By the time we reached the final destination, we were worn-out, washed-out, and ready to collapse. Yet another successful Crucial team event has passed, and we’re excited to tell you all about it.

The day started off with a sky full of dull grey clouds, but the Crucial team didn’t care one bit – there was a day to be made, and we were gonna make it. This is how Crucial’s awesome team-bonding day played out.

The Morning

The team, as per usual were fired up and ready for a big afternoon. Everyone has their Crucial shirt on; they’re ready to go.

The Race

2:00PM – Two exuberant representatives from THRILL Team Events, one of our wonderfully enthusiastic customers, arrived to introduce themselves to the Crucial team and debrief us on what was in store for the day. After teams were formed, and we received our first challenge, the Crucial team was on its way to exploring Sydney in one of THRILL’s many action-packed events, the Amazing Race.

Challenge #1: The X-Factor 

In our newly formed teams, we were requested to devise a team chant and choreograph a team dance to go along with it. In the park closest to the Crucial office, each team performed their chant and dance – yes, in public – bringing together cooperation, creativity, and courage to make the best fun of the activity.

Challenge #2: Chinatown

After decoding the destination name, all teams rushed to the next challenge (some in a sneaky Uber taxi), where we arrived at Chinatown to encounter a Detour – a choice of two challenges with their own pros and cons. One team chose the “Sweet Treat” option to drink herbal green tea, while the others chose to eat a reasonable piece of what was considered to be a “Bizarre Bite” – one team ate squid, while the other chose dried scallops (which tasted like raw fish and felt like tough bark), as their teammates cheered them on.

Challenge #3: Beer Tasting

On the way to the next challenge, the teams were starting to fatigue. Like true, chivalrous Crucial members, we all walked together regaining energy and encouraging each other to keep soldiering on. Any challenge involving beer isn’t necessarily a challenge, right?

Upon our arrival at the Redoak Boutique Beer Cafe we were faced with a beer tasting challenge in which six mystery beers needed to be matched with their identities from the Redoak beer menu – which managed to spark fervid discussions. Meanwhile, a couple of team members drew hilarious caricatures of two contrasting members of their teams.

Challenge #4: Teamwork

Upon our arrival at another park, the Crucial teams participated in their first Roadblock in which all three teams competed against each other in three different relay races of Quoits (like ring toss). It was a great team-building activity as it involved everyone’s full participation, including the teams’ cooperation, focus, courage, and motivation.

Jetboating

After making our way to Circular Quay, we geared up in rain coats and life jackets, met our capt’n, and boarded the jetboat, courtesy of Oz Jet Boating. Everyone had an awesome time, sharing laughs and jokes on the exhilarating, wet, and wild ride through the vividly beautiful Sydney Harbour.

Challenge #5: Memory Test

As soon as we geared down and got dry, we were again brought to a Roadblock, where the three teams competed in a memory challenge. A THRILL representative showed the puzzle’s design to one team member at a time, and the first team to perfectly replicate the design received the scrambled name of their next destination.

The Last Stand

5:30PM – With the final destination, Bar100, in the distance – sitting like a holy throne upon what seemed like a mountain-top after all that running – the teams endeavoured to the finish line, and were greeted by the two THRILL delegates. The race had ended and all the teams were congregated in the function room, where a presentation was given by the THRILL representatives that recounted the courageous efforts, exceptional teamwork, and great fun had by all.

Everyone received their own prize for participation, the caricature victims received their masterpieces from the artists, and the winners received small medals, as well as the satisfying glory and pride they deserved as they lifted the Amazing Race Cup! (That’s me on the left. Yes, with the medal tiara).

The Result

After a day jam-packed full of exciting team-building events and exhilarating action, from the X-Factor Challenge to the jetboat ride, it’s definitely appropriate to say that it was a crucial day out of the office for the Crucial team. It grew friendships and started a few more, built trust between colleagues, improved cooperation, in addition to allowing the team to just relax and have fun around one another. If there was one thing that I would take out of the entire day, it would be that a strong team bond, creates an even stronger workforce.

And also, I am never eating dried scallops again.