Global Team Development at World Largest Container Shipper

Bespoke Team Building and Development for a Global Team

CASE STUDIES #2

BACKGROUND

The General Manager leads a global shipping Team based in Hong Kong. The team have been together for a more than 10 years time, with half of the team being based outside HK, less than 2 years. The team meets once a year, and recently participated in other Team Development activities .

THE BRIEF

To enhance General manager’s strong Leadership Behaviours, he was keen to enable her colleagues to appreciate the diversity of personalities and cultures within the team and their customers. With the focus on the younger newbie’s , the main key concern is

How would these younger newbie’s response dealing with more than 30 global partners at the same time? And how to gauge their influence on the team made decisions, planned their strategies and interacted with each other?

The Castles Can Fly Approach​

By issuing advance scenario and pre-program materials ahead of time, all the aprticipants were given a head start.  With no indication of who the team members or leaders are, they were only told in the shortest time, just prior to the commencement of the training.

Next, after the initial planning in the comfort hotel room, they proceed to the beach where all the equipment are already on standby. Be removing individuals from their comfort zones we are able to experience, understand and appreciate the full range of personality behaviours. Our facilitated exercises enable individuals and team to reflect on observed behaviours and consider the impact they have on each other. Of course, we also promote the concept of learning through fun!

With a sample of a 4 ft tall sand castle on the beach and with just enough information and training, the teams were left on their own devise to fullfil the objectives.  The event started with an exploration of Perception and a simple model to identify a variety of Personalities. Do we prefer to gather energy by being with others or recharge our internal batteries in solitude? When it comes to decision making, does the Head or the Heart rule? The team were keen to explore the personalities of their customers and other stakeholders to enable them to improve communication.

With Constant checking of the team leaders to verify their decision making while for the instructors  offer tips and clues to a better design and functional application, each team managed to achieve their own goals.

After a congratulatory lunch the team undertook a series of facilitated Castles Can fly exercises.

  • 30/30 involves planning, team co-ordination, process improvement and individual commitment to achieving personal targets.
  • Human Black Jack and Acting Games with Kings & Pauper , were light hearted enough for all.
  • World Café was directed to focus on how the Seniors can assit the newbies, across terrioritories and borders, as the theme is on One Family.

The Results

The facilitated reviews of learning from World Cafe exercises highlighted the importance of Planning, Communication, Leadership and other Roles plus the ability to celebrate success or learn from failure.

The following Team Action Plan was produced to implement back in the workplace.

  • Importance of Planning process, not just the plans
  • Team Communication, constantly checking
  • Trust, Respect & Support, especially cross cultural practises
  • Appreciation of Diversity from different ports in different continents
  • Learning from Failure, Celebrate Success, taking personal responsibilities.

With well deserved ‘pats on the back’ everyone departed proudly smiling.

Everyone really enjoyed the Castles Can Fly Team Building day, and it was a highlight from the week. I would really recommend it, not only as a fun thing, but to really push team members outside of their comfort zone and support each other through challenges.
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