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This year, Team PH was bound for the island city of Cebu. The goal was to have a team-building event designed specifically for remote employees, allowing us to strengthen our connections and collaboration. To ensure a professionally crafted experience, we enlisted Playworks for the job. Everyone was buzzing with excitement as we rode in the van, eager to dive into the day's activities and make the most of our time together.
But, just 15 minutes away from the resort venue, we received unexpected news: the Playworks team couldn't make it to facilitate the event. Yes, you read that right – just minutes away from our destination. The initial wave of energy and excitement seemed to take a hit. As it turned out, the Microsoft outage had affected the Playworks facilitators’ flights, causing them to miss the event. What a challenge to face!
Despite this setback, Montani employees proved their resilience and adaptability. We saw this as a golden opportunity to rise to the occasion and have fun despite the ticking clock.
Upon arrival, we immediately began searching online for the best team-building activities we could organize on such short notice. What a blessing it has been to work alongside each and every one of you, witnessing the support and enthusiasm throughout the situation. Everyone displayed remarkable patience and a can-do spirit, participating eagerly in all activities and cooperating seamlessly.
We quickly adapted, brainstorming and setting up impromptu games and challenges that turned out to be incredibly fun and engaging.
We continued by dividing the team into two groups – the Red Team and the Blue Team. While you might be curious about which team came out on top, the real focus wasn’t just on competition. Instead, it was on strengthening our bonds and making the most of our time together. The emphasis was on collaboration and enjoyment, creating an environment where we could all grow closer as a team.
The initial activities focused on communication and getting to know each other better.
First Activity: "Building a Storyline"
One team member starts narrating a story but stops with an incomplete sentence such as, “I am excited today because...” then passes it on to the next member to continue the story. This continues until the last member concludes and finishes the story. Interestingly, everyone ended up weaving in the surprise twist of Playworks not making it to the event. It was all in good fun, and no one was declared a winner –It was truly enjoyable to hear how each person developed their story and supported one another in narrating it.
Second Activity: "Form the Order"
In this game, each team had to gather information about each member such as their age, birth year, shoe size, and height. When prompted, they had to form an order based on one of these criteria, such as largest to smallest shoe size or youngest to oldest. This activity helped everyone get to know each other better and share fun details about themselves.
Like any fun game, there were moments when some details were occasionally missed or misunderstood, resulting in a few points being awarded to other teams. However, these small slip-ups only added to the amusement and lighthearted competitiveness of the activity. Everyone's good-natured laughter and playful banter made the experience all the more memorable.
Third Activity: "Action Relay"
Continuing with our activities, we had an Action Relay Game. In this game, each team member was shown a sequence of actions to perform and then had to pass the sequence to the next member to replicate. The goal was to see if the action could be copied exactly as demonstrated. The significance of this activity lies in its focus on communication, attention to detail, and teamwork. It was fascinating to watch how each time the action was passed along, it subtly changed and evolved, often resulting in a humorous and creative transformation of the original sequence. The game showcased our team's adaptability and creativity, and it was genuinely entertaining to see how each interpretation differed as it progressed.
Forth Activity: "Charades"
In this game, teams acted out a wide variety of subjects, including pop songs, movies, political figures, and random things under the sun, without using words. The significance of this activity lies in its ability to enhance non-verbal communication skills, foster creativity, and build camaraderie. The Red Team showed impressive speed in guessing the words, while the Blue Team worked hard to keep up. Despite the competitive edge, the game was filled with laughter and enjoyment, demonstrating our team's quick thinking and sense of humor.
The morning activities held in the function room were designed to enhance our team’s communication and ensure we could relay information effectively. These activities combined fun with purpose, helping us bond and prepare ourselves for the next phase of our day as we checked into the resort.
The second leg of our team-building event was all about embracing the outdoors and enjoying the sand and the beach. But before we hit the shore, we kicked things off with a lively dance number to showcase some moves from our team. What better way to energize the group than with a pop song from the girl group Bini? Each team took to the stage with enthusiasm, performing a choreographed routine to the song’s catchy chorus. The Red Team danced to "Pantropiko," while the Blue Team took on "Salamin."
You bet it wasn’t easy to step out of our comfort zones and show off our dance moves, especially when it meant letting go of our usual images. But it was wonderful to see everyone embracing the challenge with enthusiasm and having a great time moving with the music!
Although the focus of our event wasn't on winning, this particular activity presented a real challenge, and we needed to determine which team nailed their routine. Who better to judge than Kuya Robert, the resort's sound operator, who has now made it into our newsletter? For fairness and to avoid any bias, he took on the role of judge, adding a touch of humor to the proceedings. Ultimately, it was the Blue Team’s moment to shine with their impressive "Salamin" choreography and dance moves that stole the spotlight. Thanks Kuya Robert.
Finally, it was time to enjoy the stunning beach and white sand. However, just as we stepped out to start the games, we were greeted by rain. Undeterred, we pressed on and kicked off the Tug of War for the men. This was a test of strength, as the Red and Blue Teams faced off to determine which group would emerge victorious. The rain only added to the excitement, making the competition even more thrilling as we cheered on our teams.
This time, there was no need for a judge – it was clear that the Blue Team showcased impressive strength in the tug-of-war. Their dominant performance made it evident who to rely on for raw power in future team challenges, better tap Allan to be sure.
Next up was volleyball for the girls. Let’s just say the game became more about chasing the ball and enjoying the moment rather than keeping score. Despite the playful chaos and the occasional or mostly missed hits? Well, it was a blast and here’s some memories to look at.
Right after we had the "Longest Line" challenge. The objective was simple: each team had to create the longest line possible using personal items they had with them. Teams quickly sprang into action, emptying their pockets and untying shoelaces to make it. It was fascinating to see how inventive everyone was in using their belongings to build their lines. While everyone was eager to contribute, no one was quite ready to go the extra mile by removing their shirts to add to the line’s length. Maybe next time, on a sunny beach day, we’ll see some even more creative solutions!
As our team-building event came to a close, it’s clear that we achieved far more than just the day's activities. From overcoming unexpected challenges to embracing the fun and camaraderie of our games, we strengthened our bonds and made unforgettable memories.
The day was a testament to what we can accomplish together, both in triumphs and in the face of obstacles. As we move forward, let’s carry the energy and teamwork from this event into our daily work, continually supporting and inspiring one another. Thank you all for your enthusiasm and participation – it’s this spirit that makes our team truly exceptional. Until our next adventure, let’s keep these memories close and look forward to more opportunities to grow and celebrate together.
And here’s to our imperfectly imperfect jump shot!
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