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It was the online treasure hunt that really made Annelies Harte, 49, feel that she belonged.<\/p>\n
She is a leisure club manager at a retirement village that has just opened in south London. Residents moved into their properties in May.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s one of a newly formed team of 22 people. They had to meet, bond and get everything ready remotely, because of lockdown.<\/p>\n
She and her colleagues got into teams for the treasure hunt, remembers Annelies. There was a PowerPoint presentation containing riddles, which gave clues about obscure household objects, which you then had to find: things like garlic crushers, shoe horns and egg cups.<\/p>\n
This online game was a great bonding exercise because it was interactive and revealed people’s personalities, especially their competitive instincts, says Annelies.<\/p>\n
The clues also became great talking points. Younger colleagues, for instance, were confused when asked to find a CD in their house.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2019What are you talking about?\u2019 they said,\u201d remembers Annelies, laughing.<\/p>\n
The treasure hunt exercise was part of an online induction programme that included a welcome from the chief executive, an overview of company policy and a guide to health and safety.<\/p>\n
“Initially everyone just looks at the screen and looks up and down – you feel that distance – but then you realise you are all in the same boat,” says Annelies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n