Every year in mid-July our company holds a team building weekend, and this year was no different. When the company started three years ago, it was with pride that we decided that every year we would do this little adventure, but with each one we went to a different place in or around Cape Town, different accommodations and different adventures, but above all, the difference It was the size of the team.

simon’s town

Our much larger group was staying in the beautiful little naval town better known as Simon’s Town. As one of the oldest in South Africa, Simon’s Town is very distinctive, as is our team. From creative writers to more analytical businessmen, our team was a remarkable mix.

The mood was filled with happiness when we booked into Whale View Manor Guesthouse. From our previous trips we learned that team building really helps our working relationships. Something that is very important since you spend more time in your life at work than at home or with family and friends.

A little adventure…

After everyone unpacked and freshened up, we quickly set off for our first expedition: Kloofing, or as it’s better known, canyoning. The best thing about kloofing is the fact that it not only challenges you, but also how much you trust the person next to you. I was standing between Sue-Ellen and Margaret, one of whom was my art director and the other the company’s number one marketing person. The three of us were assigned to take care of the ropes. Being away from any cub scouts, I didn’t know what I was doing and was quite surprised to be assigned this specific task. But after a few minutes I got the hang of it and really enjoyed the fact that I had been entrusted with this little task.

When it was finally my turn to rappel down, I was so distracted by the technique that I didn’t even have time to focus on my fear of heights. Something that unfortunately Nicci did not find it so easy to do. The poor girl was screaming at the top of her lungs, but at least she did, and the entire team cheered her on when she was safely on her feet after much guidance and support from the professionals who were with us. Blushing with relief, she promised herself and us that she would never subject herself to that kind of torment. I can’t even begin to imagine what it must feel like to have a phobia so bad it bans you like Nicci did.

There is no me in the team…

After everyone reached the bottom, we walked back into town where we stopped for a quick drink at a local cafe on the historic mile route, also known as St. George’s Street. After our snack, we continue on a tour through the cobbled streets of Simon’s Town until we reach the navy museum. I think most people would have preferred to skip the museum as most of us aren’t really history buffs but for the more intellectual of our team we decided all for one and one for all so we We headed to the museum for a more informative tour of the South African Navy.

It turns out that the history of the navy was more interesting than the less enthusiastic expected. By the time we got out of there, almost the entire team was “Aye matey” to each other wearing a cap on a newly purchased cap. It’s funny how people change when you’re in a big group, how you tend to follow the crowd, because I’m pretty sure if it wasn’t for the influence of the environment, I wouldn’t have bought a hat, and I definitely wouldn’t talk that way. But why spoil the fun.

At dinner that night we were all enjoying a meal of delicacies and sharing two or three bottles of wine. Jokes were made about some of the office politics and of course some of the silliest things that have happened during the year so far. Michael got a lot of complaints about his big mistake when he had to introduce a client and somehow got one of his personal photos in the sample photos. He still sticks with his story that someone else put it there, but luckily for him, the photo of him and his girlfriend was very innocent and the customer had a sense of humor.

The rest of the weekend was filled with more laughs, one or two more adventures, but mostly good company. I think it would be wrong to say that not everyone enjoyed this time of teamwork and, more than anything, that we would laugh about this weekend for a long time.