In this episode of The NFP CEO Podcast, Michelle and Danielle unpack the myths and realities of team-bonding activities in not-for-profit and for-purpose organisations. From strategy days to off-site retreats, icebreakers to “forced fun,” they explore what really strengthens workplace culture and what wastes time and money.

Whether you’re a CEO planning your first staff away day, a manager designing a strategic planning session, or a leader grappling with low engagement, you’ll get practical tips on how to make every team activity purposeful, inclusive and worth the investment.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why “forced fun” can backfire and how to avoid it.
• The difference between team-building and culture-building.
• How to plan effective off-sites, strategy days and engagement activities.
• The importance of clear objectives, realistic agendas and respecting staff time.
• Creative icebreaker ideas that actually work (and the ones to avoid).
• How physical space, facilitation style and “golden questions” shape participation.
• Practical examples from Michelle and Danielle’s own experience running not-for-profit strategy days and cross-team collaborations.

LinkedIn: The NFP CEO: Overview | LinkedIn

Website: thenfpceo.com.au

Michelle Cutler: Michelle Cutler | LinkedIn

Danielle Ballantine: Danielle Ballantine | LinkedIn