Team Simplify

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With the restrictions lifting and many months of working from home Team Simplify needed some time to see each other face to face, bond as a team and come together to celebrate the efforts of everyone’s hard work.

Like so many small businesses Simplify Consulting have been striving hard to deliver on our engagements and meet our clients’ growing needs and deal with a pandemic. As a busy consultancy we are used to managing change, but we also had to adapt and continue to evolve and were able to grow our team throughout a challenging 18 months. Our growth meant we had new team members that we had only spoken to on Zoom or Teams and virtual team drinks alone in our homes is just not the same as connecting in real life.

Our opportunity came and we got together in our entirety for the first time in many months at a team offsite. The morning of our team day came with a challenge. Several, we soon learnt. Separated into teams the first order of the day was to assemble a child’s bike under a time limit and make it at least useable. The project managers in our midst were glorious in their fervour and the rest of us went along for the ride. And what a ridiculous ride, seeing Matt Short our 6ft 5 Business Manager trying to cycle a tiny tricycle was a sight to behold. Some teams fared better than others and I still don’t understand how my team’s creative abilities with gaffer tape weren’t appreciated. Scoring low in our challenges was sweetened by the time to get to know each other. The hilarity of just doing something fun with people you have ‘worked’ with but not necessarily met or connected with personally was a joy.

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With the challenges complete Sheila Sambrook our Head of Delivery brought out a blow-up doll and electrical gadgets from her bag with steely intent. Our horror turned into relief as she explained we would learn how to save a life. As a qualified first aid trainer, she shared her knowledge and expertise, and we were soon on our knees practicing CPR and learning how to use a defibrillator. With an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at our offices for us and the local community to use, we now have some confidence that we could use it effectively should the need arise (hopefully never).

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The evening came with some reflection on the work achieved as a team and celebrating individual successes. It’s remarkable to see all the highlights, milestones, and fantastic outcomes we have delivered and contributed towards, because we often forget the great work achieved as we move from one engagement to another. Self-congratulation is always a bit awkward but when you see results and client feedback, we also shouldn’t be ashamed to be proud of our collective and individual drive and commitment to add value in all that we do. To be able to celebrate this in-person, away from our home office, laughing, joking and connecting as a team only serves to make us want to continue to push for excellence.

We all came away from the day and night with full bellies, sore heads, a renewed vigour to keep up the good work AND three children’s bicycles. As efficient as ever our Directors Kate and Carl had us build children’s bikes so we could donate them to our two chosen charities Dorset Children’s Foundation and Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The bicycles have been rebuilt properly and safe to use and not a single bit of gaffer tape can be seen. We hope the children they have been donated to will find joy.