Case Studies

Our global leadership team gained valuable insight into our work and personal relationships through our experience at Cool Spring Center. The High-Ops course provided a unique opportunity for all of us to participate regardless of the physical capabilities of the individual group members. The facilitators enhanced the experience by providing focus on interpersonal skills and relationships that can often bind an organization. As a Human Resource professional, I have utilized many experiential programs throughout the United States and the Cool Spring facility and staff rate among the very finest.

A needs assessment was done with the HR Manager that led to the choice of Cool Spring Center’s High-Ops Challenge: Team Development Course.

Goals for the Team included:
1. Strengthening the management staff as One Team;
2. Reinforce high-performance skills;
3. Reward the team by having fun and learning together in a stimulating and unique setting.

Why is it that corporate teams are the only teams that don’t spend time practicing? Practice is what this Management Team needed—practice working together as a high-functioning, effective team.

The High Ops Challenge put them through real-time simulations for continued practice of valuable skills they could transfer back to the workplace. The High Ops Challenge was custom designed to fit their needs and goals utilizing both low and high course work, high-tech, computer-driven directives, and adventure orienteering skills. This training is designed for people of all ability levels--everyone is engaged for the entire experience.

The full-team debriefing that occurred at the completion of High Ops Challenge pinpointed specific lessons learned by each team member. The full team then developed an action plan for incorporating these best practices into their workplace environment. They walked away with a working plan for their team for sustained improvement.

Global Company Builds Stronger Teams

“I will recommend Cool Spring to every company I come into contact with. The training was nothing but positive and well thought-out.

As a Regional Manager I feel that my team and I are going to utilize the Cool Spring training as our foundation. As we continue to integrate our sales forces, we will put into practice what we have learned from Cool Spring on a daily basis. It seems like years of knowledge and Team building wrapped up within days. Cool Spring is amazing...You have gained partners for life!”

It is very unusual for a team to bond in 24 hours, let alone 12 months. Cool Springs provided that stage for achieving the unexpected. Great job!

Cool Springs are overachievers. In only 30 hours they transformed 90 people from different parts of the country to one high energy, one goal oriented team. That goal is to be the best. It was one Ginormous effort.

Step 1. Management felt it was important to conduct an anonymous survey to identify any key issues, concerns or questions prior to the retreat. Cool Spring Center conducted an on-line survey of all team members and a report with all responses and any trends noted was provided prior to the retreat. This allowed for consistent considered responses to issues that may or may not have surfaced or been anticipated.

Step 2. Participants completed the DiSC Indra™ (In Depth Relationship Assessment) online assessments. These individual and group assessments map and measure the team’s supporting roles, communication needs, conflicts and leadership relationships and provide action steps for understanding how to better work together.

The DiSC Indra™ morning session enabled the team to explore and accurately measure the interrelatedness of their different personal and work profiles. This helped team members understand their own individual strengths and how everyone promotes the success of the entire team.

Step 3. An afternoon curriculum of TeamWorks!™ with the goal being a design/build of a structure using Oldcastle® products that represented the values of the team. Build Team Oldcastle® brought the two teams together, promoted trust within the new team, and developed a comfort level that they “can do this”.

Step 4. Breakfast On-line™, a follow-through management coaching tool provided on-going reinforcement of learning, individually to each participant, for the three months following training to help everyone retain and implement the lessons learned.

"The Cool Spring Center Team was well prepared, professional, creative, energetic and very effective in getting our Management Team to cohese and perform outside our comfort zone. As a result, our Team completed the training with a much deeper understanding of ourselves and one another, a higher level of Team trust, and an individual commitment to improvement. The Cool Spring Center Team excelled at their goal. The task of moving forward with, and growing, the positive energy created for our Team from this training is now our responsibility."

The Team faced communication and teamwork challenges. They needed to work closely on a one-to-one basis and share resources. The group requested recommendations from Cool Spring Center for a teambuilding program that would take them well beyond the monthly lunch meetings they had been holding. During the initial assessment session with 16 of the managers and Charles Page, lead facilitator at Cool Spring Center, the Team identified the key issues they needed to address:

• To identify and reinforce talents, skills, behaviors and potential among Team Members;
• To develop personal and professional growth through training in supervisory, coaching and mentoring strategies within the Team;
• To establish new options for communication, collaboration and coping so that the Management Team works together more smoothly and overcomes challenges more effectively;
• To provide an on-going educational effort to reinforce previous learning;
• To provide the group with the chance to share an unforgettable experience.

For Phase Two the Team took on the High-Ops Challenge: Team Development Course. This state-of-the-art one-of-a-kind outdoor Team Development Course provides hands-on, high-impact practice for the entire Team. The High Ops Course uses role-playing simulations to further develop skill building in teamwork, communication, trust and leadership. The Team was able to integrate and build upon the work they had already accomplished.

For Phase Two the Team took on the High-Ops Challenge: Team Development Course. This state-of-the-art one-of-a-kind outdoor Team Development Course provides hands-on, high-impact practice for the entire Team. The High Ops Course uses role-playing simulations to further develop skill building in teamwork, communication, trust and leadership. The Team was able to integrate and build upon the work they had already accomplished.

A very positive intervention for our senior management team. Easy to take back to the office and continue the growth. Thanks!

After conducting assessment interviews with key team members, the Cool Spring facilitator recommended using DiSC Personal Profile s combined with TeamWorks!™ experiential teambuilding activities. These activities were selected to underscore the insights each team member would receive from their personal DiSC report. Combining experiential training and data-based behavioral assessments proves an ancient truth:

If you tell me, I will listen.

If you show me, I will see.

If you let me experience, I will learn.

Just wanted to thank you again for a fantastic Adventure Hunt-Charlotte! We appreciated so much all that you and your team did to make this such a successful event! I had some idea of what it might be like, but really it exceeded my expectations--I loved it! looking forward to sharing with Gloria and letting her know what a great time we had & possible next steps.

Cool Spring Center staff met with this group and the assessment determined three areas identified by the group needed focus: To be Valued; Integrated; Recognized.

A fun and exciting half-day of Adventure Hunt!™ was planned. This program features a liberal dose of clues, trivia, urban orienteering and team challenges in the excitement of uptown Charlotte.

Adventure Hunt!™ is a fresh approach to teambuilding, combining the vibrant uptown venue, outrageous fun and facilitated, ingenious group activities that pull people together into a High-Performing Team.

Through Adventure Hunt!™, this team practiced positive new attitudes and developed “seeing things in a new light” thinking about the work they do together.