Company Picnic Planning

3 team building activities to try at your next company offsite. —Leadership team— Have every member of the leadership team answer the following 3 questions in advance: 1. What do I love most about my job? 2. What’s the hardest part of my job? 3. What’s something people often don’t know or misunderstand about my job? Share everyone’s responses as a pre-read ahead of the live session and then lead a group discussion with helpful prompts like: What’s one thing that caught you by surprise? How did it feel to share this with the group? What patterns stood out to you? This is a great way to build x-functional empathy and awareness while surfacing underlying challenges. —Managers— Ask your managers to answer the following Q: On a scale of 1-5, how hard is it to be a manager? Facilitate a live discussion with follow up Qs like, “What’s the hardest part?” and “How does it feel looking around the room and seeing everyone else’s responses?” Then break everyone into pairs for a peer coaching session on a management challenge they’re currently facing. (Link below for template.) This is a great way to foster community and resilience for managers. —Employees— Break everyone into pairs and have them answer the following prompt: What’s a piece of feedback you’ve been sitting on? Provide them with coaching Qs like, “What’s holding you back?” and “How do you think the person would feel if they knew you were feeling this way?” This is a great activity to surface underlying issues, foster communication, and provide a peer coaching buddy your employees can lean on the next time they’re facing a challenge. Looking for more offsite tips and resources? Check out my favs here: - How to coordinate an in-person offsite (including template comms to employees): https://lnkd.in/eMQyHeNa - Leadership team building activities: https://lnkd.in/epGKs9ZH - Low lift management training activities: https://lnkd.in/ea3SPTVN What are your favorite company offsite activities?

The Delhi Metro Rail Project attributes its success not just to meticulous planning but critically to strategic vendor selection. A month ago when Delhi Metro Rail Project celebrated its 21st anniversary, one of the key aspects that stayed with me, was the emphasis on the right vendor partners who led to this historical success! In manufacturing too, in such high-scale CapEx projects, vendor selection plays a crucial role. Vendor selection emerges as a multifaceted challenge as it demands a focus on technological compatibility, scalability, and great control over financial and operational risks. Hence, when we navigate through the complexities of vendor selection, understanding how to assess their strengths and weaknesses becomes imperative. Some of the key aspects to look at: Performance Metrics: How does a vendor fare on parameters like technical capability, quality of execution, timely delivery, safety, and cost? These metrics paint a comprehensive picture of what to expect. Feedback from Previous Clients: One of the most telling indicators of a vendor's reliability and performance is the feedback from those who have walked this path before. Positive experiences, challenges resolved, and the ability to meet and exceed expectations speak volumes. Experience on Similar Projects: Experience in the relevance of their past projects to your current needs. Vendors with a track record of successfully executing projects of similar scale and quality bring invaluable insights and a higher probability of project success. Vendor-Job fit: We have learnt that the vendor ecosystem, especially MSMSE, is quite dynamic and vendor compatibility wrt the specific job is crucial. Experience on similar projects helps, but also their readiness for today’s needs based on bandwidth and financial position plays a key role. Witnessing the critical role vendor selection plays in projects’ success, such as the Delhi Metro Rail Project, it's clear that choosing the right partners is a strategic imperative. This is also why the right market intelligence & and evaluation tools will help you find vendors who will be the pillars upon which your project’s success is built. #VendorManagement #ProcurementExcellence #ProjectManagement

Last week I shared how AI helped analyze our retreat feedback survey data in minutes. Today, I want to highlight the three elements that our team rated most impactful from our recent company retreat in Ireland... - [New addition] "Connection Court": We created a dedicated space in the castle with games, snacks, and comfy seating that was open throughout the day and late into the night. This gave people a relaxed place to connect in case of bad weather and removed the pressure to drink or socialize in high-energy environments. This was great for introverts and those who don't enjoy the bar scene and provided more inclusive evening activities that worked for everyone. - Doist Build (our company hackathon) hit different this year: We surveyed the team for "hack-worthy" topics ahead of the retreat, pre-selected the top 10 we felt could make an impact on the company, and revealed them the day before so people could start brainstorming. Morning of, it was first-come-first-serve with limited seats per topic, which created some incredible energy to start the day. Best part? The winning team's project was implemented right there at the retreat and immediately improved our onboarding metrics 🚀 - "Choose your own adventure" itinerary structure: Instead of forcing everyone into the same activities, we offered parallel options during free time. We balanced physical activities (hiking, sports), cultural experiences (castle tours, local music), and team building events (escape rooms, group games). This approach let people naturally form smaller groups around common interests, creating deeper connections through shared experiences. After organizing multiple retreats over the years, one principle stands out: create a flexible structure and trust your team to find meaningful ways to connect. When people have the freedom to choose activities that align with their interests and energy levels, authentic relationships naturally develop. Hope this is helpful and I'd love to hear what's working for other teams as well 👇

