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Team development is a key in creating successful organizations and businesses. Sailing used as a metaphor, is one of the most successful vehicles for training and development: individuals of varying skills have to be bonded together to operate effectively.

Sailing
Sailing is a team game, which requires players to rely on each other for the simplest tasks, which in turn promotes team building and development at a much faster and efficient rate. Creating a level playing field is extremely important in the development of staff. In every team there are extroverts and introverts and all too often the loud members run the show.

'Sailing a high-tech fast yacht creates an exciting atmosphere that sharpens each participant's attention and compels each self-managed team to fully integrate individual efforts'.

A yacht and the High Seas for almost all people is an 'alien' environment, which will allow each member of the team to start from scratch. Everyone on board has to cope with unexpected emotions and unexpected skills. Managing a high-tech sailing vessel orders the same primary requirements as managing a modern corporation - good planning, knowing how to handle complex associations, getting the best effort and cooperation from the whole team for quick and effective responses - and of course a competitive spirit. We talk about planning, communication, doing, productivity, leadership, risk-taking, devotion and above all about togetherness.


The unknown environment, away from the pressures of the workplace, enables existing relationships to be strengthened and new bonds developed, providing an enduring return on your investment. The setting develops cohesiveness and trust in each other in order to perform as a team designated tasks. Through the exhilarating sailing experience the participants develop leadership skills, strengthen their relations, share risk-taking and will improve trust. The subsequent debriefing session back on shore examines communication patterns, leadership styles, decision making processes and team effectiveness. Prior sailing experience is definitely - and even sometimes preferably - not necessary.

'For the first time I was directed by a professional skipper. Incredible stimulating to see how a bunch of nice people were drilled into a perfect machine. All with one goal: to work together, to sail together and to be the best!' Evaldo Tealtino, Brazil.

The benefits of using sailing as a team building tool, are the following:
  • Sharing an unique life experience.
  • A new set of challenges opens new enhanced parameters for working relationships.
  • Getting back to a simpler existence makes it easier to alter one's perspective.
  • Reconnecting with nature regenerates a burned out employee, stimulates teamwork and broadens visions and creativity.
  • The lessons of teamwork in sailing are so clear and profound that it is easy to generalize or translate these experiences back to the workplace.
Team building
Team building is especially helpful when bringing new recruits into the management circle, forming new teams or improving motivation, awareness and/or productivity of existing teams. Sailing provides a high energy, friendly and fun experience to help build the trust and cooperation you are looking for. Cohesive teams in the corporate arena are the most efficient and productive environments in which to work.
In order to develop a team environment, you need to nurture a few key aspects of their relationships. These are trust in one another, effective communication including positive feedback and constructive criticism and respect and sharing in common goals and risks. The workplace has too many interruptions to successfully build a team. A separate experience outside the office or work floor can be the catalyst for the positive change you need. Nothing is more potent for this type of transition than sailing.

'Merci for a fantastic team building session. We all enjoyed and learned a lot. Both Peter and Chris were excellent trainers giving worthwhile advice and showing much understanding. Merci beaucoup.' TT immobiliers, Bretagne, France.


Workshops
We differentiate informal team building activities (just for fun being together and/or for better understanding) and typical team building sessions where specific objectives and deliverables must be achieved. Those are mostly tailored events that meet particular requirements, partnering with industry specialists when appropriate. Some of these team building topics will be built around structured exercises like building trust, awareness, motivation, effective communication, seeing peers in alternative goals, group problem solving, prioritizing etc.

Depending the requirements of the organization we will:
  • Maximize the performance of newly formed teams.
  • Build relationships between new teams.
  • Break down barriers between existing teams.
  • Encourage self-development.
  • Develop leadership skills.
  • Build personal confidence.
In addition the cost effective and memorable workshops will assist your in-house development programs. The workshops cover the full spectrum of team exercises starting from the informal team building experiences like Getting to know through Team Building + Workshops and the Survival Xtreme program. During the 4 days programs the team makes an offshore passage to demonstrate leadership, communication and critical team dynamics (awareness, motivation, togetherness etc).

We offer a multitude of benefits to employee incentive programs, social events, team building efforts, and entertainment events. Based upon an innovative and effective team and a spirit building program that has earned rave reviews from the people that sailed with us.

Survival Xtreme
This workshop is designed to bring all participants out of their comfort zone into an exciting adventure. While the experience is actually extremely safe, the sheer power and expanse of the open sea is supreme in enhancing interdependency and teamwork. We really go the limits. Besides sailing, a combined mountain bike and kayak treasure hunt (teamwork), all participants will be harshly tested the moment they have to survive in a life raft. This Survival Xtreme experience will definably offer different styles of leadership, necessary to place the participants in a changing and challenging global environment.

Amid the spray of seawater, team members rotate through the different roles of the sailing crew, which allows each person to take the helm and handle the lines and sails. The team must work in unison throughout the adventure, tacking and jibing, sail handling and steering, while our staff members continuously monitor safety and focus the group's attention on team discoveries.

Yacht
All team building experiences and workshops are accomplished on the high-tech 50-foot sailing yacht the BOC Racer CrossRoads, with up to 10 participants. Lloyds and Veritas approved and built under the highest safety regulations. The yacht includes permanent flotation, all required safety and first aid equipment, satellite telephone and satellite navigation and communication.

Instructors
The sailing instructors have lots of experience in offshore sailing, ocean racing and circum navigation. They will familiarize each team member with their position and encourage active participation in helming, navigation and sailing. This is a thrilling experience and we'll get the adrenaline pumping and the team working together with pleasure.

'How do you know what you think before you notice what you are saying'.

In addition the team building consultants are qualified in leadership training, communication and critical team dynamics (awareness, motivation, togetherness etc). They are also specialized in brand building, international marketing and multimedia presentations. They speak English, French, German, Dutch and a little bit of Spanish and Portuguese.
If your team needs informal or highly effective building we offer a one-stop solution. Learn it well and bring it back to work.

'We achieved in a Team Building Workshop in one day what we have been trying to achieve for 12 months and we had fun doing it. A sensational day for our team - the challenge and the overall experience provided much that we can take back to our workplace environment. We are all better people for having done it. We would recommend this activity to any organization that is interested in an extraordinary group experience that is challenging, cost effective, and safe.'

Information: info@global-unlimited.com.

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