Team Building That Actually Works: How Uber Used Portuguese Tile Painting to Reconnect Their Team
The Challenge: Digital Fatigue and Need for Meaningful Connection through Team Building
Cláudia from Uber recognized her team needed something different. “We felt that the team needed a pause from the digital and operational rhythm” she explains. “We wanted something that allowed us to ‘disconnect’ from screens and focus on a manual and creative process, while celebrating our culture and heritage at the same time.”
The challenge many modern tech teams face – constant digital immersion, operational pressure, and the loss of tangible creative experiences – has created a need for genuine team reconnection beyond typical work interactions.
Why Portuguese Tile Painting Over Traditional Team Building
When considering team building options, Cláudia made a deliberate choice to avoid conventional activities. “Traditional adventure or sports activities are great, but they’re not always inclusive for all profiles” she explains. “The tile workshop allowed everyone to participate at the same level, regardless of physical condition, and resulted in a tangible object that each person could keep as a memory.”
This decision reflected a deeper understanding: effective team building must accommodate diverse team members without creating physical barriers or competitive pressure that exclude some participants.
The Workshop Experience: Unexpected Silence and Focus
What happened during the Portuguese tile painting workshop surprised even Cláudia. “It surprised me the focused and almost meditative silence that set in at a certain point” she recalls. “I was expecting a lot of conversation, but the team surrendered in such a way that there were moments of absolute concentration, which we rarely achieve in the office.”
This unexpected shift from anticipated social chatter to deep creative focus revealed something important about the team’s need for contemplative space amid constant workplace communication demands.
The Moment That Stood Out
One particular revelation changed how team members saw each other. “There was a colleague, known for being extremely pragmatic and focused on numbers, who revealed impressive artistic talent and meticulous care with the details of his tile” Cláudia describes. “It was a general ‘wow’ moment when we saw his final result – nobody was expecting that creative side.”
This discovery moment – seeing colleagues reveal unexpected capabilities – created new appreciation and understanding beyond professional roles and daily work personas.
The Results: Lightness and Lasting Impact
The immediate effect was noticeable. “I noticed greater lightness among the team” Cláudia observed. This shift in team atmosphere – from the pressure and intensity of daily operations to a more relaxed collaborative state – demonstrated the workshop’s immediate impact.
Would She Recommend It? Absolutely.
When asked about recommending this approach to other companies, Cláudia’s response is clear: “I would recommend it without a doubt. I would say it’s the ideal activity if the goal is to lower stress levels and promote patience and attention to detail, in an environment where mistakes are part of the creative process.”
This insight reveals a crucial understanding: the workshop’s value lies not in perfection but in creating safe space for experimentation, patience, and accepting imperfection – qualities often squeezed out by high-pressure work environments.
Advice for Companies Considering Creative Team Building
Cláudia’s guidance for other companies considering similar workshops is direct: “I would advise leaving expectations of perfection at the door. The goal is not to be a professional artist, but rather to enjoy the learning process together.”
This advice addresses a common team building barrier – the performance pressure and perfectionism that can prevent genuine engagement and vulnerability necessary for authentic team connection.
Why Portuguese Tile Painting Worked for This Tech Team
The Portuguese tile painting workshop succeeded for Uber’s team because it addressed multiple needs simultaneously:
Inclusivity: Physical ability didn’t determine participation or success, ensuring all team members engaged equally.
Tangible Results: Each participant created a permanent keepsake connecting them to the shared experience and Portuguese cultural heritage.
Digital Detox: The hands-on manual process required complete disconnection from screens and operational thinking.
Safe Creative Space: The acceptance of imperfection as part of the creative process removed performance pressure.
Unexpected Discovery: Team members revealed hidden talents and dimensions beyond their professional roles.
Cultural Connection: The Portuguese azulejo tradition added depth and meaning beyond generic creative activity.
The Broader Lesson: Rethinking Team Building
Cláudia’s experience with Hands On’s Portuguese tile painting workshop demonstrates that effective team building requires:
- Accessibility Over Achievement: Activities where everyone participates equally regardless of physical ability or skill level
- Process Over Outcome: Valuing the learning journey and accepting imperfection over polished results
- Contemplative Space: Allowing for focused silence and individual absorption rather than constant interaction
- Cultural Depth: Connecting to meaningful traditions rather than generic entertainment
- Tangible Memory: Creating permanent objects linking participants to the shared experience
Making Team Building Meaningful
The difference between team building that feels like obligation and experiences that genuinely strengthen teams often comes down to thoughtful selection matching actual team needs rather than defaulting to conventional options.
Cláudia’s choice to prioritize inclusivity, creative expression, and cultural connection over competitive physical activities or rushed entertainment created conditions for her Uber team to reconnect authentically – discovering each other beyond professional personas while creating something meaningful together.
For companies seeking team building that produces lasting impact rather than temporary distraction, the lesson is clear: choose experiences that allow teams to slow down, create together, and discover unexpected dimensions of their colleagues through inclusive creative processes celebrating cultural heritage and accepting imperfection as part of genuine connection.
Ready to create meaningful team building experiences for your team? Explore Hands On’s workshops designed for inclusive and creative connection that strengthens teams through making together.
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