JLL’s Bike-A-Thon Helps Atlanta-Area Kids

A small team from a real estate investment firm spent an afternoon on a charity team building project. Their work benefited a local nonprofit organization that funds children’s programs across several Georgia counties.

JLL to the Rescue

jllAll of the participants in JLL’s Bike-A-Thon™ workshop enjoyed the afternoon, having fun while helping others. JLL organized this event to kick off a project that included working with some folks from Google, and this was a chance for everyone to get to know each other better and ease into collaborating as a team. JLL and Google would benefit, and so would the local children who’d receive the new bicycles that workshop participants built through Children’s Charities, Inc.

It can sometimes be a challenge when teams from two separate companies need to work together on a project. This was a good opportunity for everyone to get to know each other better. The Bike-A-Thon™ made it possible for participants to build the interpersonal relationships necessary for success. We tailored all of the workshop activities to support understanding of varied personality types, and how every team member’s contribution to the final project has value.

Getting Down to Work in Atlanta, GA

This was a relatively small group of about 45. So we had folks self-sort themselves into groups of 5, which happened pretty quickly. Everyone was enthusiastic about working together and highly motivated to help local kids. They fielded every challenge and obstacle we gave them with determination and a positive attitude. With every win, a team earned more parts for finishing their bicycle.

Activities emphasized problem-solving and working together, building upon differences and utilizing them to achieve new heights of creativity and innovation. People were game to try new things and take on different roles within their groups; this was a “safe” space to explore the new group dynamics. Engaging games like Blind Ball Drop, Dice Bank, Group Writing, Cup Stack, Card Tower, and Marble Roll kept the mood light and the pace moving.

Children’s Charities, Inc., Benefits

It took only a few hours for teams to complete all of the obstacles we set before them and finish their bicycles. We wrapped up right on time and were ready for a visit from Amanda White, a representative of Children’s Charities, Inc. She arrived to accept the donated bicycles, and was really pleased by how many the group was receiving. Participants made a low-key presentation for her that showcased their hard work and highlighted what they learned.

As we debriefed with the group at the end of the Bike-A-Thon™, we heard a lot of positive feedback. Folks enjoyed practicing how to integrate the work styles of various personality types toward common goals. Helping local kids made the workshop more meaningful. The 45 people who arrived as attendees that day departed as a team.