Music team building doesn’t require talent or anyone who thinks they can sing — just a group and one moment when every part comes together into something that couldn’t exist without all of them. Roger Haskett has known this for 34 years, and now he’s built it into an experience your team can walk into.

Oxford University’s Experimental Psychology group found group singing elevates mood and builds social bonding faster than almost any other shared activity (Dunbar et al., 2012, Evolutionary Psychology) — a physiological reset for a team that’s spent the day in back-to-back calls.

I love using music in my keynotes, our facilitation and retreats, our games, our shows. When I was given an opportunity to create something similar for our clients, I jumped at the chance.

I’ve directed and acted in musical theatre for 15 or 20 years. We almost always rehearsed at night, after a full day of stressful work, then a fight through traffic — I had lots of reasons to be in a bad mood by the time I got there.

No matter how bad of a mood I was in on the way to that rehearsal, by the time I was driving home after having sung for hours, I was in the best mood. I was singing in the car. I’d dance and sing around the house.

Whatever problems I had to deal with were so much easier with all that positive power in my body, with all that belonging I had created by singing together with other people in a group — dealing with the biggest issues in life becomes faster, easier, & less demanding.

One Song, Every Voice: Team Harmony, co-produced with Jana Berengel, who leads The Agency Singers, opens with fun, dynamic warm-up exercises that get everyone in the best mood, then splits participants into three vocal sections, each learning one part of a familiar song — Hey Jude, Sweet Caroline, Lean on Me. No experience required, no solos. Each part sounds incomplete alone, until all three come together.

“When you’re singing, feeling the beat in your body, when you’re in a group where you’re all making the same sound, a sound that cannot exist unless you all work together, it’s electrifying & deeply engaged.”

To see what this looks like in practice, click here.

— Roger Haskett, musical theatre performer and director

Active listening. Trust. Each contribution mattering to the whole. Amazing for introverts especially — the structure protects them. No one is exposed; everyone belongs to a section, so none of you is out there alone.

Adding this into a retreat, a conference, a team-building activity is genius — so potent and powerful. The problems are still there when your team drives home. What’s different is the power that the song created. That’s the engagement advantage.

A little fun before you go

<p>The post The Mood You Didn’t Expect to Drive Home With first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

“The Family Feud activity was a HUGE HIT, and our team ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.”

— Tennis BC · Family Friendly Feud · Christmas Party, Dec 2025

“The Murder Mystery was a HUGE HIT, and everyone had a FANTASTIC TIME. It was the PERFECT ICEBREAKER for our group.”

— Factors Group · Murder YOU Mystery, Dec 2025

“They did a wonderful job creating a FUN FUN FUN SPACE for all. EVERYONE LOVED IT.”

— UBC · Pop Trivia · 60 people, Dec 2025

“Brad and Kyle were a HIT! Everyone LOVED THE ENTERTAINMENT. Appreciate their energy and leaving the party with folks wanting more!”

— FortisBC · Name That Tune · 400 people · Holiday Party

A little fun before you go

<p>The post Plan Your Holiday Party first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

“As a manager who has seen many similar events, NEVER HAVE I BEEN INVOLVED IN ONE THIS GOOD. The actors went beyond just acting. They DREW PEOPLE IN, charmed and entertained, and carried the evening in a FUN AND SPIRITED manner.”

— Scott Cumming, F&B Manager, Hotel El Dorado · Murder YOU Mystery

“You made me THE HERO. The entertainers were SUPERB. How you coached the participants was BEYOND BELIEF.”

— Beverly Mahood, Western Management Consultants

“We could’ve solved the crime more expeditiously if we hadn’t been KILLING OURSELVES LAUGHING.”

— Karen Hadden, VHR Communications

“It was the PERFECT ICEBREAKER for our group — especially since many people had never met each other before and some came from different locations across Canada and the US. The Murder Mystery was a HUGE HIT, and everyone had a FANTASTIC TIME.”

— Julie Hobbart, Senior IT Project Manager, Factors Group

92% of our clients rebook. Murder YOU Mystery is our most re-requested show.

