New York, NY (PRWEB) May 26, 2007 -- Interested in rejuvenating employees while developing a stronger sense of teamwork?
Try using garlic, some chicken, maybe a can of tomato paste or some linguini.
Cooking-based team building programs are heating up corporate America, providing employers and employees with a fresh, new way to demonstrate - and even enjoy - resource allocation, use of complementary skills, and interdepartmental communication.
Led by Francis Anthony, who is better known as The Love Chef, these up-and-coming sessions are always well received by participants.
"Cooking together gives people a chance to loosen up a little bit, talk while they're working, and make a delicious meal that they'll share at the conclusion of the program," said The Love Chef, reflecting on the programs he's conducted in the last few years. "Typically, these people are working long, hard hours and don't get much of a break from office life. With a cooking-centered program, they get a sense of renewal from leaving the workplace, even if just for a day."
It may appear to be a simple approach, yet the program contains a complex blend of skill development tactics designed to go well beyond casual conversation.
"I structure the program in such a way that people have to work a little to discover each other's core strengths, then use them as part of the meal preparation," added The Love Chef. "Ingredients are representative of available resources, which have to be divided and shared. And, naturally, we leave room for creativity as people discuss how to move forward with their edible project."
Participants react well to the team building approach and have reported that new, positive relationships quickly developed, even among colleagues who rarely interacted. "I loved being so involved with what was happening," said one woman who works in her company's information technology department. "You could see your progress, and it was nice at the end to enjoy a wonderful meal and know that you made it as a team. I would sign up for this again."
As facilitator, The Love Chef even gets excited about new groups. "Every group is different. It's nice to see how they learn to work together toward a common goal and have fun along the way."
The Love Chef has been house chef on Live with Regis and Kelly for more than 20 years and appears on national television shows regularly. Although he has served as a corporate spokesperson for various companies, he didn't anticipate such demand for his services as a corporate trainer.
"Public interest in cooking and home life is very strong right now. When I was first approached to do a corporate team building session, I thought, 'Why not?' I worked with a consultant to match my skills with what the company wanted, and it went so well that I was immediately booked again," he recalled. Other companies learned of the team building program by word of mouth, and its popularity continues to grow.
Past clients include academic institutions, medical/pharmaceutical companies, financial institutions, and more.
The Love Chef is the author of four cookbooks: Cooking with Love, Cooking with Love Italian Style, Cooking Pasta with Love, and Low-Carb Italian Cooking.
For more information, visit http://www.thelovechef.com or contact Tricia Richards at 570-587-3338.
Press Contact: TRICIA RICHARDS
Company Name: The Love Chef
Email: Email Us Here: http://www.prweb.com/emailmember.php?prid=528870
Phone: 570-587-3338
Website: http://www.thelovechef.com