Rema’s Potjie Competition and team building day

Rema values employee performance and a healthy environment for each of our employees. Employee and team motivation is key for Rema as a company, which is why a ‘potjie’ competition was held at the Rema Tip Top Head Office branch. While encouraging personnel to operate as a team, it also allowed them to be competitive.

Planning such an event, for the various teams, ensured they had to communicate clearly to prepare what needed to be prepared. The day consisted of multiple activities that were to be judged by Rema’s directors in accordance with a meticulous set of criteria. A total of five teams were chosen to compete for the prize of best potjie and team dynamic. Each of our teams was given a budget with a set of rules and guidelines that needed to be followed. Each team would need to, of course, make a potjie within a set time, with the additional twist of having to perform a team dance as well. All teams needed to decide on a name and theme for their team along with an entertaining and team-dynamic dance.?

?Communication within the teams was empirical for this day and teams had to adjust and accommodate each team member as well as ensure their team knows what to do and which team member will oversee allocated tasks. A team leader would have needed to be appointed to guide and keep a clear direction for their teams. Regarding this element, each team performed exceptionally well and communicated efficiently.?

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Creating a healthy environment for the competition was a goal that needed to be achieved, which would carry through to the office environment. Throughout the course of the two weeks prior to the event, each team used their time, effort, and budgeting skills wisely. The amount of effort and choreography that happened throughout these two weeks would impress anyone. Following extensive planning, finally, the day arrived, and it was time to execute the plan.

All teams were prewarned to prepare their potjie stand to match their theme as best as the budget would allow. After the preparation was complete dances would commence, which each team performed with enthusiasm and imagination. The dances set a positive and encouraging tone for the rest of the day, which consisted of tons of banter and joy for every team to enjoy and of course, the making of a gourmet potjie.

The criteria that each team was to be judged consisted of two main groups of elements:??

1. Taste, texture, aroma, and general look of the potjie
2. Attitude, effort, and team spirit

With this criterion in mind, each team rose the bar higher with the amount of effort they put into each of these elements. Throughout the day judges were continuously scrutinizing the development of the pots, as well as the team’s attitude and member participation.

Rema management wanted to give employees space to thrive in an environment only they could create. To this end, team members had to communicate and work together to achieve a pre-set goal. Achieving this in an informal environment led to the belief that they can do this in the office set-up as well.

Positive feedback was given to teams since they all competed to the best of their abilities, and to this end, the goal as set by management to build a team spirit was well achieved. With hard work comes great reward, and the day ended off with the winning team being given the ‘Golden potjie’ pot as well as the following Friday off.

Rema management would like to thank every team and team member for the amazing effort and positivity they brought to the day to make it as special and joyful as it was.