Roger + Michael + the EU Crew

A little fun before you go

<p>The post Never Have I Been Involved In A Murder Mystery This Good first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

Book early because we don’t want this to happen to your group

34

Years

92%

Rebooking Rate

2,300+

Events

Trusted By

Google · Microsoft · Samsung · Cisco · Oracle · Best Buy · Walmart · McDonald’s · Scotiabank · A&W · BCAA · FortisBC · CPABC & many more

Our top 3 repeat clients have hired us 225, 117 & 114 times.

Six ways to get everyone involved

Murder YOU Mystery

“Your Murder YOU Mystery (we had 137 people) was a HUGE SUCCESS. Your actors were so great as well. We have REBOOKED our Christmas party for next year.”

— Krista Christiuk, Marketing Manager, WestGen Group of Companies

Family Friendly Feud

“Collaborating with Engagement Unlimited was truly FANTASTIC… They succeeded in getting the entire group of 45 carpenters involved, eliciting SHOUTS OF EXCITEMENT throughout the game.”

— Alyssa Cunningham, Owner & Principal Planner, Alyssa Rae Events

Pop Trivia

“Thanks to you & your Team for making our Pub Trivia last night a HUGE SUCCESS! OUTSTANDING! SO MUCH FUN! We wouldn’t hesitate to engage your services again!”

— Karen Klus, Co-Chief Experience, Sprive Agency

Name That Tune

“400 participants for Name That Tune for Fortis! Brad and Kyle were a hit! EVERYONE LOVED Name That Tune! Appreciate their energy and leaving the party with folks WANTING MORE!”

— Rubeena Mokha, FortisBC

Prize Patrol — The Roving Game Show

“Stefano did a terrific job bringing groups of people together and engaging them during the Welcome Reception. We feel very fortunate to have him at our events!”

— Tracey Tse, Events Manager, CPABC

Improv Comedy

“They killed it — even without mics, people were still buzzing about it the following week.”

— Steven, EllisDon

Book Here for Your Corporate Holiday Party in Vancouver

Pick a shortlist of dates now — formats and details can flex around a date once it’s held.

Let’s Talk Before the Calendar Fills

P.S. — Meme Monday

Friday Fun

Roger + Michael + the EU Crew

<p>The post The Holiday Weekends Go First. Then the Thursdays. first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

I’m 14 years old and in grade 9. I’m sitting at my desk, head down, doing my work when, suddenly, in the middle of the class, Mr. Sutherland barks, “Hey you, Haskett, you!… I want to see you after class.”

After class, he says: “Roger, a bunch of teachers have been tasked with finding student leaders.” And he looks at me.

I look over my shoulder at the emptying classroom. “Um … you want me to help you find student leaders?”

“What? No. Idiot. You. You’re the student leader I’ve found. Next Tuesday you’re coming to a lunch. With me. Now get out of here.”

You’d think I’d be ecstatic. But instead, each step I take, I’m more stressed. Each step, I sink deeper into crisis. “I’m a Leader? ME?

Thoughts smash & crash in my head, louder and louder, pushing everything else out of the way. I’m struggling not to drown in the frantic, overwhelming, potent energy inside of me. I was desperate — many of my great ideas have been motivated by desperation. I got some social support.

“Lindsay, I’ve been invited to this lunch for student leaders.”

“Oh, am I invited too?”

“No. Sorry. I’m invited. But I want you to come with me. I’m a leader so I’m inviting you” (wildly overstepping my role here!)

Lindsay, being such a great friend, says, “Is lunch free or do I have to pay?”

The Lunch

Lindsay and I open the door… I stop dead in the doorway. There are adults in the room! Strange adults wearing suits and stylish dresses. I’m dressed like a 14-year-old kid in runners, a t-shirt and jeans!

Thoughts and ideas swirled around my head. “Who are these adults? Was I supposed to wear a suit? I don’t even own a suit!… What if I just go to the bathroom and never return? How important is high school, really? Wow, that girl over there is really cute.”

