals, and incentives to all members of the company.

Here in Colorado, the leaves have changed their color and begun to fall, the air is getting crisper, and the early November sky glows a gorgeous electric blue.  The changing of the seasons also means that our Boys of Summer are packing up their baseball gear after a rather dismal season ending with a record of 64 wins and 98 losses—ouch!  But hope springs eternal, and the Colorado Rockies know that 2013 will bring with it the freshness and promise of a new season, a new beginning.

After all, the Rockies are fortunate to call the remarkable baseball stadium, Coors Field, their home. Coors Field offers several unique suites and party facilities that are perfect for company events such as teambuilding, employee rewards gatherings, or just a casual afternoon bonding session watching a baseball game.

Coors Field offers several options such as the Super Suites and the Warning Track Party Room. Located in the infield between home plate and first base, the Super Suites are the ultimate choice for corporate entertainment. Each Super Suite features a temperature-controlled indoor lounge with luxury furnishings and outdoor balcony seating, both equipped with indoor and outdoor flat-screen televisions. Encore can utilize both spaces to give your event a well-rounded experience that any guest will enjoy.

The Warning Track Party Room is a large private room located at field level.  This room features bleacher and table-top seating, private restrooms and flat-screen televisions. The Warning Track Party Room offers a unique view of the game that your team will be sure to remember.

No matter which venue you choose, Encore will work with your team to ensure that the outcome is a winning event for your company as you cheer on the Rockies to a better season.

Recently the Encore team conducted a site visit to New York for one of our clients. Our mission was to canvas the Midtown Manhattan area’s event and hotel locations to uncover the destinations that will help to create a truly unforgettable experience. Our challenge was to make it unique to everyone, whether the attendee had never been to the big city, was a dabbler in New York culture, or was a born and bred New Yorker.

Our main goal was to find a location that would incorporate the touristic aspects of the city into the event while also showcasing the hidden thrills of New York that are not publicized in the newest The New Yorker Magazine.

A few of the locations we visited were a given, but the others were hidden gems and unique spaces that provided some amazing and thought evoking ideas.

Our first option was the MoMA (The Muesuem of Modern Art). After taking just a few steps into the sculpture garden, the Encore team was dreaming of the décor, lighting and linens to complement the breathtaking sculptures and one of a kind atmosphere. It was a location that many people had the opportunity of visiting, but by highlighting certain aspects and decorations, we would be able to really showcase the special attributes the garden offered.

Our second option was one that was more of a hidden gem than the MoMA. The Ziegfeld Theatre is located just steps from the Hilton New York, and is tucked onto beautiful 54th Street. Known mainly for movie premieres, this theater proved to have a quiet ambience as well as the history we were looking to celebrate by being in NYC. Reminiscent of off-Broadway theaters, we had the image of sugarplum fairies dancing around our heads as the inspiration for this location came naturally.

Our final choice in location leaned more towards the unique spaces that New York has to offer. Le Parker Meridian is a hotel filled with awe inspiring spaces, interesting details and really, is just plain fun. As we took in the entire hotel, step after step we were more enchanted with the property. From the old-school styled Sharps Barbershop, specializing in the art of barbering as they did in the 1950’s, to the Dry Bar offering ladies hairstyling, the property has the great amenities we were looking to exhibit throughout our event. A morning latte at Knave and a mid-afternoon burger at the Burger Joint, were only a few of the amazing things we found to entice our client to this property.

What we learned from our excursion to New York City in the hopes of finding the right place for our event, was that no matter what type of event you are looking to host, the perfect location is out there and ready to be filled with the inspiration that we will intertwine with your brands purpose. Every city had unique jaunts that speak to the culture and history of the city, they just need you to tell them where to start.

We could post some photos here, but why don’t you take a gander at our Pinterest board instead?

As defined by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, culture is considered the “set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution.” The fundamentals of any company rely on this characterization of culture in order to build a cohesive work environment, where everyone has a basic and singular goal: do the best work possible. More of a marathon than a sprint, it requires hiring spirited individuals with an array of skills, opinions, and experiences that help round out the abilities of the company, while simultaneously allowing employees to grow together by supporting one another. In order to build the culture of any company, it is important to understand that these skills and experiences are the result of a myriad of different people with different backgrounds. It takes time to understand the ins and outs of each person and how to best utilize their skills for the benefit of the company and it’s culture.
Some executives believe culture begins at the top, and when it is properly nourished and encouraged, it flows through an organization almost organically. This type of culture is intentional and defined, and is able to be successful regardless of economic or business upturns and downturns. It is not necessarily dependent upon the company’s success, but rather on the company’s talent and collective conscious.
Other executives believe that culture is derived out of a successful business, where individuals are inspired to work hard to maintain their jobs. Their drive creates an “A-team” mentality, where employees feel good about being on a team that is considered the best in its respective field and achieves the milestones as set by the industry and competition. With this model, culture is more about the company’s successes as a whole in contrast to the first model in which the successful team is reliant on the successful person.
Encore’s team purpose when we tackle an event, is to encourage our clients to tap into their intentional culture to develop high functioning, dedicated and positive individuals. Our first move is to identify what the desired culture should look like, how it needs to live, and what will make it unique. Next, we communicate the intent and desired outcome through leadership events and training, collateral and story telling, along with the companywide education and clearly understood markers for success. If possible, we use the well-known slogans or mascots of the company to help tell the story. We encourage conversation between employee and employer, which allows a stronger workforce where everyone feels comfortable discussing problems so the necessary adjustments could be made. Finally, with incentive events, the employer has the change to recognize positive behavior and outcomes throughout the organization and company.
At Encore, we lead by example through the execution of our events, with the intention of having our clients follow our lead. We set the model that works best for the specific company, and after nurturing this through events ranging from sales meetings to incentive events to conventions, we leave our clients with the ability to go back to the office and create a culture that works best for their company. We use events to bring people together to communicate a message or brand specifically through leadership meetings.

• Is the location safe? The safety of my attendees is always my first priority. I’ve had to pass up some unique location ideas because of turmoil in the area. I’ll look at them again when things settle down.
• Keep in mind your audience. Do they like activities? Golf? Shopping? Or as they do in many cases, do they want it all?
• When is the trip? Weather can make all the difference in whether attendees have a great experience.
• Does the location have high quality and likeable cuisine? Will it support your program with enough dining and offsite venue options?
• How will the attendees get there? It is important to keep in mind the travel to trip ratio. It isn’t fair to fly guests too far for too short a trip. Also, is there enough lift to get the attendees to the destination efficiently? If not, how cost effective would it be to add lift?
• And one of my favorites, how can I take the essence and culture of the destination and weave it into the trip to create an amazing experience?

If you can select a location that accomplishes all this and develop an itinerary that strikes a chord with your client, you just might have done it!

Takin’ it to the streets‽…

I’m here in San Jose to meet with some companies about future business.  So far, I’ve had two cancellations…and am wanting to make the MOST out of my time  here.  SO… yesterday at dinner I suggested to my colleague that I we should just go buy a bunch of YELLOW poster-board and ask for a meeting with a Vice President from the side of the road.  And… that is what I’m going to do.

#ProjectYellow will commence at 8am today over breakfast.  Strategy and Message will be discussed… Eggs and oatmeal will be eaten, and by golly I WILL get those meetings back!

Follow me on Twitter @IncentiveGal1 for updates throughout the day… pictures, video…and the “things people say” … Use the buttons below to Twitter this and post it to Facebook…Teamwork!

PS…I love ellipses