It’s part of my job to come up with new and exciting staff development topics/activities every month. I try to do a good mix of professional and personal improvement topics. Naturally, since its fall, we are doing some fun, fall projects. Last week, we hosted a craft day to get our employees out of their work space and in the fresh air. This allows for them to connect and get to know one another outside of the work environment. We feel like this is important to foster a positive work environment. Since we are still social distancing, going outside was a win win because we had amazing weather that day too!!
What project did we have a blast completing you ask….DIY fabric pumpkins!! This was one of our most popular staff developments. I think we have some aspiring crafters on our hands! I laid out piles of complimentary fabrics and the crowd dug through it picking their favorites. We then traced patterns, measured, cut and yes, we sewed!! Not on a machine or anything crazy, but with a good old fashioned needle and thread. I had to full on teach some people how to thread a needle and make the stitches! It is always fun to teach and see the joy on someone’s face when they come to learn a new skill!! Once that was done, we stuffed, then put on the final touches!
It was so amazing to see how different everyone’s pumpkins were. It truly shows how the vision we have can differ so much from someone else’s! I was so happy to see everyone laughing, talking and sharing stories about family and their favorite fall traditions. This is why I love what I do! I get to single handedly help others in so many ways. Maybe I just helped someone learn a new, life changing skill, or helped someone make a new friend. Maybe, just maybe I helped keep someone from losing their mind because they got to get up from their desk to take a break! Maybe I just got to help someone have a little fun! Either way, I love it and I’m already looking forward to the next fun staff development we have planned for October. Stay tuned to see what it is, wink wink!!