Mental and team dynamics Prep

Today, the Pride was prepared for a full day of mental preparation for the expedition ahead. With the help of the expertise of Chris Shambrook from Planet K2, the team began to assess how best to cope with the times ahead.

Starting with a group discussion, the Pride conversed about the ultimate goal of the mission, and went over how they were going to deliver their aims to Unite, Empower and Inspire. The Pride then put together the 5 best words that would hold them together as a team, settling on Trust, Communication, Adaptability, Organisation and Respect.

Other tasks set for the team were to identify their strengths as an individual, as well as areas they wanted to improve and where they would require the other team members’ help. Using this, the members were then able to work out whose strengths would be called upon in certain scenarios. In a final session, the members of the Pride worked out their personality types using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, allowing them to discern whose personalities would be best suited with other Pride members.

After the departure of Chris, the team had a thorough and detailed tour of both Land Rovers, courtesy of Nick Foley, showing them all the features of the vehicles, from the engines to the storage space, as well as how to set up the roof tent that will be providing accommodation along the route. Ben Merison then delivered a presentation on blog and social media content, discussing the role it will play throughout the expedition.

Piers Mitchell from Friends of Rwandan Rugby joined the team for dinner and talked through his worthy experiences of rugby in Africa.

Ben Merison, Media and press content editor