Carefully planned team building exercises can effectively dismantle barriers between team members, cultivate a lively and safe atmosphere, and enhance productivity to positively impact your business's profitability.
Team building activities encompass games, meetings, events, or other interactive exercises specifically crafted to inspire group members to get to know one another and establish connections. These activities are frequently employed by businesses to cultivate trust, rapport, and effective communication among employees. Research confirms that team building positively relates to team performance, group cohesion, collective efficacy, and member satisfaction.
Corporations have a lot of options when it comes to team building activities now. The days of awkward obstacle courses and “trust falls” between colleagues are over, and today’s corporate event planners are turning to fun and engaging activities such as cooking classes, painting lessons, scavenger hunts, and escape rooms.
During a private cooking event, attendees learn and practice new cooking skills, collaborate to prepare a delicious meal, and enjoy the delicious outcome. This experience blends teamwork, communication, creativity, and culinary expertise, making it an ideal way to foster connections among participants.
The Chopping Block, Chicago’s premiere recreational cooking school, has been hosting team building events since opening its doors over 27 years ago. In these hands-on cooking parties, individuals work together as teams to complete the elements of a meal before sitting down together to enjoy the fruits of their labor. It is a fun yet educational experience that creates memories!
Whether you are interested in learning how to make homemade pizza, pasta from scratch or celebrate the food found in Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods, these special events offer something for everyone.
Here is why you should plan a private cooking event for your next team building event:
- Cooking events offer an inclusive and engaging team building experience that is appropriate for individuals of all abilities. You do not need to be sporty or have precision axe throwing skills to succeed. Professional chefs guide everyone through the cooking process so everyone makes a substantial contribution to the meal. This exercise will emphasize the value of diverse skills and abilities within a team, rather than solely focusing on competitiveness or athleticism. While a hint of friendly competition can add excitement to the culinary experience, the kitchen is a space where all can participate and thrive.
- These events are customizable, allowing teams to choose menus that cater to their preferences and culinary interests, whether it is mastering the art of a perfectly balanced salad dressing, learning how to make the flakiest empanada dough, or rolling out homemade pasta. Participants can learn new culinary skills which they will take home to share with their friends and family. Dietary restrictions and allergies are accommodated to ensure that everyone can fully enjoy the experience.
- Cooking as a group encourages cooperation, creativity, problem-solving, task delegation, and effective communication – essential skills that translate well to the workplace. Witnessing the creativity and individual touch that team members bring to their dishes can be both inspiring and entertaining. The experience challenges teams to work together while strengthening their bonds.
- When choosing The Chopping Block for your team building activity, the logistics are taken care of, allowing participants to simply show up and enjoy the evening with their colleagues. From ingredient preparation to workstation setup, our staff ensures a seamless and enjoyable experience, leaving attendees free to focus on the fun part of cooking together. Plus, we do the dishes!
- Perhaps the best reason to choose a cooking team building activity is the food! You will enjoy a restaurant-quality meal prepared by your team. There is no need for separate dinner reservations when participants can savor the fruits of their labor alongside their teammates, complemented by a glass of wine and a delectable chef-prepared dessert. It is a rewarding and memorable way to bond with colleagues while indulging in a well-deserved feast.
If you want a more cohesive team through cooking, peruse the cooking event offerings on CourseHorse, specifically those from The Chopping Block.
Provider bio: Andrea Miller, The Chopping Block’s marketing manager, has been watching people in Chicagoland learn to cook at the recreational cooking school for the past 22 years. She has held every position possible at the small, woman-owned business, from event coordinator to chef’s assistant to general manager and even dishwasher. The Chopping Block in Lincoln Square offers cooking classes, private events and a gourmet retail selection, including affordable, food-friendly wine and spirits.