Did you ever wonder why a group of people enjoys being and working together? I will share a story about a great team I have been part of and how eating together made a difference.
Due to a restructuring of the business, a new team had been established. We were based in Germany and in Spain. So there was a physical distance, a difference in culture, a different history and of course a mixture of various personalities. We did not act as a team because it said so on a Powerpoint slide. But we wanted to become one.
I went to Spain to get to know the Spanish team members better. They were very friendly and did everything to make me feel at home. They asked me to join them after work and we went on a tapas and beer tour. They ordered local specialties and explained proudly about the golden tapa contest. We talked a lot, we laughed… we really connected.
A few weeks later, we met as a full team and underwent the team building programme. We started off as a collection of individuals and evolved into a strongly connected group of people with shared values, a high level of interaction and a sense of trust. We discovered that we shared a passion for food. In the evening, we went to a German Christmas market, where we had food and drinks together. The team building days were a great start for collaboration.
Over time, the team underwent changes, as in any team, people were coming and going.
It was more than two and a half years later, that one of us came up with an idea. What if we would have a reunion in Spain? We agreed to meet during the Fiestas of Virgen de San Lorenzo, a festival with music and street food all week. What an amazing idea! About half of the people had rolled off the team by then and we all travelled to Valladolid to meet again.
Needless to say that we had a great week with lots of fun, great local food, and strengthened friendship. Seemed like yesterday we had met last time. As soon as we can travel again, we should schedule a new time to meet, uh… I mean to eat together. It will be unforgettable!
*Quote title: Julia Child.
Image by Elvire Schlösser
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