We’re like little children in the office today. The excitement is building, alliances are being created and faux enemies being made. What, you may ask, is all the fuss about?
Well, we’re all getting together for a day of team building on Friday at the brilliantly named Lusty Beg, and we can’t wait.
The wellies are being hunted down, thermals sourced and waterproofs put to one side (being in Ireland, they’re to hand most days). We know who are team mates are and we’re busy honing our competitive streaks as we speak (put those cigarettes down, Ben Jones!). My team is going to win (oh yes we are).
So the plan is that we’ll learn about each other in a way that can’t quite happen in the office. How will Sam cope when his team loses? How will Maeve react when she doesn’t get what she wants? How will Andy feel when his team’s canoe capsizes? (They’re all on a different team, you understand).
Being in team Learning Pool isn’t a 9 to 5. Many of us clock up the air miles together (and train miles, John) on our trips to see customers so we have often seen each other when we’re quiet, stressed or just plain missing our beds. Ben, for example, likes his lunch and Mary likes her mobile phone reception.
So what will Friday bring? Traversing ravines with rope ladders we’ve just created? Getting 6 team members across the freezing lough with only 1 canoe and 1 paddle between us? The anticipation is high.
But whatever happens, it will be a good day. It’s an investment in us, as a team. It will be a chance to let things out and form new ideas about our colleagues; a time to develop our trust in each other.
And, at the end of the day, when everyone’s finished congratulating the winning team (ahem), we can raise a little toast to the Learning Pool customers without whom none of it would be possible.
Janet
Tags: alliances, competitive, learning pool, losers, Lusty Beg, team building, trust, winners
December 10, 2008 at 10:34 am |
I have to apologise before tomorrow Janet because its obvious my team is going to win! We have Aine in our team how can we lose!
December 10, 2008 at 10:42 am |
I’m glad you think so (no pressure then!) but I do belive we are on the winning team.
December 10, 2008 at 10:47 am |
Team work; The process of working collaboratively with a group of people, in order to achieve a goal.
I am the first to admit I am highly competitive (not always bad thing) but I’m also a good sport and this weekend is about the fun of getting to know my colleagues, developing a lasting bond through the spirit of team work and camaraderie…. Your honor!
Now some say “to take part is the most important thing”, and to those that do I refer to the definition of teamwork above, which is to “achieve” a goal. Ergo, TO WIN AT ALL COSTS. If Ben Jones happens to get pushed in the lough in the process, well that’s just the price of success
December 10, 2008 at 10:53 am |
I hope there is no map reading involved!
No offensive Aine, but our map reading skills when we went to the Member Development Meeting in Kent were little to be desired. I now know every road, hotel and old people’s home in Maidstone!
December 10, 2008 at 10:54 am |
Everyone is being very critical of their rival teams! It’s nice to see that the wonderful team I am part of our staying relatively quiet and don’t feel the need to slag off their fellow staff members as we know that we are part of the best team and don’t feel the need to gloat about this……did I just gloat?????
December 10, 2008 at 10:56 am |
Team building? Sounds more like the beginning of a team war.
I think there may be tears (Thank goodness I am in a strong team).
I can’t help thinking that, given our business, we should be doing this in a virtual world like Second Life (and then meet up inthe pub afterwards). I just think it might be warmer and less painful.
Maybe next year?
December 10, 2008 at 10:57 am |
Can I just say that there has been a lot of talk about competitiveness and such going on. However, some of us don’t have competitive streaks. We believe that ‘nice guys do come first’, that through a spirit of cooperation, trusting, caring and sharing, we will achieve far more than through the aggressive tactics of zero sum games. Or as Sun Tzu in the Art of War puts it, (my team you have all read this, right?) “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.”
December 10, 2008 at 10:59 am |
Breda – you’re on my team so we’re going to win. But then, so’s Ben. Seems we may be spending our time hauling him out of loughs and puddles and protecting him from enemy attack if the comments I’m hearing are anything to go by.
Ben J – are you up to the challenge? We’ll only leave you behind as a last resort…
December 10, 2008 at 11:00 am |
I’m getting some well bad stick on here!! And all because I may have mentioned about certain people getting pushed in mud (I’ve been practicing the lunge and push motion!)
Oh well as I’ve always said, if your prepared to give it out, you have to be prepared to accept whatever comes your way!! At the end of the day it’s all harmless fun. Unless my cigarettes go in the lough (Sam!) then all bets are off!!
December 10, 2008 at 11:23 am |
“Team Destr…..Building’s not a matter of life and death; it’s much more important than
that.”
December 10, 2008 at 11:28 am |
Steady on there, Ben. Don’t peak too soon.
December 10, 2008 at 12:23 pm |
I have to admire all the fighting talk and ‘positive mental attitude’!!! It will be interesting to see if all you boasters who are promising great things will actually succeed!! Remember it’s always the quiet ones that you have to watch……..
December 10, 2008 at 7:32 pm |
My team – fair means or foul – we are going to be the Victors. I’m not saying any more – I don’t need to…