Team Development Waitrose

'The event in the afternoon was a great mix of activities that allowed everyone to get involved and ensure all played a part in our success.' Participant: Waitrose Personnel

Cumulus Outdoor Events were asked to design and deliver a team development training day for the 10 members of the Help Desk Team of the Personnel Policy Unit. It was a relatively new team so the main aim of the day was to encourage team members to develop an increased understanding of each other whilst having fun in a different environment. The day was to:

• Encourage open and honest relationships with each other
• Develop an understanding and respect for each others' values
• Improve levels of trust within the team
• Encourage team members to gain support from each other
• Enable team members to value each others' differences as strengths to benefit the entire team

Working from a venue on the banks of the River Thames in Berkshire, Cumulus ran an event based around a series of outdoor team challenges supported with interactive feedback and review sessions guided by Sarah Campbell, one of our great team development trainers.

The morning consisted of a number of teambuilding tasks in the grounds on the conference centre as well which were then followed up with guided reflection and review sessions. In addition to these, the team were also asked to present various gifts to each other that represented what they felt their team colleagues would enjoy. This encouraged team members to consider each other; putting themselves in 'second position' and encouraging a greater feeling of empathy to each other.

The afternoon involved a bespoke orienteering event that also involved various mini challenges on route, working within the venue estate and on the banks of the River Thames. This was front loaded by a session that enabled team members to offer their own thoughts on what they bring to the bring, obtain from the team and what they felt needed encouraging within the team. This was revisited at the end of the day by offering everyone the opportunity to gather feedback from the entire team, helping everyone to be more receptive to support and suggestions whilst also enabling everybody to develop an enhanced understanding of each other.

The day was a huge success, scoring 96% in our satisfaction survey and developed the following comments:

• Good team challenges – I surprised myself as to how much I enjoyed them!!
• The team exercises really enabled our team members to contribute.
• It was good to work in an environment and in a style that is not my norm.
• I really liked being outdoors, working in small teams, hearing what others think about me.
• I thought the morning task was a great test for the team. It encouraged different approaches for communication.
• The variety of tasks in the afternoon gave everyone something that played to their strengths.
• The challenges were varied and fun.
• The team facilitators were patient and I believe got the most from us.
• The style of the event was important as it maximised the benefits of being away from the office.
• It really developed a sense of openness within the team.
• The event in the afternoon was a great mix of activities that allowed everyone to get involved and ensure all played a part in our success.