Developing a committed, cohesive team sounds more like hard
\nwork than fun.<\/p>\n
But, during a series of indoor and outdoor team-building
\nexercises sponsored by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB),
\nparticipants learned great collaboration comes from
\nboth meeting challenges and learning how to relax.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post had the opportunity to join the exercises,
\nalong with a group of Americans representing \"incentive travel
\nproviders\" from the east coast of the U.S., several
\nrepresentatives of the STB and Outdoor In Asia, the team-building
\ncompany that organized the events.<\/p>\n
On the tranquil and peaceful Ubin Island, our sense of smell
\nand our knowledge of tropical spices and fruits were put to the
\ntest in a game called Taste & Smell.<\/p>\n
Blindfolded participants in teams of four or five were asked
\nto identify \"samples\" by smell.<\/p>\n
\"It is an exotic smell -- I wish I knew the name,\" said one
\nteam member.<\/p>\n
\"Wait a minute, this must be ginger. Yes, I'm sure it's
\nginger,\" said another, convincingly.<\/p>\n
\"Are you sure? But the smell reminds me of greater galingale,\"
\nsaid another.<\/p>\n
Taste & Smell was but one of the games we played. Under the
\ntheme Ubin Treasure Island For the Quest of Senses, our sense of
\nsight, hearing, smell, taste and touch were challenged though
\ndifferent kinds of nature-related games.<\/p>\n
Our ability to observe things was also challenged in a game,
\nMissing Elements. Based on a given picture that showed missing
\nparts of objects in a designated area of the island, participants
\nwere supposed to act like a \"detective\" trying to find the
\nmissing parts by exploring the area.<\/p>\n
Teams that managed to find all of the missing parts were given
\nhigh scores.<\/p>\n
But joining the exercises on the island did not only allow us
\nto share challenges and fun, but also get back to nature through
\nprograms like the Bike Mangrove Tour and Secret Garden Walk.<\/p>\n
Aside from the island, team-building exercises were conducted
\nat other venues - At-Sunrice, a culinary academy, and resort
\nisland Sentosa.
\n
\nCooking Contest<\/p>\n
Team-building at At-Sunrise showed that spices do not only
\nsmell good, but can make or ruin a meal depending on the type and
\nquantity added.<\/p>\n
In the school's fully equipped kitchen, our skills as chefs
\nwere put to the test in a cooking contest following a quick
\ntraining course and demo from local chefs.<\/p>\n
For our lunch we were asked to prepare Thai Baked Chicken
\nMoney Bag.<\/p>\n
Each team of three members or so was given vegetables, spices
\nand cooking utensils, as well as pots and pans. Several ovens
\nwere also available for use.<\/p>\n
\"Let me start with slicing vegetables. I am accustomed to
\ndoing it at home,\" said the US-based Motivation's director, Josh
\nBrown, while grabbing a knife.<\/p>\n
He skillfully sliced the vegetables, garlic cloves, onions and
\nchilies.<\/p>\n
\"Well, now for my part, then,\" said Richard, another
\nparticipant. He took a chicken and said, \"My part is washing this
\n'naked' chicken before rubbing it with ketchup and ...
\nseasoning,\" he added, jokingly, to the laughter of others.<\/p>\n
While not everyone was accustomed to cooking, the contest was
\na success. Participants helped each other. Those unable to cook
\nprepared the ingredients.<\/p>\n
The spirit of collaboration was evident when they had to
\ndecorate the baked chickens for the competition.<\/p>\n
The most rewarding part of the contest was, of course, the
\npresentation of the chickens. \"Wow, that tastes great! This is
\nthe result of what we have done together,\" said one team member.
\n\"It could be too salty,\" said a participant from another team,
\nsticking out his tongue.<\/p>\n
Jungle Party<\/p>\n
The team-building exercises
\nbecame livelier as the event progressed -- if not crazy when each
\nteam performed an improvised dance or play or engaged in a tea-
\npouring game at a \"jungle party\" on the resort island of Sentosa.<\/p>\n
Based on the costumes available, each team had to perform a
\nfive-minute play.<\/p>\n
Some men were dressed as women much to the amusement of their
\nfriends, while others were compelled to dance as a form of
\npunishment for their poor performance in another contest.<\/p>\n
\"These exercises encourage us to have fun and act crazy\", said
\none participant, \"what a memorable, rewarding time we have all
\nhad.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/developing-a-committed-cohesive-team-sounds-more-like-hard-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}