How time flies... when having the time of your life

And just like that the final presentation, workshop, client and team good-byes rolled in... and while we had all been expecting them and diligently preparing materials, games, gift sand cards, and all..., it was more real, overwhelming, rewarding and meaningful than I could have imagined.  

Another lesson in living by our beliefs and celebrating IBM's Values hard at work - I have a whole new perspective on what trust and personal responsibility in all relationships means... and an ever deeper commitment to every client's success.  I am so proud of our team and grateful to our clients for the unique opportunity, knowledge transfer and dear friendships they afforded us.  Daghang Salamat!

June 1, 2011, Social Hall at the Cebu City Executive building, 9 AM...

Gaby, Janet, Nora, Tati, and Garima

- the big final presentation delivery to the Cebu City Government Department Heads, City Administrator, Mayor's Delegate, and other key stakeholders, was about to begin, and working side-by-side with our clients, we were excited to share our findings, analysis and recommendations.

We shared the floor between the Human Resources (HR) and Managed Information and Computer Services (MICS) reports and for nearly 4 hours enjoyed an engaged audience and left hopeful our proposed plans and observations would not only be considered but further disseminated, socialized and ultimately translated into action.  Fingers crossed!

The Dept Heads and Key Stakeholders at the Cebu City Gov't "Special Meeting" CSC Presentation

Juvy's Angels

We wrapped up with many thanks, hugs, pictures (of course!), newsletter interview, invitations to present to additional audiences (which we would have loved to do) and intense conversation re: appropriate follow up.   We were then quickly back to work, heads down finalizing the HR Collaboration interactive workshop, planned for June 2.  Working with the training team was a tremendous evidence of lasting capability building and effective knowledge transfer, both ways!

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Dinner presented a real treat - finally getting to meet some of the local IBM-Philippines Cebu team and sharing stories and a terrific feast with them at the Laguna Cafe.

Lechon

Many thanks indeed, and hope the work our team did during our CSC experience not only lays the ground for a successful Executive Service Corps engagement later this year, but also aids the area's growth momentum and local IBM business.

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Social Mesh Team Exercise (a real winner)

June 2, 2011 created another unexpected learning opportunity as we launched into an HR Collaboration Event, intended to share fun interactive exercises and enhance the Administrative Officers' (who act as HR focals for the 21 City Gov't Departments) teaming and cross-department communications, overall effectiveness and interlock with the central HR Office.

Julie, Tati, Nora, Gaby, and Yvette

It was a few hours in and several demanding exercises into the day that we discovered there was a degree of misalignment between the "facilitators' plan" and participants expectations, which was clearly impacting engagement and performance.  In true leadership and adaptability spirit, we collaborated with our partners to assess the situation and engage the audience to determine the optimal path forward.  You should have seen the spike of energy in the room once we were pushing the train in the same direction - absolutely incredible demonstration of the power of open communication and teamwork.

As hard and dynamic as this was... I feel extremely fortunate to have experienced it and know I was a part of an amazing transformational moment.  Huge kudos to the facilitator team (above) for working together, sticking it though and turning a difficult situation into something special, impactful and memorable for all. 

The tears were flowing freely by the time surprise presentations (see Journey video below), treasured gifts and a dance show by the talented Treasury Dept. were delivered.  Wow!

So honored, humbled and completely speechless (and you know how rare the latter is for me)...  THANK YOU / DAGHANG SALAMAT to our dearest friends at Cebu City Medical Center (and esp. RC and Wena for creating the dedication video!) and the Cebu City Gov't HR Development Office.