Teamship case study
Our client was comprised of a 14 strong team of relatively new and long established middle managers seeking a team development activity.
The performance goal; to reap multiple specific business benefits of working as a team rather than a committee of distinct individuals.
The objectives;
• Build open, trusting relationships
• Agree collaboration rules
• Improve business performance – agreeing goals
The team arrived the evening before the one day Team Voyage programme to sail two 40ft yachts from Port Hamble in the Solent. Dinner with the skippers and course facilitators gave them the opportunity to relax and ask questions about the voyage ahead
Training started on shore early the next morning. Delegates were introduced to the theory of high performance teamwork and the teamship model. Thinking about how their ideal ‘dream’ team would operate and making comparisons to how they currently work together, the team started to focus on closing that gap and imagine what it would be like to experience high performance team work.
Keen to get started, the teams made their way back onto the boats for the first exercise of the day. ‘Academy’ breaks sailing a boat down into a series of roles – helm, sail trim, navigator, etc. and provides a written brief for each role. Everybody in the team is given a role and using the brief and other information sources, has to learn then to perform their role. Within an hour or so, the teams are sailing the yachts towards Cowes under the watchful eye of the skipper and psychologist trainer.
This environment is perfectly suited to learning about communication, conflict, decision making and teamwork – all of which can be taken back and immediately employed in the workplace. Over lunch on board the team’s performance was analysed by the trainers and individuals were given feedback and ideas on how they could perform better. The afternoon saw the teams put their feedback to instant use as they went into direct competition with each other in the Fast Sailing exercise.
Back on shore the teams reconvened for prize giving and final debriefs. Over a few drinks delegates had time to reflect on the experience and look forward to implementing their new skills and knowledge back at work.
“This was a very worthwhile experience – it made the challenges and benefits of team working very real” the team’s manager commented.
This was my first time sailing – totally relevant to the workplace and great fun, too.”
“The main learning point for me has been team communication and support.”
