CTFN Facilitators Handle QBE Team Building Event
IT WAS A WARM AND
BREEZY MORNING when the CTFN facilitators arrived at La Solea Resort. Nathaniel
Arong and his co-facilitators, Nicolo Nasol and Kriza Rule, made up the CTFN team
for that day. Waiting for them were the QBE team, who are still shaking off
their sleepiness. Some of them just got out from the office and went directly
to the event.
Breaking the Ice on a Sleepy Morning
Not too long, it was then time to start the long day. Nathaniel took the lead and
called for the still-sleepy participants, with such thundering vitality that
the QBE participants jumped out of their chairs and went with him under the 9
o’clock sun.
To break the ice of sleepiness, Nathaniel taught the
QBE team a bit of his Tai Chi Mastery. He was perfect for this icebreaker since
he indeed looked Chinese, or at least Korean. With a serious yet calm tone, he asked
the QBE to follow after his choreography. Breathe in, slowly, then breathe out,
accompanied with specific movements. Then Nathaniel delivered the punchline
that made the QBE team burst in laughter under the morning sun. Blasted also
with some Ed Sheeran upbeat music from the speakers, care of Nicolo, the
assigned soundman. Kriza assisted with the documentation.
Tai chi icebreaker |
Once it was clear that the QBE team’s awake already,
things were set in motion. What followed was a series of activities, which were
aimed at creating more familiarity with colleagues, camaraderie, sensitivity, and team dynamics
awareness. All these toward lunchtime.
On Team Awareness (Johari’s Window)
After the World Records, Team Cheer Presentation, and Helium Ring activities,
there was enough time before lunch for Nathaniel to discuss Johari’s Window. Facilitated
by Nicolo, the Helium Ring activity did well to challenge the QBE team, which were
made into 3 subgroups.
Helium ring activity |
There were shouting and yelling from all corners of
the team during the activity. All the teams weren’t quite successful, and this
was great material for the group processing and lecture. Nathaniel discussed to the
QBE team the Johari’s Window and Team Dynamics. The points brought up during
the lecture proved evident during the afternoon activities.
The Afternoon Carousel of Activities
Nathaniel gave a brief icebreaker to prepare the QBE team for the
carousel of activities, which were Moon Ball, Inside Out, and then Hover Board.
The stations of were spread around the resort.
Hover boards |
Inside Out |
The sun beat down happily on everyone and made it a
challenge to find a good-enough shade from the heat. But luckily, the winds
were strong and cold that sunny afternoon, which provided brief respite during
the activities.
The subgroups processing was surprisingly in depth,
taking into account what they had learned from the morning’s activities and
discussion. The QBE team mentioned about listening and not talking at the same
time and knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They also talked about
how they should move as one team, one step at a time.
Closing the Day Beautifully
After a 15-minute water break, Nathaniel gathered the QBE team to form a
circle and facilitated a group massage. Then he discussed with the group what
happened throughout the day, what they had learned.
Then he narrated about the power of touch and
connection and that that also extended to the environment. He asked everyone to
take off their shoes and slippers, and to just feel the grass with their tired
feet and let the energy of the earth course through them. They QBE team found
it so relaxing that it made them smile as if it was something they never did
for a long time.
Nathaniel soon closed the activity by encouraging
everyone to connect with one another by way of hugs and gestures, no talking. The
QBE team, happy and connected with each other, hugged one another and despite
being encouraged not to speak, some team members said their thanks and
appreciate. Many of them even approached us facilitators, said thank you, and
shook our hands.
Note: This article was written by Nicolo Nasol. Nicolo was co-facilitator during the QBE team building program at Solea Resort in Cordova, Cebu, Philippines last 13 January 2018.