Team building through blind faith

Social worker Debora Centner never at a loss for an ingenious idea

Once a month Diospi Suyana’s nursing staff partake in a training session.  Last Thursday’s session dealt neither with special illnesses nor new treatment guidelines.  No, the focus was on improving the work environment through team strengthening measures.  In the marketing field this is one of the big topics that promotes efficiency.

The nurses and carers did not listen to a speaker or look at PowerPoint slides for a few hours; instead they had to prove their ability to work in a team by completing various tasks.  The whole group had to overcome an obstacle course that was spread out over the hospital compound – over the final 50m they were not even allowed to speak to each other.  The hospital’s sloping terrain presented quite a challenge.

In the reflection session afterwards the members of staff recognised that mutual trust permeates one’s daily work.  They must be able to trust each other.  Personnel manager, Nohemi Huamani, made clear that during this game it did not matter who was walking at the front or at the end of the line.  Everyone was dependent on everyone else – since one was sitting in the same boat.  In the same way it was important that at work one ignores any possible personal dislikes that may play a role in one’s private lives.

The session ended with laying different body-parts on the floor.  All participants could identify themselves with a body-part and reflected in their small groups on their respective role in the team.

One nurse said that it was the first time that she had played a game without cheating!  Why?  Because it would have destroyed the game for the whole team.  She wanted to reach the goal in a fair and cooperative way.  We concluded by talking about Diospi Suyana’s vision.  As staff we want to pass on God’s love to our patients.  That, however, only works, if we all set our eyes firmly on the same goal./DC

Every body-part is important.
The participants of the training session after the game.
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