Why the simplest team-building exercises are often the most sustainable for small groups.
Leadership in the arts often feels like a race against an invisible clock. We have deadlines, openings, and limited funding.
In that rush, the people standing next to us can start to feel like gears in a machine rather than collaborators. Real sustainable practice begins when we acknowledge that the health of the team is the health of the project.
Team building isn’t something you do once a year at a bowling alley or a high-priced retreat; it is a rhythmic, daily commitment to seeing each other clearly. In a grassroots setting, your culture is your only real safety net.
For small organizations, resources are tight, which means your greatest asset is the emotional energy of your collective. If that energy is spent entirely on the work, the foundation will eventually crack. This is why we need simple, low-barrier exercises that remind us why we are here in the first place. You don’t need a consultant or a weekend getaway to build trust. You need a space where it is safe to be a person who exists outside of their artistic output. When we neglect the human element, we invite burnout to take a seat at the table. Longevity is found in the quiet intervals between the big goals.
Here is an exercise that costs nothing and requires zero preparation: The Mundane Milestone. In your next meeting, before you dive into the spreadsheet or the rehearsal schedule, ask everyone to share one small victory from their week that has absolutely nothing to do with the organization. Maybe someone finally baked a loaf of bread that didn’t collapse, or someone else finally finished a book they started months ago. The goal is to highlight the version of themselves that isn’t defined by their productivity or their role in the group.
Why does this work so effectively for small groups? Because it levels the playing field. When we only talk about our work wins, we inadvertently create a hierarchy of productivity. But when we talk about our lives, we build empathy. It creates a culture where it is okay to have a life outside the office, which is the cornerstone of preventing burnout. It signals to your team that you value them for who they are, not just what they can produce. This simple shift moves the focus from output to existence, which is a radical act in a culture that demands constant labor.
Sustainable leadership is about pacing. If every interaction is high-stakes and high-pressure, your team will eventually recoil. By integrating these small moments of humanity into your regular workflow, you lower the collective cortisol levels. You make the doing of the work feel like a shared journey rather than a series of exhausting tasks. This isn’t fluff; it is the infrastructure of a healthy creative culture. It is the practice of building a container strong enough to hold the weight of your vision without breaking the people inside it.
Remember, the most successful arts organizations aren’t always the ones with the biggest budgets, but the ones where people feel safe enough to be themselves. Keep your team-building small, frequent, and honest. Your longevity depends on the strength of the bonds you build in the quiet moments between the big events.
When you take the time to notice the person behind the project, you are investing in the future of the entire organization.
Stay small, stay human, and keep the pace that allows everyone to finish the race together.
Northern Arts and Regional Innovation
This is a collaborative initiative by The Arts Incubator Winnipeg and the Art Borups Corners art collective, supporting artists and creative projects in Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario. Our groups champion rural arts development, community programming, Indigenous arts partnerships, and cultural innovation—strengthening the local and regional arts sector through mentorship, exhibitions, digital media, and sustainable creative entrepreneurship. Our events and activities include artists from Melgund Township, Winnipeg, Ignace, Sioux Lookout, Dryden, and beyond. You read more innovation-focused posts here.
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