🚀 Wrapped up an exciting workshop with a scaleup. Here's how to deliver killer sessions 👇 1️⃣ Less is more: We focused on quality over quantity. One big, memorable activity beats a dozen forgettable ones. 2️⃣ The main event? A high-stakes egg drop! Teams built landers to protect eggs from a big fall. Talk about a crash course in problem-solving! 🥚💥 3️⃣ The real magic? It happened AFTER the eggs landed (or splattered 😅). The magic is in the the debrief. Debrief is crucial. 𝗪𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀: - What's propelling us forward? 🌬️ - What's holding us back? ⚓ - What hidden rocks (risks) can hinder our progress? 🪨 - What's our island paradise (goal)? 🏝️ This visual metaphor unlocked buried conversations. It's amazing how a simple drawing reveals complex dynamics! 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀? Simply put, you can see in real-time teams building trust, gaining clarity, and deepening bonds. In a time where workplace dynamics are spent over endless Zoom calls and Slack threads, there's something irreplaceable about being in the same room, facing the same challenges, and yes, cleaning up the same egg mess together. 🧼 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽: 1. Focus on depth, not breadth 2. Create a memorable centerpiece activity 3. Dedicate ample time for reflection and debrief 4. Use visual metaphors to unlock deeper insights 5. Balance structure with spontaneity --- 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀? Share in the comments - let's learn from each other! 👇 #TeamBuilding #Leadership #Workshops #ScaleupLife #EggDropSurvivors --- I'm Hugo Pereira. I'm the co-founder of Ritmoo and a fractional growth advisor who has taken businesses from $1m to $100m+. I love building purpose-driven, resilient teams. Follow me to master growth, leadership, and teamwork. My book, "Teamwork Transformed," arrives in 2024.

Unleashing Creativity and Confidence Through Tower Building: Team Building Management Game Team building exercises are an integral part of fostering collaboration, communication, and camaraderie within any organization. However, traditional team-building activities can sometimes feel mundane or uninspiring. To inject a dose of creativity and boost confidence among team members, consider incorporating tower building using only newspaper and cello tape as a limited form of resources. Tower building as a management game offers a unique and engaging way for teams to work together towards a common goal while overcoming constraints and unleashing their creativity. With just newspapers and cello tape at their disposal, participants are challenged to design and construct the tallest and most stable tower possible within a set timeframe. One of the key learnings from this activity is the importance of effective communication and collaboration within a team. Participants must brainstorm ideas, delegate tasks, and coordinate their efforts to ensure the success of their tower. By working together towards a shared objective, team members learn to leverage each other's strengths, support one another, and communicate openly and effectively. Moreover, tower building fosters problem-solving skills and encourages innovative thinking. Additionally, engaging in a hands-on activity like tower building can significantly boost confidence among team members. As they see their ideas come to life and witness the tangible results of their efforts, individuals gain a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work. Success in building a sturdy and towering structure serves as a confidence booster, empowering team members to tackle future challenges with a renewed sense of self-assurance. #TeamBuilding #ManagementGames #CreativityBoost #ConfidenceBuilding #InnovationCulture #CommunicationSkills #ProblemSolving #HandsOnLearning #Collaboration #LeadershipDevelopment #ResourceConstraints #TowerBuilding