Up pops the principal… “I’d like each of you to stand up, say your name and tell us a little something about yourself.”

The Firing Squad

I immediately fall into a panic. As people stand up and talk, every eye turns to them. And suddenly it feels like a firing squad! And I’m waiting for my turn, for the guns (eyes) to turn on me. My head is pounding. My breathing is shallow and labored. My mind is screaming RUN! But my body is frozen in fear.

First the Black Hole

I have my first “black hole experience”… everything in my head gets sucked into the black hole that used to be my brain. What is left? Nothing. I have nothing to say.

Then Black Magic

The only refrain circling inside my head has been, “I’ve got nothing to say! I’ve GOT NOTHING!” Magically it becomes, “I AM NOTHING.”

I AM NOTHING.

The Joke

At that moment, Lindsay leans over and whispers, “This is what I’m going to say…” And what he says next is so hysterical, so shocking that even in my heightened state of crisis, I burst out laughing. As does Mr. Sutherland. Damn it, Lindsay! Lindsay — who wasn’t even invited to this student leader lunch — is going to kill with his joke. And I have nothing! I am NOTHING!

And then suddenly the guns are pointing at me. I tell myself, “Don’t work legs! Just sit still! Just look at Lindsay like he’s next! Brilliant!”

None of that escapes my black hole brain.

I am now standing! How? What?

WHAT! IS! HAPPENING!!!

My open mouth … and out pops … Lindsay’s joke.

Lindsay’s joke, that he had so graciously “written” for me, KILLS. The audience is erupting with laughter and applause. But instead of lapping it up, I am sitting down into the darkest moment of my (young) life.

“…I followed many of your suggestions and found to my amazement that I WAS NOT EVEN NERVOUS! I had fun, guests had fun, people bought books… You had an enormous impact on me and my ability to achieve this life-long goal… thank you, thank you, thank you!”

— A.K. White, Author of No Reason to Stay

What I found in my worst moments

Something so big it touched my soul. I found that inconsequential (but real) stress could change my character. My character!

In that darkest moment… I decided that stress was not going to determine my character. Rather, my character would (try to) determine how I responded to stress. A journey to find my internal power had begun.

How stress changes your character

That journey became a book and a course. Here’s what it does for the people in the room:

“Your session was LIFE CHANGING and the best I attended throughout the whole conference. Please keep on doing what you do — there are millions of others whose life needs an impact like mine had.”

— Anonymous Attendee, Pacific Dental Conference

“…this event was LIFE CHANGING for me. THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO!!!”

— Lorraine Peña, Bosa Development

“Thank you to both Michael and Roger. Your work is EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND VALUABLE as it has the power to CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF PEOPLE’S LIVES.”

— Scott Lee, Founding Partner, Revesco Properties

If you want that system for yourself, it’s Pressure Cooker Confidence. To bring it to your team, let’s talk. It’s also the heart of every keynote I give.

Ever had your own “black hole” moment in front of a room? I’d love to hear about it — drop me a line.

P.S. — If you’re like most people (big, dangerous assumption), then right now you’re dying to know: what was the joke? Here’s the funny thing: neither Lindsay nor I have the slightest idea what it could have been. We never remembered it. But it was huge — at least when I was 14.

<p>The post Black Hole, Black Magic: The Day I Learned Stress Could Change My Character first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

Roving Mounties corporate event! Here’s how Roving Mounties turn a reception into something guests are still talking about — before the main event even begins.

Your guests  are arriving. The reception is open. And here’s what happens…

• a Mountie stops them for a “Canadian security quiz”
• a Park Ranger steps up to demonstrate “best bear behaviour”
• their “personal bodyguard” appears out of nowhere to handle their ‘fans’

And they haven’t even crossed the threshold yet!

That’s what roving Mounties do. They start the engagement before the event officially starts. They turn a hallway or a hotel lobby into the first act of something guests didn’t see coming. It’s the most underrated form of cocktail hour entertainment in the corporate world. They make your guests the centre of the story.

