Next Step - Everest!
19 August 2005 - 14:20 CET
The essence of TNT Showfreight’s success is the ability to work as a team, both on site and in the office. Introducing new people to the team and maintaining team spirit is essential to the smooth running of the organisation. A few days in the Lake District may seem to some like a holiday but, in fact, it has some genuine business benefits.On July 26th this year eight members of the TNT Showfreight Operations Team set off for the Lake District on a Outward Bound ‘Bonding’ event – each with eager anticipation, some trepidation and considerable reservations about what they were about to let themselves in for. Two days, and two nights, later smiling faces returned home relieved, reinvigorated and ready for action.
The first day’s activities seemed to be designed to give the team some experience in working in the dark – always a useful skill in the exhibition logistics business. Apart from being asked to pitch a tent whilst blindfolded they were also set a task of trust and teamwork, climbing a hill (or mountain depending on who you speak to) in teams of two with one of the team again blindfolded and the other acting a guide.
Overnight the team members stayed in mountaineering hut that was best described as ‘primitive and rather basic’. Someone said “It was three star accommodation, the only problem was you could see all three stars through the hole in the roof!”.
Day two was just one long task apparently. As one of the team put it “there was some hiking, then abseiling, more hiking, kayaking, oh then some more hiking followed by a ghyll scramble which really meant climbing up a waterfall and finally hiking”.
To those who weren’t there it may all sound rather strenuous and extreme but when asked the Operations Team members said:- “everybody really enjoyed themselves”
- “it was just great getting to know everyone better”
- "we developed a spirit of camaraderie”
- "the real benefits will show over time”
- "enjoyed every minute – it was great!”
And the highlight? Well, there were two actually:
- No mobile signals, so no mobile phones ringing every hour of the day.
- Fillet of trout marinade, drizzled with lemon and lime and sprinkled with black pepper and poached in silver foil, prepared lovingly by Peter Murfitt
So two and a half days in the Lakes generated the three T’s – teamwork, tenacity and a TV Chef.