The UAE's New National Licensing Platform: What It Means for Healthcare Professionals The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) recently unveiled an innovative National Licensing Platform designed to revolutionize the healthcare licensing process. This unified, nationwide system consolidates previous emirate-specific licenses into one standardized digital portal, creating unprecedented flexibility for healthcare professionals across the UAE. What’s Changed? Previously, healthcare professionals doctors, nurses, pharmacists, technicians, and allied health specialists faced multiple licensing hurdles, navigating separate approvals from MoHAP, DHA (Dubai Health Authority), and DoH (formerly HAAD). This fragmented approach often resulted in duplicated effort, delays, and confusion. With MoHAP’s new unified system, professionals now enjoy: Single License, Nationwide Validity: Professionals can practice across all UAE emirates with just one unified license, significantly enhancing mobility and career growth opportunities. Reduced Processing Times: Integrated digital services streamline application submission, document verification, and examination processes into a singular efficient workflow. Standardized Evaluations: Consistent criteria for evaluations and credential verifications ensure transparency and fairness for all applicants nationwide. How Does This Affect You? Healthcare professionals will benefit immensely from simplified procedures, increased flexibility, and quicker licensing timelines. However, transitions always bring questions: How does one convert existing emirate-specific licenses to the unified platform? How are DataFlow verification and previous licensing records integrated? What are the best practices to smoothly navigate the new platform without pitfalls? These questions reveal where specialized guidance becomes invaluable. Where TalenDir Comes In At TalenDir, we’ve anticipated this transition and aligned our comprehensive healthcare licensing services to seamlessly integrate with the new national platform: Expert Guidance: Our consultants guide healthcare professionals step-by-step through the unified system, handling every detail—from registration via UAE PASS and document submissions, to ensuring quick and accurate DataFlow verifications. Full-service Licensing Assistance: From helping you schedule exams to preparing for your interviews, TalenDir’s services go beyond basic licensing. We focus on setting you up for a successful healthcare career in the UAE. Stay Ahead with TalenDir To thrive under the new MoHAP system, it’s essential to partner with experts who deeply understand its nuances. TalenDir provides precisely that expertise, ensuring your licensing journey is hassle-free and efficient. Ready to navigate the new licensing era with ease? Let TalenDir guide you every step of the way.

Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) in #GRC— As organizations increasingly rely on vendors, contractors, and service providers, third-party risk management (TPRM) has become a critical part of GRC programs. Poor vendor management can expose companies to data breaches, regulatory penalties, and operational disruptions. 1. TPRM • Regulatory Compliance: Frameworks like PCI DSS, GDPR, and ISO 27001 require organizations to assess and monitor third-party risks. • Vendors often manage critical business functions, so disruptions in their processes directly impact your operations. • A vendor breach could tarnish your brand and lead to legal or financial penalties. 2. TPRM Lifecycle • Assess vendor security practices before engagement (e.g., security questionnaires, contract reviews). • Identify risks specific to the vendor (e.g., data handling practices, access to systems). • Continuously monitor vendor performance and compliance through audits, reporting, and SLAs. • Ensure proper data disposal and de-provisioning of access after vendor offboarding. 3. Frameworks / best practices • NIST SP 800-161 focuses on supply chain risk management for federal systems. • ISO 27001/27036 provides guidance on third-party security requirements. • Shared Assessments Program offers standardized tools like SIG (Standardized Information Gathering) for vendor assessments. 4. Key Tools • Vendor management platforms like OneTrust, BitSight, or Prevalent help automate risk assessments and ongoing monitoring. • Use third-party security ratings to assess vendor vulnerabilities in real time. 5. Building strong TPRM programs • Establish clear policies and procedures for vendor risk management. • Conduct periodic risk assessments and ensure vendors comply with applicable regulations. • Collaborate with stakeholders across procurement, legal, IT, and compliance teams. TPRM integrates seamlessly into GRC.

