Challenging experience of team-building

Developing a committed, cohesive team sounds more like hard work than fun.

But, during a series of indoor and outdoor team-building exercises sponsored by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), participants learned great collaboration comes from both meeting challenges and learning how to relax.

The Jakarta Post had the opportunity to join the exercises, along with a group of Americans representing "incentive travel providers" from the east coast of the U.S., several representatives of the STB and Outdoor In Asia, the team-building company that organized the events.

On the tranquil and peaceful Ubin Island, our sense of smell and our knowledge of tropical spices and fruits were put to the test in a game called Taste & Smell.

Blindfolded participants in teams of four or five were asked to identify "samples" by smell.

"It is an exotic smell -- I wish I knew the name," said one team member.

"Wait a minute, this must be ginger. Yes, I'm sure it's ginger," said another, convincingly.

"Are you sure? But the smell reminds me of greater galingale," said another.

Taste & Smell was but one of the games we played. Under the theme Ubin Treasure Island For the Quest of Senses, our sense of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch were challenged though different kinds of nature-related games.

Our ability to observe things was also challenged in a game, Missing Elements. Based on a given picture that showed missing parts of objects in a designated area of the island, participants were supposed to act like a "detective" trying to find the missing parts by exploring the area.

Teams that managed to find all of the missing parts were given high scores.

But joining the exercises on the island did not only allow us to share challenges and fun, but also get back to nature through programs like the Bike Mangrove Tour and Secret Garden Walk.

Aside from the island, team-building exercises were conducted at other venues - At-Sunrice, a culinary academy, and resort island Sentosa.

Cooking Contest

Team-building at At-Sunrise showed that spices do not only smell good, but can make or ruin a meal depending on the type and quantity added.

In the school's fully equipped kitchen, our skills as chefs were put to the test in a cooking contest following a quick training course and demo from local chefs.

For our lunch we were asked to prepare Thai Baked Chicken Money Bag.

Each team of three members or so was given vegetables, spices and cooking utensils, as well as pots and pans. Several ovens were also available for use.

"Let me start with slicing vegetables. I am accustomed to doing it at home," said the US-based Motivation's director, Josh Brown, while grabbing a knife.

He skillfully sliced the vegetables, garlic cloves, onions and chilies.

"Well, now for my part, then," said Richard, another participant. He took a chicken and said, "My part is washing this 'naked' chicken before rubbing it with ketchup and ... seasoning," he added, jokingly, to the laughter of others.

While not everyone was accustomed to cooking, the contest was a success. Participants helped each other. Those unable to cook prepared the ingredients.

The spirit of collaboration was evident when they had to decorate the baked chickens for the competition.

The most rewarding part of the contest was, of course, the presentation of the chickens. "Wow, that tastes great! This is the result of what we have done together," said one team member. "It could be too salty," said a participant from another team, sticking out his tongue.

Jungle Party

The team-building exercises became livelier as the event progressed -- if not crazy when each team performed an improvised dance or play or engaged in a tea- pouring game at a "jungle party" on the resort island of Sentosa.

Based on the costumes available, each team had to perform a five-minute play.

Some men were dressed as women much to the amusement of their friends, while others were compelled to dance as a form of punishment for their poor performance in another contest.

"These exercises encourage us to have fun and act crazy", said one participant, "what a memorable, rewarding time we have all had."