Each year, the innovation team had a budget for team building. I planned this activity because long-term performance depends on trust - not just talent. When the team knows each other well, work moves faster, feedback is easier to give, and people collaborate better under pressure.

Extreme Sandbox was a memorable way to build that foundation. It brought the team together outside of day-to-day delivery, helped newer team members connect quickly, and created a shared experience everyone could reference later.

The team rotated through heavy equipment - driving a bulldozer, operating an excavator, and completing guided challenges (including taking out frustrations on an old car) in a safe, structured environment.

The impact lasted well beyond the day. We still talk about it because it strengthened relationships and reinforced a team mindset that carried back into our work.