The Learning E.D.G.E.: Pfizer Newsletter

Special Edition
May 2003

Pfizer Selects Training Company & Location for Team Building!

The Learning E.D.G.E.
Chosen For its Experience, to Build a Stronger Pfizer Sales Team.

A real world, practical applications approach to the new world of business management, The E.D.G.E. specializes in customized sales, marketing and customer service programs that enhance or change current performance to meet newly defined skill requirements.

The Learning E.D.G.E. Incorporated is a Texas based developmental resource team available for those companies who have looked at the skill and knowledge base of their current sales, retail merchandising, project or marketing teams and don't find the needed level of competency to meet the challenges of today's changing business environment.

The E.D.G.E. and their consulting resources have worked in several industries that include: consumer package goods, telecommunications, computer hard and soft ware, building, funeral, financial, chemical, pharmaceutical and travel, to name a few, and have helped build more solid and productive business teams in each.

The EDGE has worked for companies like: Bayer Corporation, Nokia, Sabre, Bristol-Myers Squibb, American Airlines, U.S. Brick, Dell Computer, Mead Johnson Nutritional, Gadzooks, Lennox, Genuity, QualComm, Citigroup, Dobson Electric, Service Corp International, Dial Corp, Gillette, Johnson Wax, Kraft General Foods, M & M Mars, PaperMate, Rayovac, Capital One, Pfizer, Zales and Reynolds Metals.

Texas Lils Dude Ranch is the premier location in DFW. Texas Lils Ranch has over 38,000 air-conditioned square feet indoor and over 360 acres of grounds. The Ranch has horseback riding, a mini golf course and the largest metal slide in Tarrant County. The ranch can host parties of between 25 to 5,000 people.

Pfizer Team Building Event Is Used To Wrap Up A Team Meeting

The Pfizer Team came together for a team building session at Texas Lils in Justin to integrate new team members and was challenged to develop a stronger and more productive Pfizer team of ONE. They wanted their team to bond while increasing their knowledge and appreciation for each other as valuable resources. They wanted the team to experience as few activities that would challenge them to become more cohesive and productive and deliver life applications to the team that could be applied on the job. The Pfizer team also wanted to have some fun while addressing some very specific learning objectives that included:

1. Develop further our team communications skills and improve those to make us more able to reach our customers.2. To improve our ability to trust one another and to enhance that trust by handling our part of the business or sales objective.
2. To maximize our team effectiveness and to work as a team of ONE, the Pfizer team.
3. To have fun and encourage one another to become better team members to deliver our bottom-line sales objectives.
4. Encourage each other to “Kick Butt”

With these goals in mind Fred Montross and Becky Brosche talked with Joe Hudson, from The Learning E.D.G.E. Inc., to design a comprehensive learning and fun experience for the teams. The workshop was held at Texas Lils in Justin and focused on the learning objectives listed above. Information and activities worked to get the team members to know one another better, understand the power of each individual while bonding together for a stronger Pfizer Team.

The key attributes that needed to be displayed by each team member on every activity were: Trust, Positive Attitude, Loyal, Dependable and Role Player. Each team member worked to exhibit these attributes in each activity during the course of the afternoon. The adventure learning challenges included: The Hollow Square, The Dynamite Rescue, Falling Off A Log and for 12 brave hearts-The Wall. The team decided on one team name- The Big Dawgs.

The teams set out to conquer the Olympic challenges and turned in some incredible times setting three New Olympic Record. The times recorded by event were: Hollow Square: A new Olympics Ranch record was established in a time of:10 Pieces in a time of 1 minute, 22 seconds. Falling Off A Log-The Shuffle-: Even with an unfortunate, planned, 2 minute penalty, the result was an outstanding 4 minutes, 16 seconds and a New Olympic Ranch Record. Dynamite Rescue: Again, The result was another Ranch Olympics record for this event: 19 minutes, 22 seconds.

Medals were awarded to each of the top four leaders selected by the team as Best Team Leaders: These top awards and medals went to: Roy Martins, Lee Adams, Wayne Green, and Ed Columbus.

Special Olympic designed T-Shirts were also presented to top team players, and they were: Best Team Members: Julie Embrey, Eric Hudson, Cindy McCain, Michael John, Mark DeSantos, and Bill Robinson. Special Thanks to Fred Montross and Becky Brosche for their time and effort in handling all the meeting details!!

Pfizer Event Can Spell Further Team Success

Key points made at the workshop included:

The three components needed for effective teams are: The Leader, the Team Members and The Challenge.

Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success.

Discussing that a team is a group of individuals doing extra ordinary things together to reach a common goal.Success depends above all, upon people. Build relationships, teams, and partnerships -- and motivate people to contribute. Cultivate leadership, creativity, and excellence. Listen; seek new ideas and advice. “-Ruth Scott, Pres. & CEO, Assoc. for Portland (OR) Progress

Trust Depends on: Open and Honest Communication, Offering Constructive Advice & Feedback without Harming The Working Relationship, Acceptance of Each Team Member and Embracing Their Differences, Respecting the Opinions of All Team Members, The Leader and Team Must Feel-We Fail or We Succeed Together, There Are No Individual Hero’s, Everyone Is Recognized For Their Part, All Contributions Are Valued, Common Goals That All Are Committed To Achieving Excellence, Establishing & Practicing Ethical Standards.

Words of encouragement fan the spark of genius into the flame of achievement.

It takes 30 encouraging words or sentences to negate one discouraging word said in haste or anger. Let you brain engage before your jaw jacks.

Each team member is a resource no matter what the package. We are all given different skills, abilities and talents and have had different experiences. We come in a package that must be unwrapped and the contents used to reach our goals.

Applications for a Better Team Effort at Pfizer

The Hollow Square

The "construction team" challenged perceived barriers and moved to observe the planning session of the "planning team." Seizing the opportunity, the planners "partnered" with builders and graphically demonstrated where pieces should go. When construction began, this strategy resulted in a new Ranch Olympics record: 1 minute, 22 seconds.

Need to challenge perceived barriers to determine if they are real or not.

Don't be constrained by vague rules...insist on doing things the "best" way.

It's often NOT the leader's job to make the decisions, but to facilitate and coordinate the combined input of the entire team.

Encouragement "felt good" and spurred more and better activity.

Falling Off A Log-The Shuffle

After arranging themselves by height on a log, the Pfizer team created an innovative "piggy back" method to accomplish the task of reversing order on the log.

Offer incentives to keep eyes on the objective. See what works and stick with it.

Teams achieve more than individuals. Confidence breeds ability and anything can be done if you set your collective minds to it.

Avoid frustration by being collaborative, not combative. Even the perfect plan will leave room for improvement.

Dynamite Rescue

The leaders of two teams set out to help the blindfolded team members navigate a patch of poisonous cactus, surround a lake of acid and lift a bucket of dynamite using ropes and a bungee cord. The first team completed the task, and then ran to give encouragement and one-to-one directions to the second team.

Leadership communication (clarification) is essential.

Leaders are the "eyes" of those being led, must be very aware of responsibility and need to reinforce trust. Get your stock of materials ready.

Leaders must coordinate instructions, be clear, and avoid confusing, conflicting directions. Trust you teammates.

The Wall

After a bit of "lubrication" at the corral bar, a dozen Pfizer men attacked The Wall. Everything went fine...until only one remained on the ground, and sweaty hands make for a slippery grip. A mighty leap and a convenient (but risky) handhold on a provided waistband got all participants to the top in 4 minutes, 50 seconds, the second fasted time ever recorded for the wall.

Think through every step of the process.

Be innovative in use of available resources.

We began to understand the power of ONE Pfizer team.