Kadans – Susanne van Leeuwen (Executive Secretary)
Kadans, a company that is steadily growing, both nationally and internationally, faced a challenge. The rapid expansion meant that colleagues no longer knew each other, which could hinder mutual connection and collaboration. The reason for the recent team building activity was clear: to create an informal and friendly atmosphere in which everyone could get to know each other dynamically and competently.
Susanne van Leeuwen
Executive Secretary
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Shine together at Kadans: Gold Rush brings dynamism and connection
The desired result was simple but essential: a fun day in which employees could get to know each other informally, regardless of the daily work context. A day that would be dynamic and competitive, matching the energy and growth of Kadans as a company.
The day itself was blessed with beautiful weather, and the choice of Fort Vuren as a location turned out to be a bull's eye. Gold Rush, the chosen team building activity, fit perfectly into the fort's environment and provided a magical combination of competition and collaboration. Susanne van Leeuwen, executive secretary and co-organizer of the event, is happy to share her experience and insights into the organization of this activity.
As an executive secretary and event organizer, Susanne van Leeuwen plays a crucial role at Kadans. Together with her colleague Mirijam, she is responsible for the annual staff event, where all 140 national and international employees come together. The company's recent growth and expansion to various European locations made the need for an effective way of getting to know each other even more important.
Goal-oriented choices for a successful day
With a growing organization and employees spread across Europe, the aim of the day was twofold: to get acquainted and to add a competitive element. Although Beat the Box emerged as the winner in the first selection, the final choice fell on Gold Rush. After consultation between Kadans and Windshift, the environment turned out to be too beautiful not to use, so it was decided to include the area around Fort Vuren in the balance between cooperation and competition. Susanne emphasized the importance of collaboration and the environment as crucial elements for the day's success.
The achievement of goals: cooperation and competition
Achieving the goals was a fact. The afternoon was filled with collaboration and competition, with Gold Rush perfectly put together. It may have been overwhelming for some, but the guidance from Windshift, with strategy discussions and step-by-step guidance, provided a structured and enjoyable experience. The assignments were also very surprising, meaning that employees sometimes had to step outside their comfort zone to take that extra nice photo or video. This created fun situations with lots of laughter, which strengthened collegiality.
The effect: introduction and connection
The difference before and after the activity may not be immediately tangible in daily work, but it certainly contributed to a better mutual acquaintance. The activity has of course not been able to remove the physical distance, but the barriers to approaching each other are noticeably lower. The informal atmosphere during the activity reduced the distance between colleagues, which has a positive impact on team dynamics.
Atmosphere of enthusiasm and diversity
The atmosphere during the activity was good and lively. Participants became enthusiastic and the diverse nature of the activity, with photo taking and other creative elements, added an extra dimension to the experience. Because there are many elements involved in Gold Rush, it was sometimes unclear at first, but during the game this became increasingly clear and the participants became more and more fanatic.
Collaborating with Windshift: smooth and personal
Susanne can be brief about the collaboration with Alexandra from Windshift: "It was absolutely fantastic." She appreciated Windshift's input, the focus on Kadans' needs and the team's accessibility. The preparation was thorough and structured, and the activity itself ran like a well-oiled machine. "They had even researched the area on Google Maps in advance so that they could use it if possible."
The power of a golden memory
The team building activity at Kadans, organized by Windshift, delivered more than just the desired results. The balance between competition and collaboration, the beautiful location and the smooth collaboration with Windshift contributed to a day full of dynamics, connection and enthusiasm. The golden memories of Gold Rush will remain with Kadans for a long time as a valuable experience of collaboration and team building, making the growing organization even more united in its pursuit of success. And finally, Susanne has a nice open ending: "Who knows, we may see each other again at our staff day in 2024."
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