Our guests were BUZZING WITH EXCITEMENT. As always, your performance was OUTSTANDING and definitely the highlight of the guests’ trip. Wow, was it ever PERFECT.

— Elaine Chick · Rare Indigo

Why Roving Mounties Work at Corporate Events

There are two reasons roving Mounties at corporate events work every single time.

The uniform does the work before the performer says a word. The RCMP’s red serge is recognized around the world. When a Mountie appears at your corporate event in Vancouver — or anywhere in Canada — guests don’t need context. They already know what to do. They smile. They reach for their phones. They want in on the experience.

The people inside the uniforms are engagement experts. Our Mounties are trained improvisers who read a crowd in real time. They find the guests who need a nudge. They make the quiet table feel like the most important people in the room. They turn moments into engagement magic.

The ROVING COMEDIC MOUNTIES were ABSOLUTELY AMAZING and added such a FUN AND WONDERFUL TIME for everyone. It really brought the whole event to life RIGHT FROM THE START!

— Sandy Heer · HR Manager · Mainland Construction Materials

The Biggest Impact at the Best Price

Roving Mounties are our highest-impact, best-value option. We can handle up to 15 Mounties easily, and more as needed. One Mountie or a dozen, the formula is the same: maximum impact, right from the moment guests arrive.

We are returning to Vancouver for another conference and want to book the roving Mounties again. They were such a HUGE HIT last time that our attendees are STILL TALKING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE TO THIS DAY!

— Tania Sprankle · Senior Manager · Pratt & Whitney

Friday Fun

Just popping in to wish you a Fabulous Friday!

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FAQs: Roving Mounties at Corporate Events

Are Roving Mounties just people in costumes?

No — and that’s the whole point. Any company can put someone in a red serge. Engagement Unlimited’s Mounties are trained improvisers who read a crowd in real time. They find the guests who need a nudge. They make the quiet table feel like the most important people in the room. The costume opens the door. The engagement expertise is what happens next.

Do Roving Mounties work for international groups visiting Canada?

They’re one of the best options for exactly this. International guests — especially those visiting Vancouver or Whistler for a corporate conference or incentive trip — come to Canada with the Mountie already on their bucket list. They want that photo. We give them that, plus performers who make the whole interaction into a story they’ll be telling when they get home. Roving Mounties are Engagement Unlimited’s most-requested format for DMC and inbound corporate programs.

What if my group is quiet or doesn’t usually participate?

This is one of the most common concerns event planners bring us — and it’s exactly what our performers are trained for. Our Mounties read the room. If a group isn’t naturally outgoing, they meet them where they are and bring the energy up gradually. In 34 years and 2,300+ events, the Mounties have never once failed to connect.

What is “Mounties for a Minute”?

“Mounties for a Minute” is an optional add-on where 3 guests from your group get dressed as Mounties and run through Mountie training. The results are hilarious, the photo ops are incredible, and it gives even reluctant participants a reason to fully engage.

How many Mounties can Engagement Unlimited provide?

We can handle up to 15 Mounties easily, and more as needed. Most corporate events use 2–4. If your program calls for more, reach out and we’ll confirm availability.

Are Roving Mounties available in Whistler or outside Vancouver?

Yes. Engagement Unlimited’s primary service area includes Metro Vancouver, Whistler, Kamloops, and Kelowna, with delivery across British Columbia and Canada. If your event is in BC but outside Metro Vancouver, reach out with your date and location and we’ll confirm availability.

Can I combine Roving Mounties with other entertainment?

Absolutely — and it’s one of our most common configurations. Roving Mounties work the arrival and reception while a game show, mystery dinner, or keynote anchors the main program. The Mounties warm the room; the main event delivers the peak. If you’re considering a second element, ask us about pairing options.

Through their charm, wit and amazing improv skills, they led 2 x 45 minute performances for the crowd of 400+ to ENDLESS SMILES AND CHEERS. They EXPERTLY WORKED THE ROOM with professionalism and masterful skill.

