What Go Ape taught PI about team work

What Go Ape taught PI about team work (or ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’)

Some days, it’s good to lift your head up, get out of the office and blow out a few cobwebs, so you return invigorated, engaged, with energy for the tasks in hand.

Yesterday, most of the People Insight team headed out to Go Ape in Black Park for a bit of hanging from the trees. It was certainly an exhilarating, fun and banter filled afternoon, and today there’s a noticeable buzz in the office.

I asked the team what they learned, to see what kind of insights we’d get into how we work together as a team – and they came up with the following:

• There are some natural pioneers in a team. But what’s great is they give encouragement or warnings to those that are following and provide goals & reassurance of what’s possible
• Other people might believe in you more than you believe yourself; having faith in their coaching and giving it a go can be exhilarating
• The people you least expect to can have amazing, hidden talents….
• …and what seems like strengths aren’t strengths in all circumstances
• With a goal but no pressure for ‘winners’ or ‘losers’ we saw 100% effort, involvement and good cheer
• People didn’t always behave the way you’d expect, but we were all there for each other
• A cycle of observation, sharing (what works and doesn’t), reflection and application works the same up a tree or on a team work project

And finally

“Just because someone isn’t screaming doesn’t mean they’re not terrified.”

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