I Did Not Expect Any of This

Letters, team building, strategic planning, colleagues, life and work blend
By G
Philippines
March 18, 2017 11:30pm CST
We had our team building and strategic planning last Friday and Saturday. Our Sales Officers/Relationship Managers from the provinces also flew in the city. The Company is turning six years in a few but a lot of polishing has to be done. Thus, this activity. The games/exercises during the team building were fun. Some were too physical like soldier crawling but still it was fun. One of the activities that really touched me is the writing of letters to each colleague. It was difficult at first as you have to either thank, honor, or ask for forgiveness in the letter. It was difficult for me as I wrote long and there was only a few minutes to do that. Lol When I read the letters I received I was touched. Most of my colleagues appreciated how I made them laugh and how I guide them or share my knowledge with them at work. I did not expect that the little things I did meant a lot to them. I love putting humor in conversations and they also appreciated that. The letter writing was a good activity. It is not every day that you get to thank your boss or colleague. Sometimes we cannot even say that we are proud of them due to shyness or lack of opportunity to do so. Would you have liked that activity too? Do you write letters? Can you easily say that you are thankful, sorry, or that you admire something about someone?
11 people like this
9 responses
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
22 Mar 17
that would be nice. i love writing letters. it also practices my mind and hand coordination. during the camp of colors of my students last march 2 and 3, the students were asked to write what they don't like in any one of their classmates. i think that was good because if one receives many notes 'behind his back', it meant he has a not-so-pleasing personality and attitude
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
23 Mar 17
@nottoooldtowrite that is good. ohh, so your first real name is GRACE, am i right?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 Mar 17
@ridingbet lol it is a part of my real name. You got me there.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Mar 17
It is a good activity as long as everyone is game and practices sportsmanship.
1 person likes this
@Beatburn (4286)
• Philippines
19 Mar 17
Good for you to get that affirmation. We all need that valuable feedback.
1 person likes this
@Beatburn (4286)
• Philippines
21 Mar 17
@nottoooldtowrite Will be meeting with my direct reports today. We'll do something similar, an informal SWOT analysis with affirmation in the end.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
19 Mar 17
True. A good motivation.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Mar 17
@Beatburn we did SWOT analysis too during the strategic planning.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 Mar 17
It is heartwarming to read appreciation letters. Indeed it is a good team activity to draw every one closer and more open to each other.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 Mar 17
@nottoooldtowrite Yes, that is better for sure.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
21 Mar 17
And better if day-by-day we would know how to appreciate each other.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
21 Mar 17
@salonga we got to apply the learning from the team building.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
21 Mar 17
Oh, that is nice indeed. Although, I suppose you can only get to write the good things about the person? We also had our team building many years ago. We had lots of group activities and it was so much fun. But none like that though. I would like to have one like that too, if ever we will have again a team building.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
23 Mar 17
@nottoooldtowrite Yes, it's better not to write not positive things.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 Mar 17
@SIMPLYD true. If I did, it will defeat the purpose.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Mar 17
It would really be quite difficult to write something you would to change or improve in someone. I did not write to those whom I do not have any postive thing to say.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
22 Mar 17
It's often easier to write something, than to say it face-to-face, as you found.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Mar 17
That's right. We are more courageous with a pen.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
19 Mar 17
Personally, I would not like to do these activities. When I taught school, we had other types of activities to do. Some were fun, while others were boring. They mostly were education related.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
19 Mar 17
It was required at work so we just had fun. It was awkward t first but it turned out well.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
22 Mar 17
@nottoooldtowrite I'm glad it turned out well.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Mar 17
@DianneN me too
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136278)
• India
21 Mar 17
Wonder how it would be if we were asked to write letters to users here? (lol)
• Philippines
21 Mar 17
Interesting. We have gained friends here thru interacting
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
22 Mar 17
Oh I would have loved to participate in that kind of exercise .. writing letter of gratitude specially ..and of course letter of apology ..
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Mar 17
Yes. I am glad things went well. Hopefully it will have a lasting effect.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471443)
• Switzerland
19 Mar 17
While this is something I would not like to do, I can understand that can be a nice activity to make people socialize.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
19 Mar 17
Yes. It was required at work. Glad things went well.
1 person likes this