— Shaw Madson · Event Planner · Total Entertainment Network

The Mounties were GREAT! They added the PERFECT AMOUNT OF “CANADIANA” and were great at reading the crowd. This group wasn’t very outgoing and they met them at their level.

— Heather Pelletier · Nature’s Boardroom

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Ready to Add Roving Mounties to Your Next Corporate Event?

34 years. 2,300+ events. The Roving Mounties are the highest-impact, best-value option in the Live Event Energy lineup — and they start working before your event officially begins.

Let’s talk about your next event. Reach out and let us know your date, your guest count, and what you’re hoping your guests walk away saying — and we’ll put together the right configuration for you.

Tell Us About Your Event

Monday Meme

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Roger Haskett is the founder and The Big Cheese at Engagement Unlimited, and author of The Me You Want To Be. For 34 years and 2,300+ events, he has been the person clients call when they need their group genuinely, joyfully, unforgettably engaged.

<p>The post Roving Mounties: Before They Even Cross the Threshold first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

Why we built a give-back team building day around a birthday

We’ve been running MudPie Kitchens & Buddy Benches for years, highly successfully. But clients kept telling us the same thing: “This is a premier product that requires a premier amount of time — like two hours from the group. Can you give us something that is equally special but takes less time and costs less?”

So we went away & thought about it. We talked to our charity partners. We did research into what was possible. We believe in creating signature products — we don’t go for what’s easy; we go for what has purpose & impact. We asked our charity partners one question: what are the extremely emotional & difficult pain points for families undergoing challenges? They said:

“Picture a kid at school. Everyone else has birthday parties. They get invited to all of them. But they never get to invite anyone to their own party. For a family going through a hard season, a birthday is one more thing that’s out of reach.”

So we created Birthday Boxes

We created a box that everything needed for an amazing birthday goes into.

Cake · Prizes · Presents · Games · Decorations · Utensils, plates & tablecloths…

All themed to a specific child’s party — unicorns, or cars, or Disney princesses, or Paw Patrol. Each box, on the outside, has a list of what’s inside plus who it’s for: “This box is for four- to six-year-olds who are interested in Paw Patrol.” “This box is for nine- to ten-year-olds who are interested in unicorns or rainbows.”

The kids get to invite their friends & have a party where everything they need is there. All they have to do is unpack the box & have the best time.

“The Birthday Boxes for the children were so thoughtful and parents will be very PROUD to share them.”

— Doris Peters, Manager, Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society

Why the people in the room are heroes

Putting together this project was full of joy for everyone involved. Jeni smiled every day when supplies arrived — because she knew these boxes were going to give children a birthday party they wouldn’t have otherwise.

We’ve facilitated Birthday Boxes a number of times now, & the response of the people in the room making them is as deep, as potent, as making Buddy Benches or MudPie Kitchens. The people in the room are heroes. They’re helping kids & families they will never see, but who will benefit from what they’re doing in that room.

“A hero is someone who helps others when there’s no chance that they will ever be thanked or rewarded.”

— Roger Haskett, author of The Me You Want To Be, founder & The Big Cheese of Engagement Unlimited

That’s the engagement advantage of a give-back team building day: the energy in the room isn’t manufactured. It comes from doing something that matters for someone you’ll never meet.

“a 6 year old had a WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY this month because of Engagement Unlimited’s birthday party box donations 🤡”

— Kyla Dawn, In-Home Support Coordinator, Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society

The word came back from our charity partners that the Birthday Boxes were a massive, massive success — that parents were emotionally overwhelmed in gratitude.

Now, instead of heartbreak, they get joy & celebration & a party geared specifically for their child.

“The Birthday Box Give-Back event WENT GREAT! Everyone enjoyed the activities and your team was GREAT. Very kind and EASY TO WORK WITH!”

— Bailee Dutton, Executive Assistant, CPABC

Build a birthday with your team 🧡🧡🧡

Give-back team building FAQ

Friday Fun!
Meerkat on the lookout for the weekend

<p>The post Birthday Boxes: A Birthday for a Child Who’d Otherwise Go Without first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

If you have ever planned corporate team building in Vancouver and quietly worried your group was too reserved or too divided to take part — this is for you.

