Client WWF-Hong Kong
Organiser Team Building Asia
Venue Music Farm, Hong Kong
Attendees 110
Date March 9
The brief
Each year, WWF holds its one-day All Staff Gathering for the entire branch. This year they wanted an upbeat morning programme that worked on specific goals for the team. The programme had to have a low carbon footprint as part of its internal sustainability guidelines.
Challenges
Team Building Asia worked with WWF on a complimentary customised programme as part of its own corporate social responsibility commitment. WWF had five goals: fostering teamwork, leadership, joint ownership of tasks, mastering new beliefs and focusing on the big picture. David Simpson, director of Team Building Asia, says: “BeatsWork has teams using five instruments, which fit well with WWF’s five key goals for the programme. Also, it is an activity with completely reusable equipment so the only carbon emissions were in transporting it to and from the venue.”
Execution
“The group was split into smaller teams of 40 and led through a series of practice rhythms using clapping, tapping and movement,” says Simpson. “ This brought home to people that even if you think you don’t have rhythm, with enough practice and the support of the team you will still be able to get there successfully.” After mastering individual beats, the group came together to form a giant samba rhythm band.
The debrief was an important part of the session. “We kept things engaging,” says Simpson. “Each team was given a question and we gave WWF a transcript of everyone’s responses at the end.”
WWF-Hong Kong chose the Music Farm in Yuen Long, an outdoor area with pavilions in Hong Kong’s New Territories. The time of year meant there was no need for air-conditioning or heating, which kept carbon emissions down. The group’s seafood lunch followed WWF’s internal Seafood Guidelines on choosing sustainable produce and used no disposable utensils.
Comment
Eric Bohm, CEO, WWF, says: “BeatsWork was a truly inspirational experience that brought the team together to celebrate all that is great when teams work and play together, in this case great team music.”