October 2022 - RevRoad

Brent Allgood of Adaptive Workshops discusses Team Building Workshops for Employees

On October 6, 2022 Brent Allgood claimed the seat on RevRoad’s blue couch at RevUniversity. Brent is the CEO and Founder of Adaptive Workshops, a local startup that uses virtual reality (VR) to facilitate team building workshops for employees seeking to strengthen communication and engagement.

Brent Allgood discussing entrepreneurship at RevUniversity on October 6. 2022.

BUILDING EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

According to Brent, there are mountains of research regarding employee engagement. Data shows that about one-third of employees are actively engaged in the office, and approximately 51% of employees are disengaged.

“They are simply there to exchange time for a paycheck. If something happens, their response is usually, “That’s not my problem.”

At Adaptive Workshops, Brent and his team seek to foster more engagement in employees to be more actively involved—not only in their work tasks but also in the company culture.

“The whole point of having employees and a team in business is so you don’t have to do it alone. We are social creatures. People want to be with their friends and do things with their friends. They want to be in an office space where they have great company culture.”
Brent Allgood, Adaptive Workshops

What do you actually do to build that culture?

Brent Allgood interviewed by Brittany Ouimette in front of a live audience.

HOW VR WORKSHOPS BUILD TEAM CULTURE

Within the Adaptive Workshop’s VR team building workshop for employees, teams work together to protect their fortress from ogre and dragon intruders. Standing at their post, each team member aims their bow and arrow at the approaching enemies.

Brent chose to use VR as the medium for his workshop for two primary reasons. The first reason, he explained, is that people want to learn by doing—not by being told what to do.

Consider it this way. How did you learn to swim? Do you go to a classroom where a teacher showed you how to move your arms and legs, and then you knew how to swim? No. You got into the pool, experienced the water, and move your body around to learn what it feels like to swim.

People don’t want to learn by someone telling them what to do. We learn by doing. And that is why VR is an ideal medium for team communication workshops.

“We use VR similar to how I would teach you to swim, but instead we are teaching about communication. Rather than me coming into your workspace and saying, “You need to communicate with your team,” I’m going to put you in a VR experience. You naturally want to perform well in the game, and you can’t do well unless you are communicating. That is why we use VR as a tool to get teams to come together, communicate, understand who is good at what and then further develop those roles.”
Brent Allgood, Adaptive Workshops

The second reason is because it is fun! VR provides an environment for teams to come together, let their hair down, and have some fun together—within a structured workshop to help them bond. You are bonding in the foxholes so that when you come together in the office the next day, you’re ready to work together.

Discussing Team Building Workshops for Employees with Adaptive Workshops

WHO THE WORKSHOP IS FOR

This team building workshop for employees is ideal for teams and companies who are changing rapidly.

It often takes companies months of even years to fully integrate a new employee into the team. By doing the Adaptive Workshops exercise, new employees can be integrated within half a day. The workshop can build that comradery very quickly but unveiling communication needs, identifying individual strengths, and developing friendships within a game environment.

If team members are unwilling to say, “I need help,” or, “What can I do for you?” during the workshop, they can take those communications skills back to the workplace to increase teamwork dynamics.

ADVICE TO ENTREPRENEURS

Brent shared his five pieces of advice to other entrepreneurs.

Figure out exactly what is you want to do, but don’t be afraid to make changes
When life happens, don’t quit.
If you need to shift, you shift.
Hire people that are smarter than you.
Do what is right for the client no matter what.

To learn more from Brent Allgood and Adaptive Workshops, watch his RevUniversity interview. For more information on the services we offer at RevRoad, visit our website.

Culture

Jeremy and Kristin believe that culture is the backbone of any thriving business. Jeremy said, “People won’t give more than their job unless they buy into the culture of the business.” The five cultural values at the heart of Traeger’s culture are:

Done done done. Believe in delivering quality to a customer.

Test kitchen mentality. The best organizations build a team of people who believe in getting better.

No reservations. We thoughtfully respect a customer in all of our touch points.

Stand in the fire. Good companies are born from risk-taking. Be willing to take smart risks.

Cook together. We want low-ego teams and people who are easy to work with. Rather than dictators for leaders, we want “servant leaders” that will help instead of just control. We want a team of people to show up and elevate others.

Part of creating the wanted culture in a business is hiring. In the beginning of Traeger, Jeremy said he interviewed, “99% of the first 400 people we hired.”

“I view a CEO’s role first and foremost as filtering and protecting culture.”

Jeremy Andrus, Traeger Grills

He demonstrated a long-term focus as he filtered people based on culture and values in order to build a culture that would allow Traeger to succeed in the business environment.

Partners in marriage and in life, Jeremy and Kristin support each other’s individual goals.

Philanthropy and fighting for a cause

Kristin actively fights for the rights of women in her community and around the world. Kristin is a board member for UnDEfeated, an organization that serves underprivileged youth and single mothers in Uganda. She is also an Instagram influencer and uses her platform to raise money for menstrual care products for women and girls all throughout Utah.

“When women use their voices and their resources and their talents and their energy— then we are the change.”

Kristin Andrus, Community Champion

Kristen highlighted the communities that Traeger supports such as Roots High School in West Valley City, Utah, and various other food advocacy groups throughout the state. Traeger believes that food brings people together to make meaningful connections—so what better way to get involved than to help diminish food poverty?

Kristin reminded all in attendance that you do not need to have money in order to make a difference. You can give your time and talents to help lift others around you—whether in a formal setting or simply serving in your own neighborhood.

Jeremy and Kristin Andrus interview by Bri Ray at RevRoad HQ in Provo, Utah.

Work-life balance

Jeremy and Kristin both talked about work-life balance and the importance of spending enough time in each of the areas. Jeremy explained that he has a time that he leaves the office and is done with work every single day. He said that it “forces me to prioritize my day.”Kristin acknowledges that many women experience internal conflict knowing that they cannot be at home with their children and serving in the community at the same time. There is always a trade-off. She has learned that everyone needs to “create their balance,” and to remember that both things are fulfilling and worthwhile.

We are so grateful for Jeremy and Kristin and their willingness to share their ideas and experiences as business owners and philanthropists making a difference in the lives of countless individuals!

End of Blog Post

Team Building Workshops for Employees with Adaptive Workshops