The Call We Hear Most Often

One of the most common calls we receive starts the same way: “My group is unique.” Maybe it is a remote team that has never met in person. Maybe there has been so much turnover that people do not know each other. Maybe you deal with a lot of introverts.

And you are right — your group is unique. But the good news is, EVERY GROUP RESPONDS TO ENGAGEMENT. Every group responds to play, at least the way Engagement Unlimited does it. We have proven that to more than 2,300 events over 34 years.

“The Murder Mystery was a HUGE HIT, and everyone had a FANTASTIC TIME. It was the PERFECT ICEBREAKER for our group — especially since many people had NEVER MET each other before and some came from different locations across Canada and the US. The activity was a great success.”

— Julie Hobbart, Senior IT Project Manager, Factors Group

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Engagement Is a Superpower

Engagement is not a mood you hope shows up. It is what we build, on purpose, for every group.

“Play is a superpower that we have at our fingertips. It supercharges our brain and body.”

— Roger Haskett, The Me YOU Want To Be

There is hard science under that. “Nothing lights up our brains like play,” says a leading expert on play, Dr. Stuart Brown. That is one way we harness engagement in your room.

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How We Get Your Whole Room Engaged

Our promise is right there in our tagline: everyone involved all the time. People get as involved as they want, or as little as they want — we give them that flexibility. And because they have it, everyone ends up in the game.

“EVERYONE, even the introverts, were ENGAGED and participating.”

— Sean Antonson, Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre

We just brought Name That Tune to the Sheet Metal Association of British Columbia, in Kelowna. Here is what Jeremy told us afterward:

“I was COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY. People were up on their chairs singing & dancing to Name That Tune! I have NEVER SEEN MY GROUP do anything like that!“

— Jeremy, Sheet Metal Association of BC

So “too reserved” is not a reason to avoid an interactive team building event. It is the exact reason to book Engagement Unlimited! From Family Friendly Feud to Murder YOU Mysteries to Pop Trivia, our interactive team building activities in Vancouver are all built the same way — so the whole room ends up in the game.

And it is not one lucky room. This is how clients keep describing it, in their own words:

“Having Engagement Unlimited come host our team building event (Murder YOU) was INCREDIBLE. Everything was so well done, and HILARIOUS of course. From start to finish the process was SEAMLESS, easy, and THE ENTIRE TEAM LOVED the murder mystery event. It was a ton of fun, and we would WHOLEHEARTEDLY RECOMMEND this to anyone looking for a team building event. Thank you again for all your team did, and we had SO MUCH FUN!“

— Karen Coldham, Director, FortisBC Energy

That was not FortisBC’s first time with us — it was their 10th event, and counting.

“GREAT TEAM BUILDING — I can’t think of any way to improve. EVERYONE LOVED IT!!!“

— Liana Duff, Manager of Conference Sales, Tourism Whistler

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Ready to See Your Whole Room Engaged?

For 34 years, our corporate event entertainment across Vancouver and British Columbia has turned the hardest rooms into rooms on their feet — 92% of clients rebook. It is the kind of corporate team building Vancouver companies book again and again. Bring us in, and we will get your whole room playing together.

See how Engagement Unlimited gets your whole room in the game →

Want your team to give back while they play? We can add a give-back element, too.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can interactive team building work for an introverted or reserved group?

Yes — a reserved group is the exact reason to book Engagement Unlimited, not a reason to avoid it. The way we run it, introverts and extroverts both get drawn in and choose to take part. The more reserved the room, the more our format has to give it.

What team building games does Engagement Unlimited offer in Vancouver?

We run a range of interactive team building games — Family Friendly Feud, Name That Tune, Pop Trivia, and Murder YOU mystery among them. Every one is built to get the whole room playing, for groups of 10 to 500 and beyond. We host them live, virtual, or hybrid across Vancouver and British Columbia.

