HR Corner Smart way to build physical and mental strengths by Mayse Lam Focus on people development adds value to global corporate event Companies in the contemporary marketplace face a constant barrage of challenges and uncertainties. In order to succeed in such testing times corporations require teams of highly adaptable employees who can embrace unpredictability and remain calm and professional under stress. The market is currently inundated with professional development and training programmes specifically tailored to equip corporate personnel with the savoir-faire necessary to function under pressure. Less popular however is the range of learning and development tools targeting physical strength whilst simultaneously enhancing team spirit, interpersonal communication, leadership and decision making skills. In view of this, SmarTone-Vodafone took the initiative by becoming the title sponsor of the SmarTone-Vodafone HK Challenge, staged on Lantau Island in late October. The enterprise was the first in Hong Kong to bring together 35 teams from leading corporations to take up the challenge in a range of strategic, physical and mental exercises. The top four teams from the SmarTone-Vodafone HK Challenge will represent Hong Kong to compete with the best teams from around the world at the World Team Challenge to be held in Nice, France early this December. The SmarTone-Vodafone HK Challenge is part of the 2007 Intelligent Sport World Series which includes competitions in Singapore, the UK, Europe and the US. Applying the unique Intelligent Sport concept, the participating teams are required to perform team tasks that test their strategic thinking, planning, organisation, teamwork and physical endurance, reflecting the invaluable attributes now essential in the business world. Team spirit To demonstrate the company's enthusiasm and full support of the event, SmarTone-Vodafone, organised a Mini Challenge as a staff development initiative to select five teams to participate in the HK Challenge. "We promoted this event to all our members in Macau, Guangzhou and Hong Kong because our corporate ethos is in line with Intelligent Sport's values to develop and enhance the mind, body and spirit simultaneously. Furthermore, through a series of physical, mental and team-building exercises, we believe our staff can form a stronger rapport with colleagues they rarely have occasion to work with, as our company actively encourages multi-departmental teams", adds Stephen Chau, chief technology officer, SmarTone-Vodafone. "This competition allowed us to truly experience the whole team effort. During the competition, an awareness of individual strengths developed, effectively allowing us to allocate team roles and duties according to specific strengths," says Victor Leung, the company's assistant general manager of information services, who won in the Mini Challenge and participated in the HK Challenge. "This challenge was a worthwhile experience," says Ben Choi, senior manager of the information services department, who also participated. "I forged a unique, life-long bond with my team mates as together we learnt important lessons, experienced new adventures and overcame difficult situations." The Mini Challenge was a great success, with 48 teams and 240 staff participating. "We were astonished to discover that one in seven of our employees took part in the event. As for employees who did not compete in the Challenge, they played important roles in organising the event and supporting the participating teams. For examples, some of them assisted in the promotion of the event and helped prepare slogans and equipment while others helped maintain our intranet, ensuring the latest information of the event was just a click away," explains Rita Hui, SmarTone-Vodafone's general manager of human resources. The effect of the Mini Challenge on staff has been sensational while the SmarTone-Vodafone HK Challenge has helped further boost company morale and employee well being. "The reason for sponsoring and encouraging staff to take part in this kind of event is mainly because we believe that people are the most important asset of a successful company. Through this interactive event, we hope to strengthen our team spirit and most importantly, further unite our staff," says Mr Chau. Good cause According to Ms Hui, one of the objectives of the SmarTone-Vodafone HK Challenge was to raise funds for the SmarTone-Vodafone AYP International Exchange Programme Fund which enables underprivileged young people to participate in the international exchange programmes of The Hong Kong Award for Young People. "We have raised HK$500,000 to help Hong Kong's youth achieve personal development, improve interpersonal and leadership skills and enhance their sensitivity and awareness of global issues," Ms Hui notes. "As a company constantly contributing to society and reinvesting in the community, we have embraced this as an ideal opportunity for us as a corporate citizen to fulfil our social responsibility. We believe that the younger generation will determine the future and prosperity of Hong Kong so there exists a certain responsibility to develop their talents, overall well being, and leadership skills, preparing them to become our future leaders." Salient points First Intelligent Sport event in Hong Kong Five-stage competition engaged 35 corporate teams from leading corporations HK$500,000 donation raised for underprivileged youth development Taken from Career Times 2 November 2007, p. A20 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]