The Art of Team Building
Have you ever noticed that your best ideas rarely arrive while staring at your inbox? Sometimes, creativity shows up during a walk, over a cup of coffee or while experiencing something unexpected. When I joined the Bankers Trust Marketing and Communications team nearly two years ago, I quickly came to appreciate the team’s culture. Between important deadlines and project meetings, there was something else popping up on my Outlook calendar — an invitation to have fun.
Our team has quarterly fun committees, employee-led groups that plan outings and experiences for the team. Whether it’s volunteering, exploring downtown or simply getting out of the office for an hour, these activities give us a chance to connect with one another in a different setting and take a break from our regular routines.
Coffee and Art Walk in Downtown Des Moines
In May, I joined the Coffee and Art Walk organized by the Fun Committee, and it turned out to be the perfect excuse to swap my desk chair for a stroll through Downtown Des Moines. Equipped with iced lattes and green matchas, our team set off to explore some of the city’s vibrant public art, including the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Timepiece by Yorame Mevorach and Nature’s Algorithm by Leon Keer. By the time we made it back to the Ruan Building, there was already chatter among the Fun Committee to host another art walk because we simply could not see all the fantastic artwork in just one hour.
What made the experience even better was having our own tour guide. Will Bassett, brand manager at Bankers Trust, shared interesting facts and background information on each piece, bringing the artwork to life and helping us see familiar downtown spaces from a new perspective.
The outing was simple — coffee, fresh air and a little curiosity. It was a good reminder of how much creativity and culture exists right outside our office doors. It also sparked some great conversations and plenty of laughs along the way.
The Coffee and Art Walk joins a growing list of quarterly fun committee adventures. Previous outings have included volunteering in the Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Garden at WesleyLife, gathering for happy hour at Big Grove Brewery, playing mini golf at The Fat Putter and taking afternoon walks to local events like CelebrAsian and the Des Moines Arts Festival. Each activity has offered a different way to connect as a team and enjoy the community we work in every day.
What I’ve learned from these experiences is that team-building activities don’t have to be complicated. Sometimes the best moments come from simply stepping outside, trying something new and spending quality time with the people you work with every day. And as it turns out, a good cup of coffee and a little public art can go a long way.
Keep up with the momentum that's happening in and around Greater Des Moines (DSM) when you subscribe to one or all of the Greater Des Moines Partnership's newsletters — they're packed with the latest news, highlighting everything from upcoming events to development projects to policy updates. Join the mailing list to connect with The Partnership and help amplify stories from around the region.