Monday, 3 October 2016
Human Touch still at the Heart of Business
I was privileged recently
in being invited to a company outing organised by www.businesscontroller.nu in partnership with www.wens.finance.
My claim to fame, being a
long-time acquaintance of Paul Kramer and having edited the English version of
their acclaimed online financial ability tests.
The outing consisted in
sailing the famous Skûtsje boats
in Friesland on the Gaastmeer in Sneek.
Invited were
various acquaintances, clients, prospectives from the Financial world. However,
business was not on the agenda. No suits or acquisition, but sports clothes, sharing
the moment and a lot of fun.
We met at Lokaal 55 in Sneek and introduced ourselves
around coffee and cakes basking in the late September sun.
Florian from Uit-zeilen explained how this
magnificent 20 m flat bottom sailing boat (Skûtsje ) was manned and the
security rules.
And off we set under skipper Florian’s capable
guidance for 2 hours of utter bliss, good but not over-powering wind, bright
sun, vivid blue sky, stunning Dutch water landscape, and active sailing (perhaps
even sportier at times than some were comfortable with!). Florian actually
sails the boat in competitions with a crew of 12-16.
What I found particularly invigorating was the coming
together through activity, all hands on deck, in different constellations,
bonding and laughing (some at my expense as I managed to rip the seat of my
jeans within 2 minutes…).
The event was also exquisitely organised, freshly
cooked Bitterballen bounced on board the moment we were moored.
Sun-flushed and wind-blown we gathered around a drink
and a delicious, very refined Barbeque, well proud of our exertions as the sun
set enhancing the great décor inside lokaal 55.I cannot vouch for the meat but
the fish and shrimp delicately steamed “en papillotes” was divine, as were the
salads.
Interesting to think this group of fun relaxed people
are usually quite serious, suit -clad CFOs…
What impressed me the most, was the fact that in
these highly digitalised days, the concept of such an outing is still seen as
important and valuable to make time for, both from the organisers and the
participants point of view.
Wonderful to feel the human touch still rules,
holding true the adage that “we do business with people we like”.
Onwards and upwards.
More information on Uit-zeilen events at www.uit-zeilen.nl
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