Take a little off the top... In 2013, an overheight truck in Washington State slammed into the overhead braces of a bridge, causing the bridge to collapse. WA sued the trucking company for $17 million. This does not include the additional settlements for damages and injuries to other drivers or the legal penalties for failing to have the necessary permits. In 2015, a truck carrying a crane struck a highway overpass, killing one driver and injuring others. Signs two miles in advance of the overpass warned of a maximum height of 13 feet, six inches, although the actual bridge clearance was 14 feet. The highest point on the crane measured 14 feet five inches. In 2017, a railroad bridge on the Atlantic City-Philadelphia line was struck when a garbage truck ignored the height restrictions. Train service between the cities was disrupted for two weeks for repairs. Trip and route planning is for everybody but especially out of gauge loads. ➡️ Determine the height above ground level for the highest point. Failure to do so could result in costly damage to bridges, possible injury to other drivers, damage to the load and possibly the truck, and fines or the cost of damages. There's no "do-over" once you destroy the bridge. ➡️ After determining that a load exceeds the legal height limit, apply for an oversized permit with the states involved. The permit process may require a route survey that includes the measurement of any overhead obstacles-bridges, overpasses, signs, utility lines, etc., along the proposed route. This will ensure the load can travel safely or demonstrate that an alternate route is required. ➡️ Once the survey is complete, the permit may require a pilot car with a height pole. The height pole is attached to the lead pilot car and extends upward several inches higher than the measured height of the load. Traveling two or three miles in advance of the load, if the height pole strikes an overhead obstacle, the haul can be stopped in time to avoid a damaging collision. The solution may be to move into another lane where there is more clearance, or it may require a detour around the low clearance. ➡️ Overheight loads require the same safety equipment as other oversized loads, including an "OVERSIZE LOAD" banner on the truck and any escort vehicles. Times of travel may also be restricted, either to daylight hours or to times to avoid periods of normally high traffic. The required permit will include the route description and any restrictions to travel times. There's so much to planning, especially for out-of-gauge/heavy haul, so you'll need to check the rules for each state regarding specifics. However, it's imperative you're prepared for your trip to avoid major catastrophes and inconvenience to the public.

Your Project’s Legal Health Depends on This One Checklist In Mumbai, approvals aren’t just milestones—they’re risk shields. And every document must be checked for: ☑️ Validity ☑️ Conditions ☑️ Past litigation or encumbrances ☑️ Cross-department alignment --- Residential Projects ✅ Intimation of Disapproval ✅ Commencement Certificate ✅ Approved Building Plans ✅ FSI Entitlement ✅ Fire NOC ✅ Environment Clearance ✅ Airport Authority of India NOC (if within funnel zone or height restrictions) ✅ Tree Authority NOC ✅ Sewerage & Drainage NOC ✅ Water Connection clearance ✅ Debris Management Plan Approval ✅ CRZ Clearance, if in coastal zone ✅ Occupation Certificate If redevelopment (MHADA, SRA, or Cess Building): ✅ NOC from MHADA / SRA / Repair Board ✅ Rehabilitation Agreement & Consent Documentation ✅ LOI / LOA from respective authority ✅ Transit Accommodation Plan approval --- Industrial Projects – Mumbai / MIDC Jurisdiction ✅ Zoning Clearance ✅ Non-AgriculturalOrder, if applicable ✅ MIDC Land Allotment Letter / Lease Deed Compliance ✅ Consent to Establish & Operate from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board ✅ Environmental Clearance – if falling under notified thresholds ✅ Fire Safety Approval ✅ Building Layout Approval ✅ Labour Welfare Board Registrations ✅ Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health NOCs ✅ Electricity Sanction Load ✅ Boiler/Pressure Vessel Approval, if any --- Commercial / Mixed Use Projects – Mumbai Specific ✅ High-Rise NOC (building above 24m) ✅ Parking & Ramp Design Clearance – as per DCPR 2034 ✅ Trade License (Shops & Establishments Act) ✅ Signage NOC under Advertisement Rules ✅ Lift License & Annual Inspection Certificate ✅ Disaster Management Plan Approval, for malls or multiplexes ✅ DG Set Permission – Noise & Pollution Control ✅ Energy Compliance Certificate – if ECBC applicable ✅ Structural Stability Certificate – for occupancy ✅ Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) Report in MMRDA zones ✅ Consent to Operate – especially for hotels/restaurants from MPCB & FDA ✅ Entertainment License, for cinema/multiplex --- For Lawyers: What You Must Investigate Beyond the Checklist Is the approval still valid or conditionally expired? Has the file moved to digital processing (AutoDCR, L-Approvals) or is it pending physical follow-up? Are building rights (FSI/TDR) under dispute or challenge? Was the plot affected by Reservation, D P Road, RG? Is there any pending litigation, stay order, or RTI disclosure about the approvals? --- Because in Mumbai, approvals aren’t just paperwork—they’re your defence in a high-stakes environment where every square foot is scrutinised. #MumbaiRealEstate #DevelopmentApprovals #LegalChecklist #RealEstateLaw #MCGM #DCPR2034 #RedevelopmentProjects #UrbanCompliance #RiskManagement