How do you include the quiet person without putting them on the spot?

The quiet person is never singled out. With us, everyone is involved all the time — people take part as much or as little as they want, and that flexibility is exactly why they end up getting up and joining in because they want to. Nobody is dragged on stage.

What corporate events are your team building games best for?

They fit almost any corporate gathering — holiday parties, conferences, staff appreciation days, sales kickoffs, retreats, and team offsites. Wherever a reserved or newly-formed group needs to connect fast, our interactive games turn the whole room into one engaged team.

Friday Fun
Be like dog with flower

<p>The post My Group Is Unique first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

Ten years ago, I was brought in to help a hostile group break its own negativity. This was right at the beginning of my speaking career. My talk was titled “Pressure Cooker Confidence!” Nothing like talking on confidence when you feel yours dripping away moment by moment.

Four huge guys sat front and center. They looked like ANGRY Hells Angels: arms crossed, big bushy beards, & big noticeable tattoos. They scowled for my whole talk. I don’t think I can even scowl like they did, let alone for 90 minutes!

I (successfully) fought to be positive the whole way through, trying desperately not to give in to my internal screaming.

Then, at the end, the biggest one levered himself out of his chair, and I was like, “He’s way bigger now than he was sitting down.” Then he lumbers over to me and he gets way closer than he should, right up into my personal space. He’s so close his beard is scratching the side of my face as he whispers into my ear: “I think that was the best talk I’ve ever heard!” I lean back and look at him and go,

“Well, maybe you should tell your face that!”

The last one to know how you did in the room is you. When you’re under stress, your impressions are not to be trusted. I was under stress, and I saw four very angry people, but that was just my stress talking. They LOVED my talk. The kind of love that makes you get up out of your chair & go over to a stranger & whisper in their ear something magical. 

But not everyone can keep up a confident front while everything inside is screaming in fear.

That’s one of the rare skills of a GREAT EMCEE — reading a room properly even when your own nerves get in the way. Our emcees are professional actors, facilitators & keynote speakers who do exactly that, for a living. When things go wrong on a stage, you need an emcee who has this rare skill. That’s what Engagement Unlimited provides.

“Your great ability to ‘read the room’ and think on your feet with quick wit is so natural! Thank you for the great energy you brought to our event!”

— Liana Duff, Tourism Whistler

This Is Who You Want at the Front of Your Room

We have a roster of amazing and engaging emcees. See our emcees in action →

• 34 years creating engagement energy
• 2,300+ events served
• 92% rebooking — clients keep coming back

“I did not know I needed an MC until we had one! Stefano was amazing. It was incredible to watch him work his magic while I sat back and actually enjoyed the entire evening, instead of running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Now that we’ve experienced what a professional MC does, we will NEVER do it ourselves again.”

— Sandy Heer, HR Manager, Mainland Construction Materials

So before your next event, one question is worth sitting with:
who’s going to ENGAGE YOUR ROOM? → Engage the Room

PS — This is a skill that you can learn. It’s captured in Roger’s course, Pressure Cooker Confidence: The Me YOU Want to Be → https://engagementunlimited.ca/course-pressure-cooker-confidence/

Friday Fun
Let’s be like this kitten…
Let the weekend begin!
Happy weekend

<p>The post Who’s Going to Engage Your Room? first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

When the boss is the one with paint on her hands

September 2023. TSX Venture Exchange. Aprons on. Coveralls and booties to protect everyone’s clothes. Janice Harrington, Director of TSXV Listings, is at the table alongside her team — building MudPie Kitchens, meaningful gifts that bring connection, imagination & kindness to children in local daycares & schools.

Some of these people have never worked together. A few are remote staff. Some are introverts who quietly dread the words “team building event.” The Director is next to them, doing the same thing, with the same paint on her hands.

“I just had the best conversations with my team that I’ve ever had. I just spent the whole time moving from person to person, working on whatever they were working on, and had the best conversations.”

