Teleperformance Epic Relay Team: We choose our own lifestyle
MANILA, Philippines - Some three months ago, joining the Chris Sports’ Epic Relay 250 was just an idea, born from the excitement of establishing a running group of Teleperformance (TP) employees and browsing through Takbo.Ph’s 2010 race calendar.
Joining the event as a corporate team was totally wishful thinking. It was very encouraging my boss shared my enthusiasm for the event but I never thought we’d really join! When finally given the go signal to register our team, I couldn’t help but doubt if we could find at least eight more runners willing to live in a van for two days, run at least 30 kms. each and go the distance.
At that time, the only definite members on our lineup were team captain Eric Concepcion, myself, and our North Division executive vice president Trevor Friesen (who actually had to leave for Subic a day after arriving from a business trip abroad). But, I guess, the adage “If there’s a will, there’s a way” proved true for us — everything just fell into place and after six weeks of runner-searching within TP, we were able to find nine more runners just three weeks away from the epic event.
Only after submitting the team roster to the race organizers did I notice how well represented our team was — from executive/senior management and support functions to operations. Our first few meetings were very interesting as most of us didn’t really know each other and only one thing glued us together — our shared excitement for the Epic Relay. The idea of covering 250 kms. within 40 hours absolutely thrilled and challenged us. I was personally interested to see how the characters in our newfound running family would mesh. Thankfully, our team turned out to be one fun and wacky group.
Our team was fortunate to have been sponsored by Teleperformance and Innovate. I heard stories that other epic relay teams struggled logistically. Preparing for the event was a serious matter primarily because, yes, proper logistics has its twin — money. The Epic Relay is a self-sufficient race — each team is responsible for hydrating, providing food for their runners throughout the whole course and anticipating every possible worst-case scenario the team may encounter (in hindsight, the preparation reminded us of being in our own boardroom as if we were preparing for a corporate project). The safety of the whole team was our top priority and we agreed this would not be compromised. It was heartwarming to see the commitment and the support extended by other members even over oneself. The preparation took on a covert mission impossible spin, even adopting the “No runner gets left behind” theme.
After almost two days of back-breaking running in various terrains, pitch- black roads (while trying to stay on the good side of street dogs, snakes and drunkards) of Subic, Bataan and Zambales; living on peanut butter, boiled eggs, lakatan, boiled plantain, gallons of water and Gatorade and an assorted mix of supplements; enduring the scorching heat, body aches, discomfort, and even the smell of mixed sweat — the team crossed the finish line with nothing but huge smiles and great pride.
Epic Relay 250 not only brought the members of our team together, but it also provided us an opportunity to show the world (supposedly sedentary and vice-loving) professionals from our industry are also capable of completing a very physically challenging endeavor and emerge from the ordeal without injuries (and even liking it). I am hopeful that through our participation, Teleperformance was able to show our company values and the serious intent of promoting health and wellness as well.
At the end of the day, no matter how people perceive call center professionals to be as individuals (regardless of profession), we choose our own lifestyle, this is ours.
When asked why TP joined the Epic Relay, team captain and Teleperformance regional vice president for HCRM Eric Concepcion shared: “It’s our way of making a statement. In our industry, we are often misunderstood to have a very loose, unhealthy lifestyle — smoking, drinking, donuts, pizza, coffee, high-calorie, oily burgers from fast foods. We are here to show everyone there are people in the call center industry who choose to live healthy and are willing to invest time and energy to promote health and wellness in the workplace. We also realize that the way to sustain the high growth in this industry is not just by hiring thousands of call center agents but also by sustaining them to remain in this ‘life in the fast lane’ industry.”
“We didn’t come out as a top finisher since we lacked the running experience and training of the veteran teams but what kept us going was our collective and shared grit and spirits, the pride and joy of competing as a team (and, of course, being the only team coming from the call center industry). Also, what kept us together were our TP values — integrity, respect, professionalism, innovation, commitment and integrity. It was easy to cut corners and ignore some of the race mechanics especially when you are running alone 90 percent of the time and nobody is looking at you. But we agreed among ourselves that these values eventually separate us from the rest especially when you commit to hold them tight even while running at 1 a.m. The cool awards we received (Best Spirited Team and a special award from the Tribu Epic Relay Team) were really just icing on the cake.”
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The author is the audit and compliance manager of Teleperformance.
