In high school, during the summer holidays and weekends, I gave sailing lessons to children. I did that for over 10 years. Eventually, I also followed the instructor training and taught the instructors themselves. Then I opened my first kitesurfing school, which quickly expanded the activities on the beach. That ranged from sand yachting to kite flying and everything in between. The ease with which children learn when they are having fun has always stayed with me. And it is precisely that real pleasure that is still the driving force behind my current entrepreneurship every day.
Learning through Play First
Having fun and learning through play is also paramount in the team building activities we offer at Catalyst Netherlands, although having fun is no longer the main goal. At Catalyst Netherlands, we design games that train and enhance skills that are applicable to the participants work environment.
And, of course, these are equally relevant to their private lives. Fundamentally, it is about being able to communicate well, increasing problem-solving capacity and enhancing collaboration. Moreover, it is about learning to be vulnerable - throwing yourself in the deep end in a quest to achieve an optimal result together as a team.
From the Outside In, From Live to Online
Looking back, everything falls into place. For example, my business administration degree comes in handy. I have already been able to look behind the scenes at many companies so that I understand where the needs and challenges lie. And Catalyst continues to evolve. Where we first made the move from activities on the beach to additional activities indoors, we have recently made the move from Live to Online due to the Corona Virus.'
We now deploy our activities differently and more deeply than purely for fun. The experience has changed from a 'day out' for staff during the summer holidays or at the end of the year, to an investment in your people that is noticeable in the workplace. That feeling of reward is still there, but it is so much more than that.
What we offered to the children at sailing school at the time, the offer basically remains the same - Looking at the positives. But then a version 3.0 so that every colleague who participates returns to their workplace with renewed energy. And that, in turn, gives me, together with my team, mountains of energy.
Looking to work on skills in a focused and fun way?
Please feel free to contact us. Our activities are more than just a welcome break during a meeting, congress or conference. They offer an opportunity to work on skills such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving, creativity or to embrace the core values of your organization. An activity thus becomes a targeted tool to make your team or organization function better. That way it becomes more than a nice break or a reward for a good year.
To sum it all up. A team building activity is an investment in your future results.
Curious? We would love to hear from you. Get in touch.