— Senior Leader, Canada Energy Regulator

Something shifts. People soften. Walls come down. Conversations deepen. And the group feels more human.

That’s the power of building something together.

Why this kind of bond doesn’t fade

As your guests arrive, many of them might be feeling things like “I don’t know anyone. I’m not sure where to put myself. I feel a little awkward.” Those impressions are quietly shaping everything that happens next.

That’s not a character flaw. That’s biology. Positive isn’t the default — under stress, the brain floods the areas that remember negative. So we have to fight to be positive. We can’t just think about being positive. We have to fight.

Fun is powerful. The power of play is real — it opens people up, encourages them to engage, to connect, to create. That’s why everything we do is team building disguised as fun.

But when you add purpose to fun — when your team is laughing AND building something for someone who needs it — something even more powerful happens. It starts with “we had the best time together” and it grows into “we did something good together.” Both are true. Both matter.

A small group leans in — drill in hand, sandpaper on wood, paintbrush or decoration next — and the conversations start. Not because anyone planned them. Because their hands were busy with something that mattered, and the rest took care of itself.

Roger Haskett, founder and The Big Cheese at Engagement Unlimited, calls this hero energy. “And when you build a relationship inside hero energy, it’s a much more meaningful relationship than it was before. That’s harder to forget. That’s what you take back to the office on Monday morning — and three months later.”

In Janice’s own words

“Huge success — awesome team building event. Staff talked about it for weeks after. People who didn’t work together connected for the 1st time. Incredible bonding experience. Perfect to get to know our remote staff and have them feel part of the team. Amazing for introverts! It was a perfect no-stress way of interacting with others. The actual building of the Mud Pie Kitchens gave you something to focus on which really allowed casual conversations. So much better than just standing around and talking. Everyone absolutely loved it.”

— Janice Harrington, Director TSXV Listings, TSX Venture Exchange

“Staff talked about it for weeks after.” Purpose stuck. The conversation kept going long after the tools were packed up. That’s what engagement looks like when it travels — when the lift outlasts the event.

“People who didn’t work together connected for the 1st time.” The build did the work the org chart had not. Building something real, side by side, produced connection across silos that meetings hadn’t produced in months.

“Amazing for introverts! Perfect no-stress way of interacting.” The build lowered the participation bar quietly — no spotlight, no forced icebreaker. Hands on the task. Conversation on top.

And yet purpose is the thing that makes the bond stick.

Four ways to build hero energy in your team

Impact & Purpose — Doorway 5 — has four formats to fit your group and your goal:

• Build & Donate — MudPie Kitchens or Buddy Benches. Your team builds with their hands. You create it together, then donate it to kids who need it most. Hands-on. Emotional. Real.
• Pack with Purpose — Birthday Boxes, Kindness Kits & Backpacks for Kids. Your team packs for at-risk kids and students heading back to school. Flexible participation. Deeply human. The kind of experience people talk about for months — or years.
• Food for Families — Your favourite EU games — Family Friendly Feud, Pop Trivia, Prize Patrol, Murder YOU — with a give-back twist. Every round your team wins unlocks a real food donation. Competition with a cause.
• Fun with Purpose — Mission FUN-Possible, give-back version. The same high-energy, laugh-out-loud missions your team loves — with real community impact built in.

Many clients pair Impact & Purpose with a keynote, a facilitation session, or a full corporate retreat — especially for board retreats and executive off-sites. The experience deepens whatever comes alongside it.

If your team has a big moment coming — a board retreat, a quarter-close, a return-to-office stretch — see what Impact & Purpose looks like for your group →

Want the weekly read on engagement, live events & what actually works? Subscribe to The Engagement Edge — one short note, every Tuesday.

Roger + Michael + the EU crew
Engagement Unlimited — Where Engagement Meets FUN!
The Engagement Advantage

P.S. Friday Fun

Hands up if you think this kitten is soooo cute.
#FridayFunvibes #WeekendVibes #TGIF #CuteKittens

<p>The post Team Building With Purpose: Unlock Hero Energy In Your Team first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>