Drumming as a Unified Team to an African Beat

BY: .

Staff from the College of Health Sciences Professional Services attended a team building session aimed at boosting collegiality and strengthening working relationships. 

It was a day full of fun with some team members excelling in the brainteasers section while others displayed their musical skills drumming to an African beat. 

Organised by Vision in Motion, a development training consultancy specialising in leadership, diversity and team effectiveness interventions, the event brought together teams from Finance, Human Resources, Academic Services, Public Relations and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s (DVC) offices. 

The morning’s activities focused on teams working together to solve brain teasers including the Human Minesweeper and Toxic Waste Disposal which were dependant on a great strategy and team implementation. Teams quickly learned that effective communication ensures success! 

Emotional Freedom Techniques were then explored through the art of tapping in which participants were encouraged to relax and leave the stresses of life behind. 

In keeping with the theme of relaxation, the Shizaya Drums team provided drumming lessons, producing interactive African rhythmic beats which echoed through the hills of Kloof. 

During the rest of the day, teams enjoyed rounds of miniature golf, uniting different skill sets with the aim of finishing with a hole-in-one. 

Senior Student Funding Officer, Mr Jainendra Maharajh, echoed the sentiments of all staff when he said, ‘What a wonderful, much needed experience.’ 

Academic Services Officer, Ms Nokuthula Hlongwa, expressed her joy saying: ‘That's how our College Professional Services staff roll. It was awesome, we came, we learned and we conquered!’ 

UKZN’s College of Health Sciences has a strong strategic focus on improving communications within the College and a large part of this drive is team building events. 

Part of the College’s philosophy is that all staff should have access to mechanisms for consultation and be able to provide input into strategies or processes that affect their own activities. This creates a shared understanding, awareness, and buy-in to the collective approaches. Only through a collective approach towards achieving a shared vision can true potential be recognised.

 MaryAnn Francis