Real Life Team Building

My boss asked all the analysts to prepare a 30-minute presentation on  their role in a key recent project and present to our colleagues at our three-day team building exercise next week.  I think the idea is to show how we individually contribute to projects so we can identify more opportunities to work together. 

I was supposed to submit my presentation  last Friday but I completely forgot about it.  This is particularly bad because my boss reminded us of the seriousness of this team-building stuff during our staff meeting last Wednesday.   Two days before the staff meeting my cat James died.  On the day of the staff meeting my uncle died.  And three days after the staff meeting my best friend got married in an enormously emotional wedding (she’s the first of my girlfriends to marry). 

Needless to say last week was so very difficult, and I relied on many of my colleagues to pull me through it.  My office mate, a biologist, assured me that my cat was suffering from the lung cancer and needed to be at peace.   My business development rep rescheduled a very important meeting so I could attend my uncle’s wake with a clear head.  And my junior analysts covered me while I got my eyebrows done, had a mani and pedi, and picked up my bridesmaid dress. 

Everyone pulled together for me last week.   I believe they would do it again this week if necessary, and I certainly would do it for them.  So after all this, I wonder what these team guys are going to teach us that we don’t already know on some level.  Too bad I can’t write a 30-minute presentation on how we’re already a team.